"The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it." (‭Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭4-6‬ ASV)

Relationship Reflection

  • Relationships are established when a connection is made between two people.
  • Sometimes the nature and the comfort of ability of a relationship can have some leverage when making decisions. My place of worship has a relationship with Pathmark, a neighborhood grocery store. Over the past 15 years, we've worked together, serving the community, feeding the hungry and aiding suffering humanity. Because of our consistency, Pathmarks gives us exemptions, and accommodates us with discounts and special arrangements.
  • Many relationships begun when we are children and only about one fourth of those connections continue. Some of us are blessed to grow and experience life's changes and challenges, together. I am thankful of two particular relationships that have lasted to this very day. My friends, Pam and Lavelle. I can't quite remember why or how Pam and I connected but it was very obvious that we, certainly, care for each other. As children, Pam and I were in so many pictures together, Birthday parities, playing outside, getting out hair done together. Today, as adults, we have a greater love for our families, a positive outlook on life and we both love to serve others. Lavelle was my first boyfriend. I was 14 and he was 13. He was visiting his aunt that lived in my neighborhood. I remember seeing how he stood up for other people, was nice and very funny. Today, Lavelle is a wonderful father, still possess that willingness to defend anyone, has a humorous personality and such a positive outlook on life, no matter what hand has been to dealt to us
  • My relationship with Lavelle has proven that men and woman can obtain a healthy and platonic relationship without romance.
  • Relationships are evidence of the positive energy we put out. Sometimes we connect and sometimes we don't. There's an old saying. "Love thy neighbor as thyself" I think this is a perfect ingredient to a health, and strong relationship.
  • Making a connection is the key!!!

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

“ five and six year old children are inheritance of poverty’s curse and not its creators. Unless we act, these children will pass it on to the next generation, like a birthmark.” (1987)

Lyndon B. Johnson

Bachelor degrees are best: Higher qualifications for all kindergarten teachers lead to better learning environment for children. (Laureate Education)

Marcy Whitebook, Ph.D

“My Passion was to make sure that all children were taught in environments and in ways that truly nurtured their ability to grow and to develop to their fullest ability.” (2010)

Louis Derm-Sparks
Professor Emeritus
Pacific, Oak College, CA

Personal Childhood Web

Personal Childhood Web
Khari Roulhac (cousin)

Khari Roulhac (cousin)

Khari is my favorite cousin. I remember when we were introduced to each other as cousins, and just as I felt lucky to have such a cool person to have been a part of my family then, is the same way I feel today. We have so much in common. We come from the same family. We are close in age. We were brought up in “not the best” inner city neighbors (Philadelphia and Boston) but managed to escape the stereotypical statistics of becoming delinquents and rebels of our community. We, both, have a yearning and appreciation of our family and spending time together is always the major objective. I could think of a million and one ways that Khari has shown he cares and love but there is one particular circumstance that sticks the most. After I lost my job and then eventually my house, he managed to get away from his engrossed schedule to pack me up, pick me up and moved me to Boston. He has influenced me through his great achievements in life. He has a Master’s degree in Education; he’s married with three beautiful children, home owner, a positive role model and active in his community. Although, he is a few years younger than I am, I look up to him and I share my aspirations with him for his approval. When I grow older, I want to be just like him but most importantly I want him to be proud of me.

Personal Childhood Web

Personal Childhood Web
Tia Martin (Great Aunt )

Tia Martin (Great Aunt )

My Great- Aunt Tia was the sister of my grandfather. I would visit her every summer in Manning, South Carolina. I remember how she would greet me when we would first arrive. I went to Manning up to the age of 10 or 11 years old but I remember how I felt every time we drove up into the drive way of the house. She would call to my grandfather “Go-van(nickname)” and then ask for me. My first step out of the car would always end up in Aunt Tia’s arms. She would squeeze me to death and mention how skinny and frail I was and how she was going to fatten me up. I understood that she meant well and I knew that she loved me. I would sit with her for hours and hours, watching her and learning to cook and bake. She has influenced me, greatly, through the love and energy she always puts forth to having her family get togethers, and she always hosted at her house. Even, today, Ill cook food for days, so that ill have enough for everyone and so that everyone is able to come and be with each other.

Personal Childhood Web

Personal Childhood Web
Makia Tillman (cousin)

Makia R. Tillman (cousin)

This is my cousin Makia Tillman. Although, our visits were far and in between, when we did get together, we made up for lost time. Makia and I were second cousins. She lost the fight to cancer this past winter. She was a very loving and thoughtful person. She was enthusiastic about family and what we did as a family. She and I were considered to be close, although, we didn't speak every day we stayed connected in other ways. We traveled together; we liked the same music, shared some of the same friends and even belonged to the same religious organization. She has nurtured me as a cousin in so many different ways. Cousins are usually children’s first true friends. Her phone calls, letters, invitations to meet her in other cities, all showed her love for me. Her influences of furthering her education, certainly, had a great impact on my life. She climbed that ladder of success and academic achievement all the way up to her obtaining her Doctorate degree in Education. I want to keep her memory alive by reaching some of those same achievements.

Elisha

Elisha
Children never ceases to amaze me. Elisha is 21 months old. Although, I was very much aware that he could identify his shapes, I wasn't aware that he could actually draw them. Here is Elisha drawing circle after watching me draw it only a few times.

Deborah

Deborah
Here I am 7 years old in the second grade. I remember this day as if it were yesterday.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Arguments, disagreements, fights and even family feuds were the norm for me where I grew up.  I can remember, as a child, seeing teenagers fighting, grown ups fighting and large groups of people fighting.  One of the most freighting memories I have is actually bearing witness to someone being killed.  I was between the ages of 10 and 12. It was a warm summer evening and the street lights were on so I was sitting on my front steps with a few friends from the neighborhood. The commotion began a few blocks away but loud enough that we could hear that something was going on, but just as any other uproar, it was ignored.  Before we knew it, the far away sounds of a few individuals arguing had drawn closer. Two men were fist fighting with their family members trailing behind.  A few neighbors soon joined in the crowd to get a closer look. The fight lasted only a few minutes, and I don't remember the cops showing up until much later.  After the crowd began to die down, the two men had been, finally, separated. As everyone continued leaving the scene, I vividly, remember the one man running up to his disputant and stabbing him with an object and pulling the object up from his abdomen towards his chest.  The body dropped immediately followed by screams of those that witnessed it.

Cognitive Theory

Cognitive theory holds that thoughts and values determine a person's perspective.  Early experiences are important because beliefs, perceptions, and memories make them so, not because they are buried in the unconscious (psychoanalytic theory) or buried into the brain's patterns (behaviorism).  

Laws on domestic violence vary by country.  For instance, in 2010, the United Arab Emirates's Supreme Court ruled that a man has the right to physically discipline his wife and children as long as he does not leave physical marks.  The social acceptance of domestic violence also difference by country. 
Just some thoughts on how behaviorism is developed.


References:
Berger, K. S. (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. 

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