Personal Childhood Web

My mom definitely cared for me when I was younger. She awent to school and worked full time but was always there for me to help with homework. She paid for me to attend dance classes and made it possible for me to go to birthday parties and friends houses. She also threw me the best birthday parties.
My dad was amazing while I was growing up. He coached my soccer team for years. He was always there for advice and bonding time. He and I would watch football together and spend quality time while my mom was attending school.
My grandma is still in my life today. She used to pick me up from school and take me to her house to do fun activities. I would go swimming in her pool. She would allow me to have friends over. She always had crafts and games for me to play with her.
My grandma was an amazing woman. She always took me school shopping and allowed me to have friends over to swim. She always wanted to go out to eat and buy me whatever I wanted. She supported me going to community college and was willing to help with anything she could.
My grandpa worked for many years but always found the time to come to my dance events. He was so proud of my tap dancing. He loved every minute and never thought twice about not having a grandson.

Their love and support today has been the push to go back to school. Without a support system, I may have never considered going to back to school because I have never been much of a school person. I have learned how to be supportive of others. I have learned how to care for others more than myself at times. My family has always put me first and I want to put my children first as well.

I am still creating memories with my dad every time I am with him. One of my favorite memories with him was actually last year. We went to Pittsburgh and went to a Steelers game. Best day ever! My mom and like to go shopping and spend time going to lunch. My grandma and I like to watch movies together and do puzzles together. My grandparents that have passed away gave me memories all the time. We would go miniature golfing, bowling, fishing, to the movies. They would always take me to do stuff rather than sitting in front of a television.

Working with Children

Working with children has allowed me so many opportunities to learn things about myself. I have learned patience, love, how to be caring, and appreciation. Over the years, I have heard many stories from the children that I work with as well. They tell me stories about their weekend adventures, what they did for their birthday parties, stories about their families and many others. However, just recently, a girl started in my program that really touched my heart. She was sexually abused by her biological father until she was 6 years old and removed from her home. She has no self esteem because she thinks she looks like her father. She suffers from PTSD and cusses and talks explicitly about sex. I have to remember what she has been through while remembering as well that she needs time to adjust and make new friends. I cannot believe that she wasn't removed from her home until 6 years of age. It makes me sick to think about it. Thank goodness she has parents now that have adopted her and love her and want to give her a good life. My heart just goes out to her because I will never understand what she went through and how she is feeling.

I love the book, Are You My Mother?  by P.D. Eastman. It shows children that everyone has a mother but that it doesn't always have to be the normal mommy that you think it is. Sometimes kids have grandparents that take care of them. Sometimes children are adopted. Sometimes children are living with other relatives. It shows that children have friends and others that care about them.