Words of Inspiration and Motivation

These are quotes that I feel are inspirational and motivational. These women are highly respected in the 5 sectors of education. Eunice Kennedy Shriver is the one I admire the most. She is quoted in the motto for Special Olympics but I feel that this quote applies to all life situations. 

"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

-- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the first Special Olympics Games in Chicago in 1968

"Do it well, finish it properly, and move on."

-- Eunice Kennedy Shriver

"Children benefit most from teachers who have the skills, knowledge, and judgment to make good decisions and are given the opportunity to use them."

 – Susan Bredekamp PhD  NAEYC, Developmentally Appropriate Practice (2009)

“A passion to create a safer more just world for all kids”

-- Louise Derman-Sparks Professor Emeritus Pacific Oak College CA

This quote is what she feels is her passion in early childhood education.

Personal Childhood Web

There are a few people in my life that have nurtured, cared for, and inspired me as I grew into a woman and a mother. The first and most important person is my grandmother Eileen. She was a pastor with such a strong faith in her God that I so admired. It was not the religious belief that I admired it was the faith that she carried. That faith she carried not only for the God of her belief but for her husband, her children, family and close friends. She had faith that they would always do the right thing and her love and forgiveness never faltered. My Uncle suffered from alcoholism and she was never mad or resentful. She always forgave immediately. I believe she is the one who taught me the morals and values of a family unit and how to love someone unconditionally. My mother and I had a strained relationship and she is who I looked up to as a mother figure. My grandmother and I were close in every way. I spent a lot of time with her. She was the only one in her family to get a college degree and I am the first in our family to get one. Getting my college degree was very important to her and I carried that all the way to the end. It might have taken me awhile to finish but with the memory of her and what she wanted for me I was able to push through. When I was in high school she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It was so very hard because it hit so fast and progressed just as fast. She forgot everyone, except for me. My father would go into see her and she would not know who he was but she never forgot me. Even when I failed to go see her, she asked about me by name and if I had finished school yet. She remains to be a driving force in my life. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of her and the way that she lived her life. I want to be a strong, faithful person as she was until the day that she passed.

The next two people that were strong influences in my life were my maternal grandparents. John and Darlene were my grandparents that lived right across the street from me my entire childhood. The funny thing about it, they still lived in the house that my mother grew up in, and we lived in the house across the street, the one my father grew up in. When children get to visit their grandparents I am sure it was not as often as my siblings and I got to visit with ours. We were in and out of their house during the day as much as our own. Together they were highly respected in the community. They volunteered through many different organizations throughout the community. One of the bigger community organizations they volunteered for was the Red Cross. In 1985 a very large tornado hit our community. My grandparents were the first ones on the scene to help those who lost their homes and needed assistance. I still to this day can never pin point what exactly it was, but every storm after that I wanted to be at my grandparents’ house. I would cry to go over there, which was where I felt safe. My grandfather was a big jolly man who played Santa every year for many different events. He was loved by many. I was the first grandchild and I was spoiled by both of my grandparents. They always made me feel special and I always was entertained by the both of them. My grandmother was the first to be hit with cancer. She had breast cancer. My grandfather was the next, with prostate cancer. To see them both fight the disease in such positive ways was influential and inspiring. Today I often think of their lives and the selfless way that they lived even when terminally ill. My grandmother’s cancer came back ten years later and went to her brain. She loved to go to Las Vegas with her family at least a few times a year. The last time she went was the last time she was conscious in her lifetime. I carry the love they had for me always.

My cousin Alyse was only a year older than me but still very influential in my life. She was the one I looked up to in many scenarios in my life. She taught me most things about how to be a teenager. I grew up in a neighborhood filled with boys and when it was time to go into junior high school I was lost. I really didn’t have many friends and I didn’t fit in. She taught me the latest trends and showed me how to dress. She would even bring me clothes to wear. She was in a grade higher than me and so she would also try to be an influence with her friends and protect me during junior high and high school. She was always my protector. She was not only family she was my best friend. We have recently lost touch in the past few years due to things that I cannot control, however I still consider her my best friend and I would do anything for her. I think about her daily and I hope one day we can mend our relationship and go back to the sisters we once were.

Arrival of Baby Addilyn

Just to give an update to everyone. Baby Addilyn May was born on Friday July 19th. She weighed in at 8lbs 1oz and measured 20inches. She is a beautiful spirit and is so very peaceful. It was the hardest delivery I had out of the 4 births. She is doing great but Mom will be recovering for a little while. Children are a blessing and I am grateful every day for all of mine. They might frustrate us and make us crazy, but at the end of the day they love us and teach us more than any other person could. Thank you to all my colleagues for the well wishes.

My Favorite Children's Book

My all time favorite book is "I Love You Stinky Face" by Lisa McCourt.

ISBN-13: 9780439634694

This book tells a story of a boy who questions his mother about her love for him. He wants to know if she would love him even if he was a Skunk named Stinky Face, a Swamp Creature and many more. This book tells the story of a mother's love and that it is unconditional. I have read this book to my children for years and I will continue to. I highly recommend this book for any child.

Early Childhood Studies

Hello Blogging world!
Being a mother of three and now going on four, blogging was the furthest thing from my mind. Now that I am starting my Master's program in Early Childhood Studies I have been introduced into the technological world of blogging.
I would just like to start off with a little bit of my history and what my educational beliefs are. I worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities for almost 15 years. This was very important to me. If anywhere this is where my heart lies. I loved every minute of my job and most days did not even consider it a job. Yes there were times when days were rough, but most days I was highly rewarded by the children or adults that I worked with. Not only did I teach them, they taught me. One of the greatest things that I learned in that program was that true love is unconditional and they also knew the real definition to a loyal friendship. Even today I have some families and adults that I continue to stay in touch with, and I have not worked in almost 3 years. I hope that one day my path will take me back to that same area of work so that I can feel as fulfilled as I did then.
When it comes to child development and education, parents are the foundation. This starts even before birth. As a current pregnant mom I know that I am the one who is responsible for the growth and development of my unborn child and after she is born I will be responsible for her growth and development until she is old enough to get support from the educational community. Parents are the foundation, and once children reach the school age we should then unite together to continue on the developmental and educational process. Parents, educators, and the communities should work together to help guide our children in a positive and successful direction.