Professional Hopes and Goals

It is my hope to enable all children to value themselves,nurture each child's individuality, and to identify ways to help children and families when they are being discriminated.

One of my personal goals is to create an environment that welcomes all children and their families while establishing a home/school relationship that is beneficial for the student's academic success.

I would like to thank my collegues for their helpful input and encouraging words during this course. I wish you the best of luck as you take the next step in this program.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

This week I have been told I will be getting a new student in my classroom from France. I am very excited about this new addition. In order to prepare for the arrival of the new student and be culturally resposive toward the student and their family I will: (1) gather information about education in France (2) familiarize myself with common vocabulary from France and compare it to our vocabulary (3) educate the other students about games and sports in France (4) research and gather information about important holidays in France (5) distribute books and materials about France in the classroom. Once the student arrives, I will encourage their family to come into our classroom and share about their culture and traditions. We will take the opportunity to compare and contrast life in France verses life in America.

I am excited about this opportunity. This addition to the classroom is very beneficial to as well as the other students. I think the new student will feel accepted and welcome when seeing familiar materials distributed around the classroom pertaining to their country. Including the family will be important to the family as well as the child. I hope the new student will see that we are not only excited but also interested in their previous home and life style.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

When thinking about an incident of witnessing a bias, prejudice, or oppression, a little girl within my school comes to mind. She is biracial and is being raised by two women who are living an alternative lifestyle. She is a precious little girl who is often made fun of because she is mixed and has two mothers. When she is questioned about her situation by other children, I feel very sad for her. When this happens, in my presence, I am able to rescue her by changing the subject or removing her from the scene. I think the more time teachers and others invest in her life and help build her self-esteem, she will flourish and become a very successful young lady.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

When thinking about microagressions that I have witnessed, I think about a little Hispanic boy in our school. His name is Pedro and he is in the third grade. When Pedro came to our school his English was very limited, almost non-existent. The other children were very curious about him and his heritage. Pedro would not speak very much and he seemed very shy and nervous. I do not think the other children meant any harm to him; however I do feel as though Pedro was marginalized. The children had many questions about where he came from and why he couldn't speak like they did. All of the teachers felt sorry for Pedro and tried to help him as much as possible. In the beginning, I think Pedro's self-esteem was damaged but later on the children accepted him and began to socialize with him and included him in various activities.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

This week when I talked with others about the different ways culture and diversity are defined, these are the responses I received.

Culture- the way people live, how people talk and dress, the language people speak, where people are from

Diversity- differences, the way people and things are different, I am not really sure what that means

While studying this course, I have come to realize how deep culture is. It is about the things listed and yet much more. Culture also includes values, health care, showing emotions, and other things.

I found that I had some of the same thoughts as the people I interviewed before beginning this class. I have realized how much more culture and diversity encompass.

My Family Culture

In the event a major catastrophe has devastated the infrastructure of my country and I along with my immediate family have no idea where we will end up. I have been told that my host country is completely different from my own and I may have to stay there permanentaly. I am allowed a change of clothes and three other small items. These are the three items I would choose. My Bible would be my first choice. I have a relationship with Jesus and my I depend on my Bible for many things including God's wisdom and direction, His comfort, and His word. My second item would consist of my family photo album. There are many pictures near and dear to my heart. The third item I would choose would be my passport in the event I would be able to get out of there and come back home. Upon arrival, I am told that I am only allowed to keep one item. I would keep my Bible and hope the Lord would supply me and my family with passports to somehow get back home.

This exercise made me really think and put things in perspective. When compiling the list of things to take, I thought about make-up, my phone, and money. Then I realized what was most important. It also made me realize how differnt other peolple's items will be. Because even though we are alike in so many ways, we really are different and have different values.

When I Think of Research...

It will be hard for me to explain the many things I have learned about research during the past eight weeks. One of the first things I discovered is how one needs to be careful when considering sources to be credible. This was very enightening for me. I also realize how important it is when choosing participants and deciding how to obtain data. One must be very careful when involving children in research. Parental consent may be needed in most cases and the consent may no to easy to obtain. One of the challenges I encountered was being careful where ethical issues were involved. I made sure to take necessary precautions to insure the confidentiality needed. I think it is very beneficial for professionals to continue with early childhood research. It is very important for teachers and other educators to be able to look up research on certain topics to become better at what we are doing. To my fellow colleagues, I want to thank you for all of the support you have provided for me during this class. I wish you all the best as you continue with your journey in early childhood.

Research Around the World

For this week’s blog assignment, I chose to investigate the Early Childhood Australia site. This site provided many useful articles such as The Inclusion of Children with a Disability in Childcare, The Early Years Learning Framework, Partnerships in Early Childhood, and Children’s Resilience. The one most interesting to me was Learning and Teaching Through Play since my research simulation is “Promoting Literacy through Play.” In the article Learning and Teaching through Play, much information was provided about how children learn through play. Play is something in which humans of all ages from diverse cultures engage, although the purpose for and the type of play may be different across ages and cultures (Kennedy & Barblett, 2010). Play is associated with the development of intellectual skills, understandings, creative skills, and social and emotional skills. When educators create safe, secure, and challenging environments that promote play, learning is achieved and maintained in early childhood educational settings. I was excited to find this information about learning through play on this website.

Beneficial Research

Last year, we had a student teacher, in second grade, who did a research project using Rocket Math. Rocket Math is a ten-minutes-a-day, paper and pencil, worksheet-based, supplemental, math facts practice curriculum. It is a uniquely structured curriculum for the sequential practice and mastery of math facts. The students knew they were involved and were excited to participate. The research proved that by using the Rocket Math program, students became more fluent with addition math facts. I am looking into the program for my class. Has anyone used this program before? If so, what do you think of it?

My Personal Research Journey

I have thought about many topics while trying to chose the best one for me. I am a second grade teacher who works with many children who struggle to read. I chose the topic "Promoting Literacy Through Play" to try to help the children in need. If I can make the curriculum more interesting for my students, then maybe they can become more fluent readers, as well as writers. I am excited with this task. The simulation process has not been very easy for me. I am learning more with each assignment. I welcome any resources or advice that might help me with this process. Also, any ideas about promoting literacy through play are appreciated. Thanks!

International Early Childhood Consequences

When thinking about all that we have learned and discussed through this class, I believe one consequence to learning about early childhhod internationally would be seeing the similarities and differences between the USA and other countries. Comparing the USA and Nicaragua, there were huge differences in the schools, with policies, and teachers having teaching degrees. With other countires, I think another consequence would be seeing how we could improve the quality of education based on how another country's policies are formed and regulated. This reminds me of the many things Jeff Grunner has shared about Sweden. Thirdly, I think it is important to share and learn from each other. I truly enjoyed learning from my friend, Martha, and hearing about her hopes and dreams for Corn Island. A goal for educators to set related to international awareness could be to visit and learn from other countries. It would be very interesting to see firsthand how they deal with quality and equity in early child care. It would also be interesting to see how families, living in poverty, are able to provide quality care for their children. I want to thank my colleagues for the much needed support that has been provided through this class. I wish you all the best as you journey along. Good Luck!!!

International Contacts

My friend "Martha" from Corn Island, Nicaragua has many hopes and dreams for the children on the island. Although much has been done in the past years, there is much more to do. The island still does not have any preschool or early child care environments other than kindergarten. Starting a preschool is a dream she would like to see come true. Obviously, there are not many opportunites for professional development. The teachers that she works with, even though some are not very educated, are very committed and passionate about thier jobs.

Sharing Web Resources

The Website I have been exploring is Zero to Three. While following some outside links I came across an Index of Zero to Three Journals. I found this to be very helpful. Some of the journals include Children in Immigrant Families, Understanding School Readiness for Infants and Toddlers, Children with Special Needs, and The Importance of Play. I found all these articles extremely helpful with my studies and research. There are also podcasts, webcasts, and webinars on this site. There is also a link to Technical Papers. Early Head Start Technical Assistance Papers provide clarification and in-depth information on a particular topic of special interest to Early Head Start Programs. Technical Paper #6 is an excellent paper written about school readiness. The Foundations for School Readiness: Fostering Developmental Competence in the Earliest Years The July 2013 Newsletter focused on how children learn through play. There were also some books, about play, featured for the month. I really enjoy this website. There is a lot of good information found here. I learn something new each time I view it.

International Contacts

This week I talked to Martha (Corn Island, Nicaragua) about equity and quality in early childhood. As I stated before, children start school at the kindergarten age and that is only if their parents choose to send them. There is no law that makes children go to school. There are not any childcare centers on the island. Most children begin kindergarten on the same level however, if a child has an older sibling they may be a little more educated than other children. There are two private schools there. One is at the Catholic church and the other at the Baptist church. She is not sure about the tuition at the Catholic church, but at the Baptist church the cost is $250 per year. There is a small public school that the children can attend free. All of these schools require the children to wear some sort of a uniform. The children at the Baptist church wear navy pants or skirts with white shirts. The thing, about my conversation, that I found most interesting is the teachers who teach in the schools are not required to have a teaching degree. Some of them only have a high school diploma. This may not be the case in the whole country, but it is the case for Corn Island. Martha and her husband will be visiting a mutual friend of ours next week and I am excited to sit down and have a long talk!

Sharing Web Resources

I chose the Zero to Three website to explore for this course assignment. This week there is an article about the President being applauded for making babies and toddlers a priority in his 2014 budget proposal. Below is an excerpt from the article:

The President’s Plan for Early Education for All Americans is the roadmap for the early learning components of the budget released today.  The budget includes $1.4 billion to expand the comprehensive supports offered to the most vulnerable families through Early Head Start – which for almost 20 years has proven it improves both child and parental outcomes. The plan would provide $200 million in 2014 specifically to create more high-quality child care options for babies and toddlers with working parents, using Early Head Start’s quality benchmarks, expertise, and resources. Looking ahead, the budget proposal provides for $7 billion over 10 years to ensure young children and families have access to high-quality child care.

There is also a wonderful video segment called Rally4Babies:Learning Happens from the Start.
This segment is about 41 minutes long and it goes right along with what we have been studying about the importance of the ages birth through five years old. This segment applies the principle of building on a strong foundation for permanent success. This video also implied that all community members need to work together to benefit all children. If investment is made early with high-quality early childhood education, then children can become lifelong learners.

This website allows one to gain a wealth of insight to the issues of early childhood education. There are many recommendations for children getting an early start in life. Early experiences do matter.
From Baby to Big Kid showcases the growth and development children experience each month from birth to 3 years old. These resources translate the science of early childhood and offer strategies parents can tailor to their unique family situation and to the needs of their child.

International Contact

This week I was able to contact "Martha" a lady I met in Nicaragua a few years ago. She lives and works with children on Corn Island, Nicaragua. I was very excited to catch up with her and have a discussion.  We discussed the issue of poverty and it is the same as I witnessed when I was there. Most of the people, who live on the island, are very poor and have very little. The children who live on the island are not required to go to school; however most of them do. If they are enrolled in school they have to wear uniforms which is costly for them. Some of the children are sponsored by people who live in Nicaragua or other parts of the world.

On a more personal note, I thought the children who live there are very happy. I do not think they realize they are poor and have very little. They seem happier than a lot of the children I know who seem to have "everything" they want.

Zero To Three Website

                                     Zero To Three

http://www.zerotothree.org/

ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development.

Our mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life.

A current issue for this week that caught my attention is an article about school readiness.

PUTTING INFANTS

AND TODDLERS ON THE PATH

TO SCHOOL READINESS:  This article was about taking the necessary steps for children to become ready for school.

Excerpt from the article:

A child’s life of learning begins at birth, with brain development shaped

by early experiences setting the foundation for all learning that follows.

This early path to school readiness unfolds in everyday moments,

within caring relationships that nurture confidence and security. How

very young children are cared for teaches them how to interact with

the world and profoundly shapes who they will become. In essence,

the first steps toward school readiness also lead to the resiliency and

positive behaviors needed for success in the workforce and in life. 

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

This week I reviewed the list of  professional contacts that we were given to choose from. I chose four of them and made an effort to communicate. One of the contacts was an incorrect e-mail address. I have not had any luck hearing from the other three. A few years ago I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Nicaragua and I have made an attempt to make a contact there with someone I know. I am very hopeful to hear from her soon. I am very interested in making contact with international partners. I hope to not have to do the alternate assignment. Any suggestions or ideas will be appreciated. Thanks!

I  wish to explore and study the Zero To Three: National Center for infants, Toddlers, and Families website. In the past I have found their articles to be very beneficial while researching specific topics. I look forward to learning more about their organization.

"My Supports"

When I reflect upon my "daily supports", my husband is the first support that comes to my mind. I would be lost without him. He always encourages me when I am down or get myself into a bind. He is always there for me and I know he would do anything for me. I have two sons who I need for daily support. They probably would say that we support each other. My mother is a big part of my support system. She provides me with words of encouragement as well as her courage and strength. Jesus, my Lord and Savior, is a huge support in my life. Without Him, I would be nothing.

 There are other elements that provide me with support as well such as money, stores, a job, and a car. None of these things compare to the people in my life.

I think it would be a huge challenge to not have "relationships" in my life for support. Without communication, love, and respect, my environment would be incomplete.

My Connections to Play

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” -Kay Redfield Jamison

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -George Bernard Shaw

My Essential Play Items


I loved playing with Barbie dolls as a child. I even conned my little brother to play with me!


I had a yellow bicycle when I was a little girl that I loved riding.


As I child, my brother and I enjoyed playing. We didn't need much encouraging because we loved it so much. We would play throughout the daylight hours. I also loved pretending to be a teacher and having a classroom of students. My dolls were students, as well as, my mother and brother.

I strongly feel that play is much different today than as when I was a child. Children, of today, do not seem to enjoy playing outside. It almost seems as though some children do not know how to play. I think this is because of the technology that has increased within our society. I think technology is very helpful and beneficial; however many children are obsessed with computerized games.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are very important to me because they help make me who I am. Meaningful relationships are important to our health and success. I have several significant relationships including my husband, my sons (Jacob and Jordan), my mother, sister and brother, and many other family members as well as friends. Each relationship has its own identity and is cultivated in different ways.

It takes time to develop meaningful relationships. Spending time and talking with each other is a vital part in any relationship. Communication, respect, and honesty are  important factors when building relations.

My most ultimate relationship is the one I have with my Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Without this relationship, I would be nothing. I thank Him for this.

As an educator, I want to build relationships with my students and their families. It is important for teachers to communicate with parents regularly. Building parent/teacher connections can include making positive phone calls, inviting parents to participate in decision making for students, share student success stories, and listen to the parents and child.

Thank You To My Colleagues

I would like to thank each of you for the part you play in my success as I travel through this program. The encouragement and support you provide for me is exceptional. I have learned so much through your posts and discussions. You are truly an amazing group of people.I wish you the best as we continue with this endeavor.

Quotes About Children

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.

~Stacia Tauscher

Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children.

~Walt Disney

Children need love most when they deserve it the least.

~Susy Yelh

Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

~Author Unknown

If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others.

~Haim Ginott

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.

~ James Baldwin

A rose can say "I love you",
orchids can enthrall,
but a weed bouquet in a chubby fist,
yes, that says it all.
~Author Unknown

Assessment in Early Childhood

School readiness,  knowing how children are learning, to see if children are making progess, and to see how effectively children are be taught are among many reasons that children are assessed. After a child is tested, valuable information is provided to plan and individualize instruction. I think some assessing is required to know where the child is academically. Assessments should reflect the diversity of intelligences within the classroom. All children learn differently so one would think they would need to be assessed differently. Meaningful instruction includes singing, using hands-on activites, and other stategies. Educators could introduce assessments as a learning process and not a stressful painful event. However; I think we are assessing our children to death. I teach second grade and in the next few weeks we will start some major assessments that will last for three weeks. This is way too many! It is also unfair the way teachers are assessed and parents are held unaccountable.

When it comes to educating the whole child, many factors are present. When healthy children enter school feeilng safe, they are ready to learn. Children are more likely to stay in school when they have a connection with the school. Challenging and engaging academic programs need to be accessible for all children. Most importantly, children need to be supported by caring and loving adults. It is esssential, for educators, to know about children. What kind of environment do they live in? Do they have adequate food and sleep? Who takes care of them? Some children are raising themselves and face many issues that detours them from being successful students.


Assessing Children in Nicaragua

A few years ago I went on a mission trip to Corn Island in Nicaragua. I was able to visit one of the schools there, but I didn't know much about their testing procedures. After doing some research, I was able to find out that the Nicaraguan Govenment invests in education, but the student performance is poor. In many developing countries, children enrolled in primary school for three and as many as six years can barley read and are not able to comprehend or understand a simple text. RTI International designed a program, for International Development, to help educators in low-income countries break the pattern of illiteracy among the poor. RTI is administering the EGRA (Early Grade Reading Assessment) to first, second, and third graders across Nicaragua with the hope it will become a tool for their education system to obtain usable data on early-grade literacy. Finding out early the adjustments needing to be made is essential to overcome academic failure.

The Effects of Alcoholism on Children

Alcoholism is also known as a disease. Growing up, as a child, I had a friend whose dad was an alcoholic. This was a very sad environment that she lived in. I am almost positve that he was also physically abusive. I can remember her not wanting anyone to come to her house because she was afraid of what her dad might do or say. This was a huge embarrassment for her and her mother. My friend was abused mentally as well. There were many times that she was late for school or maybe she just wouldn't show up for a day or so. Her mother was a wonderful person and provided much support for her during her childhood and teen-age years. An alcoholic can totally disrupt family life and cause harmful effects that can last a lifetime. I think my friend suffered from low self-esteem and depression and most likely is still suffering today. 

The minimum legal drinking age varies dramatically around the world. Most such laws apply only to drinking alcoholic beverages in public locations. The only country with a minimum legal age for consuming alcohol at home is the United Kingdom, which prohibits drinking below the age of six.

Internationally, the average age at which drinking alcohol first occurs is 12 years and about 80% of young people begin drinking alcoholic beverages regularly at age 15 or younger according to the World Health Organization (WHO).


Hunger in Nicaragua

Nicaraguans are no strangers to hunger. The country is considered the second poorest nation in the western hemisphere. I was able to be part of a mission team and visit there in 2006. Hunger among the people was definitly an issue. Many of the children were not afforded the opportunity to attend school. Many children had to begin working at an early age. The more time the children spent working and out of school, the less likely they are to return. Therefore, their educational levels were very low.

Stop hunger Now is a hunger relief agency that is working on a commitment to end huger. Stop Hunger Now has shipped over 3 million meals to Nicaragua and more is on the way. Visit stophungernow.org
for more information.

Child Development and Public Health

Nutrition is a vital public health measure that impacts children daily. As an educator, I see hungry children daily. It is fortunate, in the United States and in public schools that there are programs that sponsor needy children and their families. Free and reduced breakfasts and lunches are provided for children in schools. Our district also has a food program that sends home a bag of food for children and their families to have over the weekend.  I have seen children be disappointed when inclement weather hits and they are out of school for several days.

However; nutrition in Africa is much worse. Food insecurity and malnutrition give rise to many consequences for health and development, with mothers and children most vulnerable to the devastating effects. Malnourished mothers are at a greater risk of dying in childbirth and of delivering low-birth-weight babies who fail to survive infancy. Children are vulnerable to the consequences of food insecurity and malnutrition because of their physiology and high calorie needs for growth and development. Malnutrition is the underlying cause of death of more than 2.6 million children each year, a third of under-five deaths, and a third of total child deaths worldwide.

My Childbirth Experience and Childbirth in Cambodia

The birth of my first son is not a story many people will want to hear. I would love to tell you it was a wonderful and uneventful experience, but it was not. My son went past his due date and due to his expected size, my doctor insisted that he induce labor. After 12 hours of intense labor I was finally dialated to 10 and could not deliver. The doctor told my family he was not sure I would survive and a C-section could not be preformed. After 4 more hours passed, I finally delivered a 9lb 13 oz happy and healthy baby boy. There are many other details, but I will not be sharing those. It is true that one forgets the pain after the child is born. I would absolutely do it all over again! I chose to share about this experience because I will never forget the happiness I felt after the delivery was over. Once you hold the precious baby in your arms nothing else matters.

After doing some research about childbirth in other places, Cambodia sparked my interest. In Cambodia after a woman delivers a baby she is not allowed to breastfeed the baby for 1-2 months, therfore someone else does it for her. Also, after a woman delivers a baby she is placed on a bed with a fire burning underneath the bed. This is called "roasting" and  the fire is supposed to heat up the body and prevent illnesses after the postpartum period. This process takes about a week.Cambodian women also sit on a hot rock each morning after delivering. Sitting on a hot rock is suppose to keep the uterus from coming out. Most Cambodians deliver at home using a midwife. These practices are much different than the ones we practice in the United States.

Note of Thanks to Colleagues

I would like to thank each of you for the relationships we are forming and for the continued support that has been shown during this class.Your words of encouragement mean a lot. I look forward to hearing how you are doing and I wish each of you much success as we move forward in this program. Looking back from the beginning, I remember being terrified of blogging. I am still not an expert, but I have struggled through!

Examining Meaningful Codes of Ethics in Early Childhood

***Above all, we shall not harm children. We shall not participate in practices that are emotionally damaging, physically harmful, disrespectful, degrading, dangerous, exploiative, or intimidating to children.
Children have the right to be in a safe environment when at school. A child should never be put in any situation where danger is present or where they are in any form of harm.




***We shall strive to build individual relationships with each child; make individualized adaptations in teaching strategies, learning environments, and curricula; and consult with the family so that each child benefits from the program.
Each child is different and unique. As educators, we should strive to build a relationship with each individual child. Children learn in different ways. Educators should teach in a manner that each child can learn.




***We shall involve all those with relevant knowledge (including families and staff) in decisions concerning a child, as appropriate, ensuring confidentiality od sensitive information.
Decision making should not be left up to the teacher alone. There should be a collaboration between all parties involved as appropriate. Confidentially is a must!



***When we have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect, we shall report it to the appropriate community agencyand follow up to insure that appropriate action has been taken. When appropriate, parents or guardians will be informed that the referral will be or has been made.
Child abuse or neglect is unacceptable in any form. It is the law that an educator report any suspected abuse and follow up to make sure appropriate action was taken.

Ready for Resources

Websites

World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep-usnc.org/

Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/

The Division for Early Childhood
http://www.dec-sped.org/

Center for Child Care Workforce
http://www.ccw.org


Articles

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families.
http://main.zerotothree.org/

Where we stand on school readiness.
http://www.naeyc.org/

Influential People

Stanley Greenspan
http://www.stanleygreenspan.com

Jean Piaget
http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/piaget.htm


Quotes

How one handles success or failure is determined by their early childhood.
 -- Harold Ramis

Inspirational Quotes

"In order to feel good about himself, a child must be successful in his own eyes, not just your eyes."
Stanley Greenspan

"Parents are led to believe that they must be consistent, that is, always respond to the same issue the same way. Consistency is good up to a point but your child also needs to understand context and sublety... much of adult life is governed by context: what is appropriate in one setting is not appropriate in another; the way something is said may be more important than what is said..."
Stanley Greenspan

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."
Abraham Moslow

"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn."
Ignacino Estrada

"I had a built-in compassion to make a real contribution to the world."
Louise Derman-Sparks

"We have the opportunity to shape a child's life for the better."
Sandy Escobido

My Personal Childhood Web

My mother is the greatest support a daughter could ask for. She has always been by my side and I know I can always count on her in the future. She continues to support me no matter what!
My father was a great provider and supported our family well. Unfortunately, we lost him to a heart attack when he was 45 years old. We will always miss him. Both my parents took me to church and taught me about God's love. For this, I am eternally grateful.

My gradndmother (Mom Webb) was very influential as I was growing up. I couldn't wait until summertime when I could go to her house and stay a week or so at a time. She taught me life skills such as cooking, canning vegetables , and some sewing. Mom Webb always saw the good in everyone and never said a bad thing about anyone. I always wanted to be like her. She was a wonderful person and I will always remember her.

My Aunt Ruth has always been more like a grandmother to me. This is my mother's sister and I have always been extremely close to her. I talk to her regularly and try to spend time with her. I will never forget getting mad at my mother once and deciding I would move in with my aunt. That idea only lasted two days.(LOL)

My brother and sister were a huge part of my support system growing up and we are very close today. Growing up we shared our hopes and dreams. Losing our dad was a very painful experience for us.

Favorite Children's Book

Although there are many wonderful children's books, Love You Forever, is my favorite. This was a favorite of my two boys when they were younger. I would have to read it over and over to them and I would always end up in tears. If you are a mother, of a boy, and have never read this story you need to read it. You will love it. It is about a little baby boy growing up and it is very touching.

Favorite Quotes about Children

These are some of my favorite quotes:
*He who teaches a children learns more than they do.---German Proverb
*Children are our most valuable natural resource. ---Herbert Hoover
*A child's smile is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.----Author Unknown
*A person's a person, no matter how small.---Dr. Seuss