Relationship Reflection

There is nothing like having that close relative or friend that you can trust 

- to keep your secrects

-to confide in

-to lend a helping hand when your in need and don't expect anything in return

-or to simply lend an ear when you need someone to listen

My Bestie:

I share all of the characteristics with my best friend Kisha with whom I have been friends with for 17 years and counting. I met Kisha and her sister Khima when she was in the 9 th grade, I was in the 10th grade, and her sister in the 11 grade. The moment we met, we instantly became a trio. After graduating from high school and college Khima moved away. Kisha went into the military and eventually returned home. Throughout all of our transitions, we never lost contact but instead formed stronger relationships. Kisha is more of a sister to me than a friend. She is the person that encourages me through all of my wacky ideas, ups and downs. She will also let me know when I am wrong. He sense of humor always puts a smile on my face. 

My Aunt Emma:

Although I live with my mother throughout my childhood years, I feel like it was my aunt who raised me. I remember as a young girl spending most weekends at my Aunt Emma's house. I loved going to my aunt's house because of the structure that she provided. My aunt is the person that guides me in any decision making process. I admire her work ethic and wisdom. She is there of us (my bother, uncle, cousins, and myself) anytime we need her.

My Dad:

At 32 years of age, I am still a daddy's girl. In my eyes, my dad can't do any wrong (maybe that's because I am his only child and he spoiled me rotten as a child :-). I admire him for always being in my life and how he adores his grandchildren. My dad will do anything for me or my children that he possibly can. 

What Our Children Means to Me!

"An aware parent loves all children he or she interacts with - for you are a caretaker for those moments in time."

by: Doc Childre, founder of HeartMath, a research and education organization

Assessments

In the city where I reside, our children take their very first assessment during kindergarten registration. This assessment is simply to find out what the child already knows. Their next assessment takes place in the 3rd and 4th grade in math and science and 5th grade in math, science, and reading. As a parent, I am still not sure of the purpose of these tests. As a parent, I assumed the purpose of the assessment was to see what lessons the students grasped or didn't grasp. However, teacher's give me the assumption that they are only teaching in order for students to get good scores on this test.

In Jamaica, many schools are run by churches and private organizations and others received subsidies from the government. The National Assessment Programme uses assessments to monitor academic achievement among students at the primary level. During the first grade students are assessed on readiness inventory; during the third grade they take a diagnostic test; a literacy test is given during the fourth grade; and a achievement test is given during the sixth grade.

Information retrieved from http://www.britishcouncil.org/jamaica-education-parents-jamaican-education-system.htm

Racism as a Stressor

Racism is defined as a "belief that inherent differences among various human races  determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others" (Dictionary,2013). Although I have never experienced any racism being used against me, doesn't mean that I have never wondered if the color of my skin prevented me from being offered specifically a career opportunity. 

Because my oldest has displayed an interest in history, we recently read a book title "Going Someplace Special" by Patricia C Mckissack and Jerry Pinkney. Although this setting was fictionalized, the events were taken from the authors own childhood (Mckissack, P.C., 2001). This book takes place during a time were Jim Crow Laws enforced segregation. This meant that African American and Caucasians weren't allowed to drink from the same water fountain or sit together on the bus. After reading this book with my children, they were shocked. My oldest son said, "Ma does that mean I wouldn't have been able to talk to my friend John because he's another race?"  I said, "Yes." My son then says, "Well I'm glad I wasn't born back then." 

It is my hope that none of our children will be judged by the color of there skin. I can read all the books their is concerning this issue, but actually experiencing racism will never prepare anyone for the hurt they may feel if ever on the receiving end of such treatment. 

Mckissack, P.C. & Pinkney, J. (2001). Goin' someplace special. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division.

Dictionary. (2013). Racism. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racism 

Why are vaccines important?

·         Newborn babies are immune to many diseases because they have antibodies they got from their mothers. However, this immunity goes away during the first year of life. Also, young children do not have this "maternal immunity" against some diseases, such as whooping cough.

·         If an unvaccinated child is exposed to a disease germ, the child's body may not be strong enough to fight the disease. Before vaccines, many children died from diseases that vaccines now prevent, such as whooping cough, measles, and polio. Those same germs exist today, but because babies are now protected by vaccines, we do not see these diseases nearly as often.

·         Immunizing individual children also helps to protect the health of our community, especially those people who cannot be immunized. These include children who are too young to be vaccinated (for example, children less than a year old cannot receive the measles vaccine but can be infected by the measles virus), those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons (for example, children with leukemia), and those who cannot make an adequate response to vaccination.

Preventable Diseases in the U.S when vaccinated!

Anthrax

Cervical Cancer (Human Papillomavirus)

Diphtheria

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Influenza (Flu)

Japanese encephalitis (JE)

Lyme disease

Lyme disease vaccine no longer available in the United States.

Measles

Meningococcal

Monkeypox

There is NO monkeypox vaccine. The smallpox vaccine is used for this disease.

Mumps

Pertussis

Pneumococcal

Polio

Rabies

Rotavirus

Rubella

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Smallpox

Tetanus

Typhoid

Tuberculosis (TB)

Varicella (Chickenpox)

Yellow Fever (CDC, 2013)

Vaccination in South Korea

In South Korea, there are eight recommended vaccinations for children from birth until they are 12 years old. These vaccinations are free at public health centers, participating pediatric practices and hospitals. For other vaccinations, parents may contact a private pediatrician practice.

The eight recommended vaccinations are:

Tuberculosis

Hepatitis B

Diptheria, tetanus, whooping cough

Polio

Measles, mumps, rubella

Chickenpox

Japanese encephalitis

Influenza (AngoInfo, 2013).

References

AngoIngo. (2013). Bringing up toddlers: Vaccinations. Retrieved from http://southkorea.angloinfo.com/family/toddlers/

Center for Disease Control and Preventiion. (2013). Why are vaccines so important? Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/howvpd.htm#why

My Personal Birthing Experiences

With all three of my children, I look forward to my prenatal care doctor visits. With the birth of my first son, it seemed as if I was in labor for what felt like forever. I went to the hospital 3 times over the course of 2 days and was sent home each time because the nurse said I wasn't in enough pain. Her exact words were “Oh honey you are smiling too much to be in true labor.”

The birth of my second child (another boy) was very easy going. The lesson that I learned from having my first child was to do lots of walking. Because I was so active throughout my pregnancy, I gave birth the same night that I went into labor.

Now the birth of my third child, my daughter, was very interesting because I was at work leaking fluid and didn’t even realize it. During my lunch hour, I even went home to change my clothes and then returned to work. It was 1:00 p.m. when I decided to call my doctor and was told to come in right away. My doctor was tickled with me because she felt like I should've known that my water had broken. To make a long story short, I was told to go to the hospital right away and after given an epidural, I delivered my little girl.

What makes each of them even more memorable is that my first son was born weighing 9 lbs. The birth of my second son was very easy because after 1 push he was here. The birth of my daughter was special to me because she is my first daughter also known as my pretty little lady.

Vietnamese

While in the U.S, the father is encourage to be a part of the birthing experience, in Vietnam this is not the case. The husbands are encouraged to wait in the lobby until after the birth while to doctor and/or nurse assists the mother. In the U.S a baby’s first cry is for the purpose of getting oxygen into the infant’s lungs. In Vietnam, an infant’s first cry signifies that the infant has a soul (LaBorde, 2010).

Reference

Laborde, P. (2010). Vietnamese cultural profile. Retrieved from http://ethnomed.org/culture/vietnamese/vietnamese-cultural-profile

Examining Code of nEthics

11.       We shall provide services and supports to children and families in a fair and equitable manner while respecting families’ culture, race, language, socioeconomic status, marital status, and sexual orientation.

22.      We shall respect, value, promote, and encourage the active participation of ALL families by engaging families in meaningful ways in the assessment and intervention processes.

Ideals

I-1.1—To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.

1-4.1—To provide the community with high-quality early childhood care and education programs and services

These statements are important to me because I simply believe in them. It is my responsibility to provide the best service to my community that I possibly can. I will be able to do that my encouraging my parents to support their children and my program, by continuing my education, and by commanding respect among staff members, students, and parents.

References

The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.dec-sped.org

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf