Childbirth

Childbirth is a unique experience to each and every person.  I have been privelaged to given birth to two children.  My daughter was born in 2009 and my son was born in March 2013.  Each was unique in their own way but also similar.  I had a lot of prenatal appointments with both my children.  These appointments included measurement of the baby, fetal non stress tests, blood pressure checks on myself and the doctor just getting to know me.  I remember waiting in anticpation for the arrival of our daughter. I also did not want anyone in the room with me except for my husband.  For me being in labor and giving birth to our daughter was very easy.  I even remember saying that was it? I could do that again.  The nurse looked at me and said most people don't say that.  I remember when the nurse handed my daughter over to us I felt happy, relieved that she was healthy and couldn't believe how tiny she was. 

I chose this example because it is what I know.  I also believe that it is important to share positive brith stories.  Too many times I hear of horror stories and it scares people and gives people a negative attitude when they go into delivery.  It was important to me that I welcomed our daughter into a postive enviornment. 

I feel that if families/parents are stressed the child is going to pick up on that.  I believe that the stress impacts the child developing properly.  When stress is involved I feel that children will develop more slowly and will not thrive like they should. 

I looked up information on the Netherlands.  I found it interesting that pregnant moms do not see an obstetrician and instead use a a midwife.  The moms decide whether they will have a home or hospital delivery. If you do opt for a hospital birth you will unlikely get an epidural due to the anesthesiologist's schedule. I also found it intersting that a baby may go home in as little as two hours A nurse will come to the house for seven days and it is know at maternity home care (kraamhulp).  I found this interesting because with my son I stayed in the hospital for three days after delivery and I felt like the doctors were not in a rush to send me home either. 

What would be interesting is to compare how different states in the United States deal with child birth.  I know that in Alaska it is very different than Washington State. 

36 Weeks Pregnant

Continue to Strive Towards your Goals and Dreams

Thank you all for coming to visit this blog over the past eight weeks.  My wish for you the reader is that you continue to strive towards your goals and dreams.  Continue to stay up to date and research the early childhood field.  Share that knowledge and your passion for the field. 

Carlos - Thank you for your feedback and discussions over the past eight weeks. May you continue to learn, advocate and share your knowledge.  My hope for you is that you continue on your path to your Master's degree. http://raynard02.blogspot.com/

Regina - A quote from your blog - May you continue to stumble, rise and soar.  I can really relate to this quote during my career and educational path in the early childhood field.  Thank you for discussion posts over the past eights and I hope you continue to soar.    http://tiny2giantsteps.wordpress.com/

Codes of Ethics

I chose these three ideals from the NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment.   These three are important for me because I feel that they will help guide early childhood educators in running successful early childhood programs.  In order to provide quality services we need to ensure that we are looking at all aspects of who will interact with that child.  We need to be able to work with each child without any glasses on.  The families are an important piece when working with children that I feel some programs lack.  We also need to ensure that we are sharing resources whether it is partnering with another classroom, a community partner like a child care facility or your local school district.  If you work to have your program obtain these ideals you will run a successful early childhood program.  What is one of your ideals you like?

 

I-1.3 - To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities and the potential of each child. 

 

I - 2.4 - To listen to families, acknowledge and build upon their strengths and competencies, and learn from families as we support them in their task of nurturing children. 

 

I -3A.2 - To share resources with co-workers, collaborating to ensure that the best possible early childhood care and education program is provided. 

 

http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Early Childhood Resources

There are many different resources available to us in the Early Childhood field.  I have added a new section to the right of just a few of the resources that I have found helpful during my work.  Check back often as I will continue to add to the list. 

These are three additional resources that I use in my daily work:

• http://www.bestbeginningsalaska.org/ - Has some GREAT resources for families (and teachers too).  Includes early learning guidelines, early learning guideline activities and activities for childrens book (see tab imaginiation library).
• http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc - This is the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center from the Office of Head Start.  It has been tools for early childhood programs.  There are also six National Centers that you can access from their website (see tab Training and Technical Assistance). 
• http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/toolkits - Great tool kits for parents on many different topics.  My current program that I work for has used the toolkits to hold parent education nights on different topics.  The materials also are very child friendly. 

If you have more resources that you think I should add to my list please leave a comment with the link and I will check it out. 

Inspiration and Motivation

Parents don't make mistakes because they don't care, but because they care so deeply.  

T. Berry Brazelton

It is a good rule to face difficulties at the time they arise and not allow them to increase unacknowledged.  

Edward W. Ziegler

We as professionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better.  

Sandy Escobido

"One of the biggest lessons Head Start has taught us is how important it is to involve family members."

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' remarks on opening the 1st National Birth to Five Leadership Institute

(Oct 2011), Washington, DC.

Personal Childhood Web

There are many people that have come into my life over there years.  When I think back to my childhood there are people that come to mind that continue to impact my life today with the impressions they made on me when I was younger. 

My Parents - My Mom and Dad have always been there for me and continue to be there for me today. They always wanted me to have a better life for myself then they did growing up. Not only did they provide for me but they taught me life lessons like setting a goal and being able to obtain that goal. They taught me that nothing comes for free and that if you want something you have to work for it. My parents have also instilled in me how to be the best parent I can be to my own children.

• My Uncle and Aunt - My Uncle Nick and Aunt Dee have always been a part of my life as far back as I can remember.  They always were there to support me growing up while attending my activities like my t-ball games and dance recitals.  They were also the ones that would take care of my brother and I if my parents went out of town.  They nurtured and provided for us.  The impact they made on my childhood still impacts me today.  I want my own children to know they have people in their lives that will support them and take care of them. 

 

• My Grandmother - Lola was always there for me growing up.  When my brother or I got sick she would come and take care of us so my parents could go to work.  She loved cooking for us and introducing us to our culture.  She also allowed me to explore the outdoors and develop skills for surviving off of the land.  I love being able to share cooking expriences with my daughter.  I also like teaching my daughter and son different aspects of our culture that my own Lola taught to me. 

Personalizing

This is a picture of myself and my family from May 2013.  

My husband is holding our brand new baby boy (born in March 2013) and our daughter is three years old. 

This drawing was done by my three year old daughter.  She drew this picture while I was working in my office.  She showed it to me told me a story of what she had drawn.  It still amazes me how children can go from drawing scribbles to all of sudden going to drawing objects that now look like something.  She was very proud of herself when she drew the "people". 

 

I have many favorite children's books that I enjoy reading. Right now it is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. This book brings back memories from my own childhood but it now also one of my daughter's favorite books. We love to read this book together. I love that it is teaching her rhyming and the lesson of trying new things before saying you do not like it. 

 

 

I have been going back to this quote over the past year in both my personal and professional life.  It's just a nice reminder for me that I need to keep looking forward...

 

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.

~Author Unknown