My Connections to Play

Play for my as a child was both structured and unstructured. At the age of 5 I started swimming on a competitive team and participating in ballet and tap lessons. However, my favorite time of play was when I was with my best friend Brittany and our neighborhood friends Rodney and Miguel. If I could go back to that time I would have all 4 of us outside playing tag, making up games, engaging in a game of hide-and-seek and our arguments. As a child (and now my husband would agree) I was bossy. I wanted to run the show, which sometimes did not go over well with the boys and they didn't want to play with me. If we were not running the street we were in my backyard swimming and making up diving games, pretending to be mermaids, or seeing who could hold their breathe the longest. Those days were the greatest though. There wasn't stress just play. If we were thirsty we drank from the hose with the fear if we went in the house we would have to stay in the house. Our only clock was the glow of the street lights. The adults on our block watched after all the kids. All throughout the day you heard our laughter, tears when we scratched up our legs, and us arguing when I was being too bossy. For me play was and is still essential. My type of play now is much different than it was at child but nonetheless still around. Playing as a child was essential for me. Through play I had to learn that when you are not willing to compromise people do not want to play with you, I learned how to manage my feelings and I believe it also helped me to be a leader. Play as an adult keeps me sane. It reminds me that life does not always have to be so serious, I learn new skills, and most importantly I laugh and smile the whole time.

Play today is something much more different. When a kid these days say they are going to play they turn on a game system, computer, or tablet. It is not too often children are choosing to get up, get out and play. With the advancement and popularity of technology outdoors is not much of an interest. However, I will say it is not just technology. Times have changed in the sense of community. Families keep to themselves in their homes in fear of the unknown, violence floods streets making it unsafe to have a foot race, and people are losing their homes making it much harder to establish roots and trust. I believe being aware of the shift in types of play it is even more important to make sure children are getting those opportunities to get out and play.


Below are quotes and images that express and show my idea of my childhood play experiences:

Pausing to listen to an airplane in the sky, stooping to watch a ladybug on a plant, sitting on a rock to watch the waves crash over the quayside - children have their own agendas and timescales.  As they find out more about their world and their place in it, they work hard not to let adults hurry them.  We need to hear their voices.  ~Cathy Nutbrown

The quote to the left expresses my thoughts about out childhood as a whole 

 

Always jump in the puddles! Always skip alongside the flowers. The only fights worth fighting are the pillow and food varieties. Terri Guillemets

 

I chose the image to the right because play for me was always social

 

 

As a child my friends and I were always making some kind of mess and Brittany and I still laugh about our adventures to this day.

I love this because parents these days are always worried about their children getting messy and wanting to play in a mud puddle. We were always messy and it was ok because we got tossed into the bath each night.

My childhood friends and I learned to skate together on our little fisher price skates and from there once we got older we would roller blade to get ice cream.

The Swimming pool. Being on a swim team I lived in the pool and Brittany was right there with me. We would swim until we could not see, our hands looked old, or we were tore out of the pool. We would pretend that there were sharks in the pool and we were beautiful mermaids.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships to me are vital. I view each relationship I have as a piece that makes me up as a whole. God is my foundation. He helps to keep me going on a daily basis and reminds me continuously that he has a plan for my life. Next is my family. My family is not made up of simply my blood. My family also consist of a close group of friends which many I have know since I myself was a toddler and others I met in my early adolescence and most recently in my new career. My family is simple amazing and supportive from my husband and kids, to my parents, siblings, and my friends. Each of us makes it a point to encourage one another and to remember that God woke us up today and gave us each a skill to help others.

Me Worshiping at the Harvest Crusades:  

As I mentioned my relationship with God is amongst the most important relationship that I have. Through him I am able to love, be a wife to my husband, a mother to my children, a daughter, sister, aunt, friend and to use the gift he has given me to work with children and families.

My Family: My husband Kendrick and I are still newlyweds. Our relationship functions by communication, trust, and unconditional love. We make it a point to have date nights and put our kids to bed by 8:30 each night as to give ourselves time to check in with one another. My older son Myles is my step-son. This is a wonderful relationship that he and I share. We talk about our days, spend one on one time together, but ultimately I let him know that he is mine and always will be. The youngest one is my baby boy Harvey. He and I have a relationship that only a mother and son can know. He is the only one who knows what my heart beat sounds like from the inside. We spend our time cuddling, reading, talking, and watching Veggie Tales. 

 

 

 My sisters and I: These two women are amazing creatures. My sister Desiree on the left lives in Texas and it a Lt. in the Navy. We maintain our relationship through communication. Random text messages to say that we are thinking about one another or quick phone conversations to say hello. My sister to the right Yolanda, lives in California. She is a wonderful example of a wife, mother, and friend. Though we are only 45mins away from one another we still do not get to see each other as often as we would like. We make it a point to try and talk every day and have sister days when permitted. Both of my sisters and myself make sure that we stay contacted and communicate with what is going on in our lives. We are  Best Friends!

 

 

 

My Mother (in the middle) and my Father (below with my son Harvey)

 

My relationships with these two people is one full of open communication, love and support. I may be grown and with my own family but I know I can always talk to either of them about anything in my life. My mother is like my best friend and my dad is the first man to hold my heart. I adore them both and strive to make them proud in all that I do.

 

My Best Friend Brittany and I Ready for a Mud Run: We were born months apart and have been friends ever since. We see one another maybe 4 times a year and when we do we never skip a beat. We communicate through text messages in between time. When we are together we love to do physical activities and talk about when we were kids. Our  relationship is based off trust and one that will stand the test of time.

Myself, Harvey, Jaclyn and Alec: Jaclyn was my second friend. We met at the age of two and have been friends for the last 24years. She is my amazing photographer, one I can talk to about anything and our sons are now growing up with one another as we did.

 

Harvey, Me and Mike (Harvey's Godfather): Mike and mines friendship is an example of Gods plans in action. Mike and I did not always get along, and really did not become great friends until we were seniors in high school. We then attended college together. From there we were one another support system, counselor, chef, roommates, and anything else the other one needed. He has become my "brother" and my sons God father. We talk on the phone and through text messages at least 3 times a week. We are his other family and his continuous support as he embarks on his journey of life.

Crysten and I met in 1st grade. Our friendship blossomed from our shared first grade teacher. We attended school together since elementary school through high school, shared college experiences, gave birth to our sons within 5 months of one another, and have continued to be sisters in Christ. Our little families have dinner nights together, we talk about life and the changes we are going through and always reflect back on all of our antics. Our friendship is one of trust as we have shared many important life lessons and experiences with each other.

 

Ashley, to the far left, was one of the girls I met in high school. I am her wonderful son Jordan's God Mother. Our friendship later in life took a lot more work and communication. Since a recent dramatic life changing incident in her life we have made it a point to talk almost everyday. Our communication is key to our friendship and relationship. It is our check and balance for one another and a reminder to her that I am never too far away to help make the tears fade, the smile to appear, and the laughter to make our stomachs hurt.

 

 

 

Each relationship with these people is unique and important to me. Not one of them is easily maintained. They all require understanding, communication, love, and respect. We all have different ways of doing things and do not always agree but we always listen to one another and try to understand and be the support the is needed. Each of our relationships keeps us healthy and happy through laughter, tears, food, love, and individual and shared experiences. The people I have shared with you are important people and relationships but of course not the only ones that I cherish and work at each day to maintain. Understanding the work and importance of my personal relationships helps me to work with my families professionally. Each one of the families is unique and needs something different from me. Ultimately they all take love, support, understanding, and patience.