"MY CONNECTIONS TO PLAY"
 

 

It’s better to play than do nothing.
 

Confucious

 

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” 
 

 Fred Rogers

Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.

Kay Redfield Jamison

   

These images tells of the importance of play. 

 

                  Playing the game and singing the song, "Oh Mary,  Mack, Mack, Mack"! 

Hopscotch, those were the days!  

 

 

Summer beach vacations at Wild Wood N.J.   

 

 

 

Jump rope was my biggest time of play 

 

 

 

The love of JACKS..

 

During my childhood years, play was the most important part of my life. We loved to be outdoors, all day and everyday. My parents did not have to make me go outdoors to play or move me away from a television or some type of  electronic device, except for the record player. I automatically played indoors and outdoors almost everyday as long as homework was completed. My pictures above display the types of activities that kept me occupied as a child. We made up games, played hide and go seek, clapped hands and made up songs, jumped lots of jump rope, rode bikes, played jacks and played dodge ball. These are just a few of the play activities I really enjoyed. I was a tomboy and loved to chase and play with my brothers. While keeping up with my brother, and riding on the handle bars of the bike, I fell off and broke my collar bone. I still remember the incident and spent my first grade year in a shoulder sling.

Play was supported by teachers, parents and communities. It was just the natural thing to do. Within school settings, we were required to have recess, which was about 50 to 55 minutes a day. This was the most fun part of the day where we had a chance to run, skip and jump, and most importantly, hang with our friends and buy pretzels and brownies for 15 cents during my elementary and middle school years. As I moved to high school, physical education was offered. We spent at least 3 days out of the week doing physical education classes. Parents also supported play. We were outdoors and playing in parks, and streets all the time. My parents did not mind us being outside as long as chores and homework was done. Our communities also encouraged play. We experienced many days where growing up in our community consisted of play days. Our community would close down the block and turn on the fire hydrant and we would have fun splashing in the water.

Today's play activities are quite different than when I was growing up. In school, at home or in communities,  play is down played and not given the balance that children need to become and remain healthy. Children today are far more interested in electronics and technology. Sitting in front of  smart phones, computers and everything electronic is the language children speak today.  Communities, schools, parents and programs should go back to the basics and help promote and engage children in the importance of play and incorporate it in standards and curriculum. Children will become smarter, healthier, and happier and able to cope with future circumstances.

RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION 


In my life my relationships are very important. I believe that every human being placed on this planet was meant to have relationship with someone. When relationships are established with individuals, I believe, they are meant to be built upon, nurtured, strengthened and guarded. Relationships puts us in partnership with others. We are expected to give of ourselves and give to other people. Whether it is meant to be for a season or for a lifetime they can bring satisfaction, understanding, joy, pain and love. Without relationships people are lonely and feel all by themselves. When God created relationships, he meant for individuals to have connection and communication with others. These connections and/or relationships can be developed in the form of marital, parental, sibling, children, friendships, classmates, work and also pet relationships.  

Throughout my lifetime, I have seen relationships come and go but the ones that are special and ordained are the ones that we have to protect and not allow anything or anybody to come against what you and those individuals have established.  There are several relationships and partnerships that I have, need and protect in my life.  Sharing myself and them sharing themselves with me has been such a blessing in my life. 
 


My Husband & Me...

One of the most important relationships in my life is with my husband, Cecil and friend of 27 years.  We have been together forever and have made our marriage work. Over the years, we have learned to give and take, learned many things from one another, and have learned to protect what we have built. In so doing, the biggest success is that we have learned to listen and communicate. We communicate and tell each other how we feel and what our needs are.  It has not been easy but we have learned how to pour into each others lives. We tell the truth and hold one another accountable when we are in the wrong. We deliberately make and spend time together and have learned how to cultivate our marriage. I have studied this man and he has studied me and we both know what is important to one another. I know his love language and that has taught me how to effectively relate to him. One of the characteristics that he brings in our relationship is joy and laughter. I have always been a serious person and he has taught me how to relax and have fun over the years. Because of my upbringing that was something that I struggled with. He has taught me not to stress and let things go and move on. I love the woman that I have become and love being me. My husband has spent over 20 plus years in the military and is an excellent leader. He has also taught me many great leadership skills. I love this man to the moon and back!

                                                   Legacy- Four Generations, My mother, daughter & grand baby.      

In this photo is a picture of my mother (Barbara) left, my oldest daughter, (Corinne) center  and my oldest grand daughter, (Khloe) when she was a baby. I share this picture as it reminds me of the wonderful relationships I have with my mother and have established with my own daughter who is also now a mother.  Represented here is four generations of a mother, a daughter, a granddaughter and a great grand daughter. Our relationships have birthed forth the characteristic of strength. My mother has always provided her unconditional love, understanding, and support.  All that she has taught me has now been given and poured into the lives of my daughters. She has been a wonderful mentor and role model and a listening ear. In turn, my daughter has been taught and given all that my mother has instilled in me to give to her own children. My mother, my rock.  A virtuous women who can find...We represent relationships that are loving, caring and nurturing. 

 

                                                             Friends for life...Yolanda, Angelic & Barbara

This is one of my favorite pictures of two of my closes friends. This was taken last year at the Joyce Meyer Women's conference in St. Louis. Mo. We have been friends for over fifteen years now.  We have all been together through thick and thin. We have laughed, cried, yelled, supported, encouraged and gave lots of hugs to one another. Our relationship is built on love, understanding, truth and commitment. We tell each other just about everything, and when we are wrong and right. We cheer each other on and of course when the other goes through we all go through and we are there for one another. Our relationship took time to build and grow but we decided that we all enjoyed being around one another and loved one another so we decided to make it work. I'm glad to have friends like these two ladies!

                                                                         Co-workers, Patsy & Rebecca  

Attached is a photo of two of my co-workers within Child, Youth & School Services, Family Child Care program. These two are amazing and provide support in our program.  We have established a bond of loyalty and friendship and share the same common goals for the children and youth, and families that we impact in our program and organization. We have been together for the past four years and have grown very fond of one another.  I wouldn't trade this team of staff in for the world. They are loyal, and dedicated to the mission of Child & Youth Services... We are able to communicate effectively, and share problems or concerns with one another.  We have all gleaned and have learned something from each other as we all are different. Patsy is silly and always the happy one, Rebecca is the mellow one and is strong and supportive, and of course, I'm the serious one and we all bring out the best in each other.  They are my dynamic duo and I appreciate them very much..