MY CONNECTIONS TO PLAY

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

“It’s better to play than do nothing.” ~ Confucius

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I was growing up we wanted to play. I can remember going out in the morning with my sister and staying out side all day. The only time that we went in was to eat, use the bathroom, or cool off. I enjoyed being outside. I was able to go anywhere I wanted in my mind. We would pretend to be at the beach, on an airplane, riding a horse. We used anything that we could find laying around as props. Children today don’t know what that kind of play is. When I had my children I continued to play with them. They had toys and video games, but I made sure that they got the “Quality” type of play that they needed to grow.

Shared a bike with my sister.

Tippy Tumble was my favorite doll.

Making mud pies was the bomb!

On the weekend when my mother wasn’t working she took us to the park or out to eat She always bought games that we played together as a family. Monopoly was my favorite board game. She also bought me a deck of cards that she taught me how to count and add with. We were very creative in making the things that we had work for us. i took those things that I was taught and used it with my own children.

Play is very different today. We buy our children a lot of electronic gadgets that takes the place of normal play. Children complain about it’s too hot or I’m tired when we suggest they go outside. My children had games, but I made sure they spent time outside. I bought them scooters, bicycles, and a volley ball set to make sure that outside time happened. It was important to me that I spent time with them outside. We went to the park every Sunday after church to ride bikes. Our parents are getting younger, so the television has taken place of play time. I think that because of the play time that I had as a child and the play time that my children had, it has made us more social people. We are all healthy and comfortable in our lives.

Enjoying family time at Myrtle Beach, SC

RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

Relationships are important to me because I know that at some point in life we all are going to need someone. It might not always be a marital relationship. Maybe it is just friendship. It would be a lonely world if it didn’t have relationships. Relationships come in all types. We have marital, business, and family relationships. We can’t run from them. We have good and bad relationships. It doesn’t matter how you look at it, you are in some type of relationship.

My husband is one of the most important people in my life. In the beginning we faced some challenges because of our age differences. He was set in his ways and so was I. We both had been single for a few years, so we had to learn how to let someone enter into our space. The more we got to know each other we realized that we weren’t that different. We had lived across the street from each other for two years before we met. My son will tell you that he deserves the credit for bringing us together.

My two sons are my precious gifts from GOD. They are eleven years apart. My oldest son is twenty-five years old. He has only seen his father about 5 times, so it has only been the two of us for most of his life. When he was in high school he got a job just to help me pay for his class ring, senior pictures, and graduation packet. He is now a Registered Nurse. He overcame all the struggles that we had when he was growing up.

My youngest son is thirteen years old. I often tell him he has an “Old Soul”. He tries so hard to follow in his brother’s footsteps. He wants to make him proud of him. They have a special relationship because they are all they have. They spend as much time together as my oldest son’s schedule will allow. The only rule that we have established and is ongoing is that the last words we say to each other is “I LOVE YOU”. My son calls me everyday just to tell me. My youngest son gives me kisses throughout the day.

The relationship that I have with the children in my class in special. They know that my hugs and kisses are genuine. I have such a bond with them. If I leave the classroom I can hear some of them crying because they want to walk down the hall with me. I am a very nurturing person and I treat the children in my class the way I want my own child to be treated. All my kids come in with different situations. I want to give them the love and nurturing that they deserve. A child knows when someone is being “Real” with them. Because I have a good relationship with my kids, it makes the day go easier. Not everyday is a good day, but for the most part I have a good group of children who like getting hugs. They are my babies. Some of them have a different type of relationship with me. There is one that is so attached that she cries if I am not there. She always ask me where I am going. Her mother said she calls my name in her sleep. A lot of times I can get them to do things that their parents can’t.

My mother is my rock. I am so proud of her. She raised me to be independent and not to settle for anything other than what I deserve. She made so many sacrifices for me and my sister. I can talk to her about anything. It doesn’t matter what time of night. If I need to call her she will answer and listen to me. She gives me good advice, but still lets me know that it is my decision in the end. I could never begin to thank her enough for everything that she has done for me. Our relationship is one that is beyond mother/daughter. I have heard people say that you can’t be friends with your children.  That is not true in this case. My mother is my friend. She gives me tough love when I need it.

My sister has been my support. She is younger, but she has always been there for me. I met my brother when I was twenty-five years old. We have a bond that is so tight that you wouldn’t know that we have only know each other for 15 years. Our love is one that cannot be defined.

Relationships should be built on trust and honesty. It doesn’t matter what type of relationship it is. As you can see from my pictures, family is important to me. When everything else is gone at the end of the day you still have family. It is important to me that I have people in my life who won’t bring my spirits down. I cannot be around negative people. If I talk to them, but nothing changes then I know that they are not the people for me. In every relationship there are going to be some good and bad, but if it is a relationship that is worth having you can work out the differences.