My Support System

My Dad

My dad has always been my rock, and someone who I can depend on. As a little girl I could remember my dad being the passive one. If I wanted advice without being judged, or getting "in trouble" I would tell my dad. In our relationship we maintained a bond, where we are friends, but I also respect him as my parent. My dad has always "kept it real" with me , no matter the circumstance. As a child I remembered him nurturing me by spending quality time with me. He would take me out on "dates", where I would get all dressed up , go to a nice restaurant, and we would take time to talk about anything I wanted. I appreciate the time that we spent together, even now as an adult. The relationhsip that we worked when I was a child has blossomed since I've become an adult. When in need I can always count on my dad.

My Mom & Sister

My mother passed away four years ago. Since she passed away I've cherished our memories of when she was alive. My mother was a sassy women. She kept up with all the latest fashion, and was always well put together. As an adult she passed her sense of fashion to me. My mother made me feel nurtured by always making sure I was well taken care of. I was her number one priority. As a child, my mother would make breakfast and dinner , while maintaining full time job. I always imagined my mother as a super woman. She was strong, sassy, and beautiful. As a woman today I remember most her strength. When times get rough ,I remember how strong she was, and I remember that I can do all things.

My sister, and I have always remained close through our lives. My sister is two years older than me, and has always lived true to ger title "BIG" sister. Our parents made my sister responsible for me. Anywhere my sister went, I went. Even as adults we maintain a close relationship. My sisters nurtured me by being my role model. Through thick and thin she stands my side. If I make a mistake she is there to counsel me. I look up to her as a role model, and as a friend. My sister is one of my closest friends.

My Godmother



This is my godmother. This is one of my favorite pictures of her. She’s one of my favorite people. She’s one of my role models.She gets me. She makes me want to be a better person. She loves me just the way I am. She allows me to vent all my terrible and dream all my fantastic. She made time to talk to me as I kid, and offer guidance. She’s taught me to love fiercely. To be wise and patient and kind when it is not always in our natures. To laugh really, really hard. To forgive myself. To forge ahead. To seek my happiness.To listen to my gut. To know my worth.



My Counselor

“God willing,” these are two words that my counselor often spoke. She has a positive spirit and she believes in God. She always said “treat everybody the way you want to be treated, and never take for granted the talent that God has given you”. My counselor is very proud person, and she is bearing of dignities . Anyone’s who knows her respects her. She always advised me to go to school and get an education. Her words are always nurturing and kind. I remember her words about how is important the education and the knowledge. She is full of energy and still cares about everyone .

Childhood Connections To Play

Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” – O. Fred Donaldson

“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct.” – Carl Jung

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

“Do not keep children to their studies by compulsion but by play.” – Plato

“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

Play Is Important

Play is truly the ‘work’ of childhood. Offering a child ample opportunities to play in a variety of settings and with a variety of materials is essential to that child's development.

Benefits of play

It facilitates cognitive development by helping a child develop skills in concentration, memory, perseverance, and motivation.

It advances social development. Playing develops simple skills such as taking turns, and more complex skills such as rule making.

Some forms of play afford children the opportunity to face their fears in a non-threatening way through role play. For instance a child who has just returned from a hospital stay may play out this episode many times with his friends. This will help him overcome the fears and anxieties he may have experienced while in hospital.

It provides the ideal opportunity to explore the world without risk. The opportunity to spend many hours exploring their surroundings enables children to get to know their physical surroundings and learn about the world around them.

Children are naturally active and play encourages physical activity. Rough and tumble play and climbing, jumping, and running all contribute to a child's physical development and wellbeing.

Enjoyable play is important to a child's emotional wellbeing. Children who enjoy imaginative play have been shown to be more likely to smile, to be curious, to show an interest in new experiences, and to express joy in play and in peer relationships.

Encouraging your child to play

As a parent there are a number of things you can do to encourage your child to play:

Recognise the importance of play in your child's life. As parents we tend to place a greater emphasis on schoolwork and educational activities. Remember though that your child will also benefit from plenty of unstructured time when he can play either alone or with his friends or yourself.

From a parent's point of view, a small child's play routine can be boring and repetitive. I'm sure you have all had the experience of picking up an object that has been thrown on the floor for the umpteenth time! Your baby is still enjoying it but you’re beginning to feel that he is making fun of you! Actually your child is simply learning about his physical environment and his ability to control it.

Most parents are tempted to use play to teach their child something. While this is appropriate sometimes, you need to beware of doing this too often. For instance, many parents are tempted to make a game more complex in the hope of teaching their child a new skill. Children who learn through play do so when play occurs in a relaxed and non-threatening environment. When you try to consciously teach your child skills through play you may be introducing an element of stress to the game and block your child from learning.