Relationship Reflection - Week 2 EDUC 6161

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me because a support system of positive people in my life helps me to stay positive and focused. I honestly believe if I did not have positive people in my life, I would have made a lot of bad decisions or decisions that took me away from my passions and dreams. Having a solid foundation of kind and influential people in my life has saved my life many times. 

I only focus on partnerships in life that are positive. I have no time for negative people or negative influences in my life. However, I am aware that people come into my life for a reason, season, or a lifetime. There are several people in my life whom I believe will be a part of my life for a lifetime. From the first moment I met these individuals, I have had a positive relationship with them. I have a special connection with each one of them for valid reasons. 

Dana is a friend of mine who I connect with on a spiritual level. She helps me to continue to have faith in God. When I have disappointing moments or hard times, she reminds me that God has a purpose for me. Her kindness and support helped me through my divorce and during my move to Italy. She is truly one of my most valuable friends I have. A factor that contributes to the developing and maintaining of my relationship with Dana is our bond in faith. We both have a deep understanding that God will see us through anything. 

Christina has been my best friend since I was twelve years old. She knows me better than anyone on the planet, except for my mother. She knows exactly what to say to me to calm me down and lift me up. Over the years, her advice and support has influenced me to proud of my achievement and to keep believing in my dreams. A factor that contributes to the developing and maintaining of my relationship with Christina is the belief that we both have that God created us both for each other. Also, we both believe that nothing can separate us and that we will always be there for each other. 

I will always put God first, but my mother will always be the most important relationship I have in my life. My mother’s constant love and faith in me has always made me feel special. I know that I can never disappoint her and that she will always support me through my trials and tribulations. A factor that contributes to the developing and maintaining of my relationship with my mother is the fact that she is all I have, and I am grateful to have her has my mother. Most of my immediate family members have passed away. My mother has always been a constant in my life. We maintain our relationship with each other by always speaking to each other from our hearts and never letting anyone come between us. 

Some challenges to developing and maintaining relationships that I have learned from years of experience over time is distance. I have moved numerous times in my life. To maintain friendships and a relationship with my mother I have had to keep and maintain a line of communication. When I was a child, I would write letters. Now, I use social media, phone calls, email, and text messages to maintain communication between myself and the ones I care about.  Having to keep in communication with friends and family over the years has taught me how to keep in communication with parents. I know and value the importance of keeping in touch with friends and family. Therefore, I know how important it is to make sure families are communicated with about their children. 

Some of the special characteristics of these relationships that make some a partnership is the understanding between me and them that we will try to communicate as much as possible. I believe there is mutual unwritten agreement between myself and others that we will stay in touch. I believe when you genuinely want a partnership with someone you will try to communicate with them as much as possible. Another special characteristic is honesty. My mother and friends all know that I speak from heart and speak the truth. They know that I will always tell them the truth, even when they do not want to hear it. 

My experiences with relationships, including my ability to be an active, reflective contributor, will impact my work as an effective early childhood professional because I understand the importance of having communication with families about their children. In order to maintain a positive relationship communication must be continuous and provide each party with relevant information. Just as my friends and my mother want to know what is happening my life, parents want to know what is happening in their children’s lives. They want to know their children’s weaknesses and strengths. My mother and friends genuinely want to know how they can help me be successful in my life. Parents want to know how they can help their children be successful. I am a bridge between parents and their children. My purpose in life is to assist parents with their children’s development. One way I assist parents is by having a line of communication with them at all times.