My Supports

Happy Saturday lovelies :)

I hope this week has been a good one for everyone. I have had both a traumatic and exciting week but feel indifferent to it all due to the timing of everything and how everything is currently playing out. 

I find it ironic how this week's blog is about our support systems and how they keep us grounded. This past Sunday, June 11th, 2017, I was sexually assaulted my a former lover of mine. It was a traumatic experience and one I am currently dealing with privately. I feel dazed, confused, and often replay that evening over in my head repeatedly to see if there was something maybe I did wrong since law enforcement here in Chicago practice victim/slut shaming when called to investigate attempted rape cases- but I digress. 

I also was recently hired by the Ministry of Education in Ecuador to teach English to pre-k children for a year and will be leaving Monday. 

So much excitement and trauma has occurred within the last seven days that I am a mixture of emotions and unsure how to feel. But one thinf remains sure is that without my support system, I would be a wreck and lost without guidance. 

Even before my current events, my support systems have been consistent and a driving force in my life. 

My number one support system is my faith in GOD. I know that despite all things past, present, and future that may be negative or positive GOD will guide me through it with grace and humility. My favorite bible verse since I was a kid, and the only one I truly remembered verbatim, is: "I can do all thibgs through Christ which strengthens me"; Phil: 4:13. 

I live that verse in my daily life through my troubling and exciting times because it tella me I can do anything. From learning to turn my pain of losing my only son into love for others to taking another position in another country despite fear, to persuing my Master's; I can do it all with Christ by my side. 

My second support system is my family and friends. 

My family and friends have always been by my side. I have three best friends I have known aince junior year of high school that I am still as close, if not closer, to this day. After almost ten years of friendship, they are considered family more than friends. 

My family and friends are my support system because they aren't afraid to tell me the truth and are there for me when I lose my way. Family and friends have your best interest at heart and only want what is best for you; despite what you may have for yourself.  

My mother is a very opinionated lady whom I love to death. She feels that going abroad again isn't the best career move for me but supports me anyway. She feels I should find permanent employment and root somewhere. Ultimately, that is the plan; but not on her timeline. She only wants what's best for me even if we bump heads about it. 

Same for my best friends. They feel I should take a semster off to deal with the recent happenings of my life and maybe they are right; but I don't want to put my life on pause whether it be professionally or educationally because of a bump in the road. I know myself better than anyone and if anything, school serves as a release for me because it keeps my mind busy. 

Ultimately, between my faith and my family/friends, I have a strong support network that keep me grounded and guided throughout my personal and professional journey. Without them, it would be difficult to undertand how to deal with life and life's unique situations . 

 To have a quality support system means to have a foundation that strengthens your growth and development through your process of finding yourself. We as educators are the foundational support systems for our students much like our support systems are to us. We are here to ensure the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical neess are met of each child while ensuring that we build close-knit relationships where we can enter their personal space and support them in difficult areas of development with guidance, nurturing, and understanding. 

My Connections to Play

Happy Friday friends!

After a long work week working with the kiddos, I just want to "play" by getting into my favorite pajamas, firing up Netflix, and sipping sangria with my hubby.

Speaking of play, our topic this week has been all about childhood play and how important it is in terms of development. We established that play is essential in developing social, physical, and cognitive skills in children while also learning that play has different variations and cultural backgrounds.

Growing up, play was different for me than some of my peers. I grew up on Chicago's south side and didnt live in the best of neighborhoods. Running around outside in grassy fields ans meadows is uncommon for me while playing kickball with my friends was something I never heard off until middle-school.

Play for me was double-dutch on the street until the street lights came on, block party dance contest to Chicago juke music, and Saturday night skate parties at "The Rink" with my friends.

Due to the area of my upbringing, I wasnt allowed outside much and going to a neighborhood park was not common unless it was the one downtown where it was safe- and that was every so often.  When I was outside, I socialized with my friends from school and my block; jumping double dutch and slurping on bomb pop popscicles for $1 while the boys played basketball at the court across the street fron us.

Play is different than it was when I was a child because it is very technology driven. Children arent encouraged to go out and be active anymore and are more interested in their mobile devices and electronics than getting dirty and sweaty in the summer heat. When I was younger, my mother would force me out the house just to get active and "be social".

I had family and friends support me during my play as it was engrained into my culture and background upbringing. Soing much od anything else would deviate from the social norms at the time. As an adult, I apprecoate ny mother encouraging me to branch out and become social with other young ladies because I could sometimes be a loner. My mother was concerned with my social development and felt outside interaction and play would create friendships- which they did.

If I could pick two quotes to describe my childhood play they would be:

"Hey Chanel (Yeah?)...Are you ready (For What?)....To Jig (Jig what?)....JIGALO"- Childhood Game Lyrics

"Be back in this house before them street lights come on!" - Black mothers in America