Relationship Reflection

• Explain why relationships/partnerships are important to you

Relationships are extremely important because it helps build strong bonds and it is a strong component to being mentally healthy. I believe relationships allows us to grow, learn, and be expressive as people. Relationships are not only for human to human contact, but also people to pets. I have heard Doctors recommending to elderly people about getting a pet because it helps to reduce loneliness, stress and so on. We lean on each other for support and comfort, we look forward to having fun and enjoyable moments with one another, and we look to build bonds that can last a long time.

• Identity several people with whom you currently have positive relationships and/or partnerships
• Describe the ways in which each relationship is positive and factors that contributed to developing and maintaining each relationship.
• What do you see as special characteristics of these relationships that make some, if any, partnerships?

There are several people who I currently have positive relationships with. For starters, my family and I have a positive relationship.

My parents always taught me to respect others and treat them the way I wanted to be treated. They would always want me to go to school and do my homework so that I could go to college. My dad always tries to show me the ropes of things like how to use tools, changing the oil to the car, how to drive etc. My mom tries to show me the importance of cooking and always food on the table, doing laundry, and her fair share of knowledge on some of the things my dad taught me. My mom shows me the “tough-love” relationship, while my dad is more relaxed and at ease. Therefore, they always taught me a sense of responsibility, and self-help skills that could come in handy later in life.

My brother could not stand me when we were younger. I am not sure as to why, but as we got older, we were able to form a closer bond (although he still does not like me giving him hugs). I am able to speak to him on just about anything. He is two years older than me, yet we both look to help one another, give our opinions, and always tries to include me in events.

My great-aunt (my grandmother’s sister) is like a grandma to me. She is always so willing to help in any way she can. She would always try to speak to my mom to get her input on things and then relay them to me (especially when my mom was upset with me). She always made it a point to understand someone else’s point of view, but also to realize I need to live my life.

Overall, they show me the importance of family. No matter what, even if we are having an argument or struggling on a situation, we always have each other’s back. These positive relationships contributed to development because I was able to have people to guide me in various ways. I was and still am fortunate to have these people in my life, even if they get on my nerves, they are doing to help me. There are not any special characteristics that we have besides

Another important positive relationship I have is with my fiancé. We have been together for 10 years, and we have been through the good times and the bad. We got together when we were 16 years old, and fell in love. Of course, the first year or so, you feel like you are in wonderland because everything is so perfect. As time passed, we got in too many fights, break-ups (that lasted a day), make-ups, back to loving each other and the repeated cycle. Not that everything is butterflies and fairies now, but we have grown to a point where we do not let things get that hectic. He taught me that although at times we may like/want/need different things, we are always very supportive towards each other. He always encourages me to follow my dreams, work toward a better future, and succeed. Love is about being there for someone who you love through thick and thin.

• Describe insights regarding challenges to developing and maintaining the relationships that you learned from your experience over time

Sometimes life takes us on different pathways, and the relationships we had sometimes do not last. I have experienced this with my high-school friends; they were a wonderful group of people. We were constantly having our own stupid-silly moments, and I loved them so much that I considered them my family. After high school, things just kind of went downhill because everyone became too busy. One of my friends passed away last year because she was undergoing problems, which she never expressed to me, and she took her own life. I will never regret knowing them, and although I speak to one of them occasionally, they will always be my family. They taught me the value of friendship, and how close of a bond people can form to one another. Sadly, the bond faded because life took its course but the memories of those times will be forever.

• How might your experiences with relationships/partnerships, including your ability to be active, reflective contributor, impact your work as an effective early childhood professional?

My experiences with relationships/partnerships impacts my work as an educator because it helps me understand that not everyone is fortunate enough to have positive relationships. Although they may experience negative relationships, there are times were people do not let that impact their lives. Therefore, I wish to improve the ways I build these relationships towards families and their children, so that they can experience a different kind of bond toward their child’s teacher. By doing this, they can understand there are people out there that are willing to help others in any aspect they can.