Just the right tools for success…

As a child, my parents supported my need for play by allowing me to have playdates with my next door neighbor and as I got older, allowing me to “hang out” with my fellow teenage friends. This relationships and our interactive playdates set the stage for me to be free and explore all that my mind and it’s imagination had to offer.

One of the key differences between the play of today and the play of children from my generation is the advancement of technology. When I was a child, video games were just making waves for having a color screen. The biggest and most popular system at the time was the Nintendo 64, and it was amazing that we were able to hunt for ducks, rescue the princess and drive the cars. It all felt so real; it was like bringing the arcade into our home. Today’s generation of video games is much different than what we had and therefore, our lack of dependence on the video games and technology allowed us to exercise our minds. We had no choice but to continue to utilize our brains and creative juices to sustain a full playdate, so to speak. The tables have since turned and children of today have video games that think for them, in addition to promoting a violent and over-sexualized society. Games like Grand Theft Auto gives children an intrinsic awareness of behaviors and actions that reflect today’s society. Smartphones, tablets and laptops give them constant connection to the word and to each other, so much so that the need for playdates seems to be dwindling.

It is my hope that the children of today’s society and their parents learn how to embrace the advancements that have been offered to us, yet with an understanding that it doesn’t mean our brains no longer have to work. In order to achieve social success, we must put a bit of work into making it happen. Allowing our creativity to be sparked and imaginations to explore, we can promote positive interactions and less reliance on technology.

 

The most important…

The most important man in my life is my Daddy. Yes, I’m 32 years old and still call him Daddy. He taught me that I am beautiful, I am strong, I am smart, I am loved and I am ok. The comfort and level of safety that I felt with him at 2, 3, and 4 years old has been magnified, as an adult. Were it not for my Dad, there were many things I doubt I could’ve made it through but he was always right there, supporting me, guiding me and most of all, loving me. I am the epitome of a ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’ and I wouldn’t give that title up for anything in this world. This relationship is especially important to me, as a professional in the early childhood field, because so many of today’s students are living in single-parent households, with an absentee father. I am blessed that my father has been in my life since day 1. Is he perfect? NO. And honestly, one of the things my mother says in times of negativity is that “He sucks as a husband, but he’s a damn good father”. In my father’s eyes, I can do no wrong. Because of this, I never wanted to do wrong-I never wanted to be seen differently in my father’s eyes. Sure, I messed up the way any child would but the difference in his discipline style versus my mother is what strengthened our bond. My dad wouldn’t yell, he wouldn’t give me a spanking, he wouldn’t ground me. He would simply talk to me and for that I am forever grateful. It taught me how to have patience with children, it taught me to always let them talk-just because they are children does NOT mean they do not have a voice, an opinion, a story, a reason or an excuse. Let them voice that.

My dad’s going to be 75 years old this summer and each day, I thank God for him and the blessings we have been able to share together. The relationship a woman has with her father is the foundation for her future relationships. I know this to be true, as I am living it and so are many of my friends and family.