Relationships are important to me because I value people as individuals and I strongly believe that all people have something different to offer. I place the highest value on my familial relationships; I try to maintain a strong connection with my family, even those that are a distance away. Technology has definitely made it easier to stay in touch with my family; facebook, twitter, Instagram, face time, and email are the forms of communication that I use heavily. I can post pictures, comments, and view them as well during my convenience. It is important to stay in touch with my family and to know what is going on because we are family and we should be able to rely on each other and feel that sense of belonging.
Friendships and acquaintances are also important to me because friends can sometimes be closer to you than family. Strong friendships allow you to go through difficult times and not feel alone, they fill the void of not having family near by, and friends are great stress relievers. Friendships present opportunities to open up and allow yourself to express emotions and feelings. Friends teach us some of life's most important lessons; and they are awesome to have around. Acquaintances are similar to friends but we do not allow them to get as close to us because we not see them as often, or we may not feel able to trust them. Acquaintances can be coworkers, people we see often in places such as doctors offices, grocery stores, family/friends functions, etc. In the 21st century with all the present competition, it is all about who you know, not what you know. The more people you build rapport with, the better; you never know who you will need in a lifetime.
The main relationship that I have right now is with my husband. We are newly weds and we had been together 5 years before we go married. We met in high school and had typical high school drama between ourselves. After 3 years we decided to have our daughter Lilly and of course a baby brought on stress to me as a college student, and him as a man in the workforce. We had to work hard to maintain and build our communication skills as well as develop our relationship. My husband and I decided to sit down one day and have a conversation and I remember feeling like I could tell him what I needed to say without feeling like he would dislike me afterwards. My relationship with my husband taught me to say exactly how I felt and not let it stay bottled up because it only gets worse. It showed me that if people respect you and truly value you, they will respect your opinion and listen openly to what you have to say. My husband and I have created a partnership, we discuss everything amongst each other and view each others point of view objectively to make sure we make the right decisions. Our communication is the best it has ever been because we have established respect, openness, honesty, and true commitment.
My relationship with my mother is also important to me since she serves as my main support and cheerleader. She and I do not always get along because she is very protective and wants the best for me. Although I did not always see it that way, once I allowed myself to see things from her point of view, I realized that she was not trying to make my life miserable, she just wanted me to make the right choices. My relationship with my mother showed me that just because she thinks I am making the wrong decision, does not necessarily mean that I am. We had to learn to agree to disagree; we never had an "I told you so" moment because we respect each other. As I was growing up and becoming independent, my mother struggled because I am the baby of my family. She wanted to be involved with my daughter and make key decisions and be involved with those decisions. I had to make my mother understand that I was capable of making wise choices and that I would consult her when I needed her. This relationship is important to me because she cares for me and I need my mother, but sometimes she oversteps her bounds and I must take a step back and let her know how I feel. I learned how to be sensitive to others needs while making sure that my point is stated.
I have a good relationship with my colleagues and administration but it could be better. I often feel intimidated by them because I am new but I am slowly asserting myself. In meetings I have thoughts, ideas, comments, and concerns and I usually do not speak up because I do not want to disturb the "order". These relationships are not beneficial but they are necessary. I have to make sure that I can work comfortably and have support for when I need help. I plan to build upon these relationships by engaging in one on one conversation, attending extra professional development sessions, and participating in clubs to build upon relationships with teacher advisors. This situation has shown me that it is important to build upon relationships while being yourself; you may be in an uncomfortable predicament and people will not always be so open to you, but you have to put forth effort. If we can recognize our biases then we can work through our differences.
Challenges come when we are close minded, others are close minded and we refuse to view others point of view. We often have prejudices and biases that govern how we act and react to people; if we are open and objective to our feelings and place them aside, relationships would come easy and would not seem like such a hassle or chore. In my career as an early childhood professional, my experience with relationships can help me remain open to new ideas, help me place a value on relationships, and allow me to know what it is like to be secluded.
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