My connections to Play.

When I was young I played alone a lot because I love pretending and being in the fantasy world. I did play with playmates outside because my mother made me go outside. I was in the choir at church and played the bells at church. My mother encourage me to join these groups to get me out my shell. I was very shy and that is why I played by myself most of the time. I was older than my sisters and I did not play with them as a playmates but more as their mother. They were my children when I use to pretend.  I still day dream and pretend to be someone else. It helps me to get through the trainings at work.

Now children pretend to be what they see on television and video games. They don't go outside as I did and make up games because the video games and television are their friends and sometimes a baby sitter. I encourage my parents to let their children play outside at the park and limit the influence of television and video games and play with them.  I know now as adult the ability to pretend comes in handy because I believe it helps me when I am teaching.

My favorite activity as a child.

My favorite book as I child.

Favorite quotes about play.

Relationship Reflection

I have many relationships in my life but there are four people that are the most important people I have  relationships with in my life. The first was my mother Beverly Smith she shape my life and taught the importance of God and family. She brought me up in church and taught the value of prayer and service to others. She was shaped by my Grandparents Edith and Charles Jones. They brought her up to believe in God and service to others. My mother and grandfather are go on to be with God but my grandmother is still showing me how to be strong through adversity. She is getting older and illness is trying to rule her life but she is a fighter.The fourth and the most important besides my mother is my son. He is graduate of Purdue with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He inspired me to go back to college and get my Masters.

My relationship with my mother was difficult at times because I was very sensitive child but I knew she criticize me with love. I took the criticism to heart sometimes but as I gotten older I wished she said those words more gently but I know she loved me. She learned how to criticize from her mother but spending time with my grandmother made realize my mother 's words were not as mean.  It did make more sensitive to my son but I did slip up and use harsh words sometimes but not without apologizing later. I never thought of my family as partners in life but as my heart and soul. They are much more than partners. I think of them especially the four mention as my reason for living and they are a gift from God. I feel the same way about my children in my classroom because I am their second mother.  Here are photos of special people in my life.  The first photo is of my grandparents and the second photo is one of my mother and third photo is of my precious son.