My Childhood Support Web (Under Construction)

My parents were the strongest, most influencial supports throughout my childhood, though it wasn't until I was a parent that I understood their contributions to my early childhood development. So much of what parents do for their children is invisible even when children seem to see and experience the effort. Does a child really have any idea of what it means for an adult to work two jobs to provide food that they may complain about eating? Not likely until they struggle with the same for their children, thirty years later. I know the support was there, but I sure didn't know it then.

I have three sisters and two brothers, (No wonder my parents didn't give us much individual time!) We grew up in shifts; the three oldest and the three youngest. My brother Bill was the most supportive of us "little girls". He hated to see us cry, and so he was the one who came to the rescue when our fish died, or our bikes fell apart. His girlfriends thought we were cute, and took an interest in our dance lessons and pets. I suppose they were also a part of my emotional support network. My sister Monica was my friend and companion growing up and she still is. We shared everything, yet we were, and still are, very different people. The sibling bond must always be tended by parents with care. It can be the most lasting friendship a person has. I have observed parents dismiss the fighting of their children as normal, but children must learn to treat their brothers and sisters with special care, as their relationship, good or bad, will be lifelong.

I started dance lessons when I was five, and my dance teacher, who was the most beautiful woman I knew, seemed to take an interest in every single student. She laughed with us, and this was different for me to be with an adult who acted like she had fun when we, the kids, were around. We were not work for Margaret Johnson, we were fun. She was my friend well into high school. To this day I am warmed when the teachers I am with sincerely talk and laugh with children. This kind of joyful interaction is powerful and memorable.

I remember neighbors, teachers, extended family who made my life better by their interactions with me, even though they were not a direct part of my early life. Even a neighbor's kindness in passing can be a memorable event. When I was a child, neighbors watched out for the safety of the kids on the street, and kept in touch with other parents about safety or social issues. There was a feeling that most parents on the block could be trusted, even if they weren't yours. These neighborhood relationships may still exist, but they are not the norm anymore.

"The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein is my favorite story to read to my granddaughter. The "Whys" she asks are never easy to answer. This is a psychology lesson disguised as a children's book.

Setting up Early Childhood Blog

I really have no clue about this blog process. I don't understand the navigation or the techno-speak, and so I am not yet aware of how a blog will help me grow.