My Supports

            In knowing I have a reliable alarm clock (phone), a minivan for transportation, and steady income to fluently support my household operation and livelihood is a blessing. This is crucially important because I have children from ages 1 to 8 years old that have individualized diverse needs. Isabelle attends a Durham early head start childcare center, Christina, Maddison, and Gabrielle attends the Duke school and my two great-nephews that my husband and I take care of attends Spring Valley Elementary school. All of these schedules have different start times but, my husband and I ensure they are there on time every day. “Children are influenced and motivated by the way significant people in their lives respond to them” (Empowering Children and Families Through Strength-Based-Assessment, 2014).

            My mother assists with getting my two great-nephews on the public-school bus. Syariah, our nanny comes three days out the week assisting my mother with the children’s homework, exercise and extra activities scheduled while my husband or I get dinner ready. Girl scouts help my girls build character and therapy helps my great-nephews transition from their former dysfunctional home to a more structured, secure loving environment. “Behavior management, problem-solving, and communication skills through in-home family preservation services would interrupt the pattern of escalating conflict in the family and thus increase family involvement” (Empowering Children and Families Through Strength-Based-Assessment, 2014). I appreciate Carla for teaching my children Spanish twice a week and Jasmine who braids all my girl's hair as needed. Even though these services are paid for, the enhancement of the children’s growth and wellbeing allows my husband and me to facilitate the business operation for running a home of six children, two adults, and one senior. An example of these facilitations is, paying bills, grocery shopping, cooking, washing laundry and household maintenance.

            When raising six children I do not have enough adult hands to help facilitate maintaining a healthy balance in keeping on schedule.  This would be ten times more stressful and nearly impossible if I didn’t have a community that renders a wealth of support. I can’t be all things to all people at one time and still maintain some sense of personal identity. I would feel depleted and inept to meet the daily emotional, phycological, cognitive nurturing needs of my family. I wouldn’t be able to identify my own quality of health and fulfillment. As I aspire to achieve my MS. Edu, I need my community and support system now more than ever. I keep the Sabbath as a respite to put all the demands of life down so I can reflect and renew my energy to excel at my most impactful effort in the upcoming week. I am so blessed to have these supports in my life. “When assessment is used to focus on strengths, it provides a method for mobilizing competencies and resources that can make a positive difference for children and their families” (Empowering Children and Families Through Strength-Based-Assessment, 2014).

            If I could have additional support systems, I would have a 24hr live-in nanny, a housekeeper, chauffeur, personal workout coach and chef along with the financial substance to support my wish list. This would free me up tremendously so I could focus more on my children and give them the nurturing attention that they crave.  “Areas targeted for skill development included improving interpersonal and affective skills as well as increasing family involvement” (Empowering Children and Families Through Strength-Based-Assessment, 2014). This wish list will simultaneously allow me to schedule dedicated un-interrupted time to focus on my personal business ventures.

            Currently, my wish list does not exist however, I’m truly thankful and blessed for the things that do exist in my life. To have what I have and to be without the things on my wish list motivates me to press forward and be a model for my children. This allows me to live a fulfilling and blessed life establishing a positive blueprint for my children.

Reference

Empowering Children and Families Through Strength-Based-Assessment. (2014). Retrieved        2019, from https://rhyclearinghouse.acf.hhs.gov/library/2000/empowering-children-and-         families-through-strength-based-assessment.