Relationship Reflection

Relationships are like rainbows that come and go through good times and bad times.  Relationships are what make us better at communicating and teaches us social skills and how to express our emotions and feelings.  I have had my share of relationships in which some have come and gone and some have come and stayed.  Relationships are very important to me in which they have developed me into the caring, honest, and helpful person I am today.  The relationships I have developed over the years have taught me many lessons in which I was able to learn and figure out who was for me and who was against me.  Therefore, at the end of the day, the bonds that I have developed and kept are very special to me.
As I sit and think about strong and lasting relationships I have developed, four individuals come to mind.  These are four individuals who have been with me through the good times and the bad and never have they left me alone to deal with things on my own.  I can honestly say these are four individuals who will never lead me in the wrong direction or lead me astray.  These four people are my father, Lee Dukes, my mother, Mary Dukes, my brother, Lee Hodges, and my sister, Chandra Hodges.  The relationships I have with each of these individuals are very positive.  The relationship I have with my father is very loving and special such as bond that father and daughter develops.  He often gives me advice and makes sure no one is trying to take advantage of me.  He is very open and is honest about everything.  The relationship I have with my mother is very strong.  She is my motivator and my guidance counsel in which I can go to her about anything or any problem I am experiencing.  She is my shoulder to lean on and cry on.  The relationship with my sister is very strong in which we are like best friends.  We love to spend hours talking about life and spending time together.  We are honest with each other and have promised each other to always be open regardless of the outcome.  Last, the relationship with my brother is like that of a protective big brother over a little sister.  He has been by my side since day one and I appreciate all of it.  He is the type that always asks questions and makes sure that I am always safe.  I feel that the positive aspects of all of these relationships comes from the strong bond that our parents encouraged us to have and to love each other regardless of the situation or what we were going through.  

Over the years I have definitely realized that there are challenges that come along with developing and maintaining relationships.  I feel that the reasons I only have a few strong relationships is due to the fact that a lot of people do not believe in honesty or being a person that can be trusted.  A lack of honesty is one of the main reason why a lot of my relationships ended instead of maintained.  The four individuals listed above have never been dishonest or deceptive and have always kept it real with me.  I am an individual who believes in trust and honesty and if they go against that then I feel that they are not worthy of a relationship with me.  I have also learned that no everyone has your best interest at heart and will basically try to destroy your life intentionally.  However, if honesty is not developed and kept there is absolutely no way that a partnership can be developed.    

As I reflect on my relationships, both past and present, I definitely feel that my experiences with relationships/partnerships have prepared me to be an effective early childhood professional.  I have learned that honesty is the best policy in every relationship and partnership that is developed.  When it comes to developing relationships and partnerships with families, children, and parents, you have to be honest and let them know that you are there to provide them with the services and resources needed for their child's education.  If they feel that you are a liar and have deceived them, then the possibility for a strong and lasting relationship is impossible.  I have to show the parents that I want to be an active and supportive participant educating their child and that they can trust me with the task of providing their child with a high quality education.