My Supports

I am truly thankful and blessed. I have many types of supports in my everyday life. I try to not take anything for granted but really am not who I am without each of them. I know that at times I am spoiled but in the end I am thankful and grateful for all that I have.

My first support is my Husband and family. No matter what kind of mood I am in they are always there. I can call on my mom at any hour and if I am truly in need she will do all that she can to help. My sisters are pretty much the same way. My husband,....man, I am really blessed to have him in my life. I know that many times I am not easy to live with. I am needy but he does a great job of spoiling me. He is my rock. He balances my crazy too. I love him very much. He is always there for me. When I am mad, he allows me to vent and even yell at him for nothing he did. My girls are amazing too in their own ways. I know they love their mommy. It's kind of cute too. There are times they think I can do no wrong and I have all these magical powers, they are good for the ego at times, lol. But honestly they are the best, no matter how I get upset with them. If I am sad they are there to support me and pick me up. My family is amazing. I don't honestly know what I would do without them. I couldn't imagine replacing any of them. Each are unique and have a special job and place in my heart. I could honestly say they have kinda made me who I am today. Their impact on my life is immeasurable.

Another support I have is my job. My job offers a lot of support to me emotionally, physically, and monetarily. The people I work with are great. I have wonderful people who are there who want me to succeed and I love and need that. I have a job that will have a lasting impression on me and one that I will impact too in return. There I have a mentor who believes in me and supports me. She is awesome. Obviously, this job gives me money in return for my services. In today's world I need the money to aid in my survival so that one is obvious but I enjoy what I do and hope to continue my success.

Technology is something that I have become dependent on and need it. As funny as it sounds, I technology supports me. Through it I am connected to family, friends and the outside of my own house world. Looking back at how our relations has grown, it makes me laugh because growing up, I did not need and depend on it as much as I do now. Don't get wrong, I may be able to survive without it but am glad I don't have to. It would be difficult to be without it especially since everyone around you has it in their lives. I know without a shadow of a doubt, I am not one of those people who could live off the grid. Nope, not me.

I feel that friends is at the top of my list for supports. I am one of those people who do not like to be by themselves and there for need friends in my life. For some I view friends just like I do family. They are always there. For me, I have moved about every 3 years due to my families lifestyle so I make lots of friends however, to come across someone who is just like family is rare and is awesome when it happens. I don't think I would do well without them like I wouldn't do well without family. Friends make life more enjoyable. I can laugh more, relax at times, and just thoroughly enjoy myself with friends in it.

The last thing I am going to say is a support to me is my Church Family/God. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I need him in my life daily. I am so thankful for the sacrifices he has made for me. I truly value our relationship. There are no words to describe my praise and thankfulness of having God in my life. No matter what I do in life, I know that God has got my back. The benefits of have God and Church in my life is that they always love me no matter what I do or who I am. They know and understand me. Living a life without them would be difficult because they guide me when I ask or need it. They truly support me in many situations. They are not there to judge but to be a help to me. I live my life daily for God so his impact on me is the biggest and is huge.

While there are more to choose from; I feel these are the biggest support to me. My life would not be who and where it is without any of these. I have benefited many things with them in my life while at the same time I could not do much or anything without them. I am however, glad that I do not have to be without any of them in my life.

My Connections to Play

I love these quotes. How I felt about play as a kid may not necessarily agree with how I feel about play now, as an adult. As a kid, play was carefree. Just something you did to get out of life's responsibilities. In my house, if you did not play, you cleaned, did homework, or read a book. In many cases after my homework was done, I played. I chose the carefree enjoyment of playing. That also meant you did it outside. Because if you were in the house you, cleaned or read a book.

These items represent all that I needed as a kid. As a result of my childhood I became very athletic. Many of the sports I learned was not from an organized organization. It was from the streets. I played everything in the street; and in the middle of the street at that. We just moved to the side when a car came by. I first learned how to play, basketball, football, volleyball, soccer, and baseball in the middle of the street. Oh the fond memories I have of those time. A bicycle is what I lived on. We went everywhere on a bike. I can't exactly remember who taught me how to ride or even when I first learned  but between a bike, scooter, skates, and skateboard, I lived on those. I have great memories of just getting on one and riding somewhere like to school, after hours and on the weekend. Or even riding my bike down the big hill that led to my house or down a dike in the dessert. Man the good times. I have included a tree because I loved to just climb trees as a kid. I had a big tree in my yard growing up and loved to climb it. There are many times I could recall, my mom calling me home and I would be in that tree at the very top. I also remember being the tree at the top of course relaxing and just calming down after hearing some bad news. My greatest accomplishment and memory was in that tree. I was about 6 or 7 and climbed to the very top and was able to touch the power lines. Man I was so scared but so excited I did it when I did. I had tried all summer but the limbs were so thin and I was afraid; but one day I gathered enough courage to do it and did. Finally, my last childhood essential item was friends. On many Saturday mornings even before I woke up, I had friends ringing my doorbell to see if I could come out and play. It could also be the reason why I do not like doing anything now by myself, because I always had friends. I loved being around my friends. Things were always better when they were with friends.

I think as an adult my understanding of play has greatly changed from what it was when I was younger. As a child it was carefree and something I did. Too many rainy days I would go crazy. I did play inside, but when I was younger, you needed to go out and explore. I was a military brat so we just went all over the base. I went out with friends and explored. I didn't think I was learning anything from playing. Playing was fun and natural.
Today, I see play through adult eyes. As sadly as it may sound, I feel as though I justify play more. Kids don't justify things, they just do. Play is learning. As a kid your really not looking at play as a way to learn something but as a way to have fun, for pleasure, and enjoyment. As an adult you can relate to that because play is fun, a way to relax, but the justifiable answer is play teaches things. It develops characteristics for social, emotional, physical, cognitive and other foundational developmental skills. It is sad that we have to twist something so innocent and make it a reason to happen. Justify why is necessary or even why we do it.

I don't think play has changed from when I was younger. However, I may do it differently now. My interests may be different. But because I have kids, I get to awaken those same senses I used as a kid when I engage and play with my own children. I love teaching and engaging my kids in the same manner as I did when I was there age. The sparks of interest and facial features they give is pleasurable for me. Honestly it is everlasting memories they and we will have. Could even be traditions they do with their own kids too.

Play for me today, include some of the same things I liked as a kid. As much as I would love to, I don't have the same schedule as a kid so I kind of how to schedule playtime in. That is sad, but my reality as an adult. However, play happens all the time, in many forms. Play can be physical or imaginary. As I am typing this, my kids got all their electronics taken to include the tv, yet they are still playing. They are playing pretend and creating a scenario they got from television. They are using their imagination. It is fun to watch them play. It brings out memories and the kid in me.