RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

"Cherish your human connections-Your relationships with friends and family."
-Joseph Brodsky
I love this quote. It is plain, simple and to the point. It also describes how I feel about my relationships. I love my family. They are the people that I'm stuck with, so I must love them, right? On a serious note, I am the youngest of nine children. Before my mother passed away a year ago today, my parents had been married for 56 years. My family is my foundation. They are the first people that I had a relationship with. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge them in every way. Below are pictures of the people  who are important to me:

These photos have captured the important and precious people in my life. My relationship with my parents, siblings, and friends are all different. There is one common bond that keeps the realtionship wheel rolling- I love them, and they love me. We support one another. We act as counselors. doctors, and lawyers. Our main goal is to make sure that we take care of one another. show support, and give tons of love! I feel that if I didn't have these people in my life, I would be alone and miserable. I would not be able to function because they are the glue that holds me together.
                                                   When I think about the relationship that I have with these people as it relates to my career in early childhood, I think of my parents. When I come across a child who is stubborn or defiant, I think of how my mother would handle it. What would she say? What would she do? I often look back on my childhood and realize that the relationships that I have built seem to fall in the catagory of long term. I look at my parents and their marriage life. I look at my siblings and thier relationships with husbands/wives. I also look at the work ethic of my father. He gained much respect from his co-workers because of his patience, dependability and endurance. That alone gained him life-long friendships. My mother never met a stranger. She would've talked to the wall if it responded back. I gained all of these characteristics because I was surrounded by the makings of them my entire life.
                                              Being that I come from a large family, we developed partnerships by working together. (Cleaning, cooking, playing, etc.) It was our responsibility just as much as our parents to keep our family organized and on track. This teamwork also hepled me make me a team player at work. I believe there is a solution to every problem. If we just work together, the problem can be solved and we can move on. I appreciate the relationships that I have with the wonderful people in my life. Loving and knowing them makes it easier to get along with others. My family is my life. In the end, they are all that I have!