My Connection to Play!

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury.

Play is a necessity.” Kay Redfield Jamison (professor of psychiatry)

“Play is the beginning of knowledge.” ~ Anonymous

“Raggedy Ann” 

    

     Raggedy Ann was my favorite doll.  I was an only child for nine years.  She served as my sister and playmate.  I can remember being in a car accident where I had to be pried out of the car and I insisted that she come to the hospital with me.  I must have a great doctor because as he checked me, he checked Raggedy Ann too.  Raggedy Ann and I had to go to counseling after the car accident because we would not sit in the front seat again.  Counseling didn’t work for us.  It was not until I visited my grandparents and my cousins would argue to sit in the front seat.  While observing that, I decided to sit in the front seat again with Raggedy Ann. 

“Telephone”

     For my 4^th birthday, I was given a big red telephone as a gift.  I was so happy because I was able to imitate my mama when she spoke with my grandma.  I would often pretend to call my cousins from Louisiana. That was a toy that I did not stop playing with until it broke.  I can’t even remember how it broke. 

“Bouncing Ball”

     This was the best outdoor toy that I remember having.  I was the envy of the neighborhood because no one else owned one.   All of the kids wanted to bounce on it so we always had fun taking turns.  It was a gift from my dad who told me he bought it from China for me.  I thought that was special but I didn’t know what China was. 

     For me, play was sometimes used as a means of escape.  For a short time in my life, I lived with an abusive widowed mother.  I was able to talk to my doll and treat her extra nice because that was the way mamas were supposed to treat their children. Play was also used for me to pretend to be “grown up.” I wanted badly to be like the pretty lady across the street.  She was my role model because she would take time to play games with the children in the neighborhood.

      My parents attempted to give me a small amount of toys and always supported me playing with bed sheets and making tents throughout the house.  My grandparents were an integral part of play for me.  They would allow me to go to their barn and run up the corn stacks and slide down like I was on a mountain. 

     Today, I am disappointed in the way most children engage in play.  Hand electronic games  and computer games can be played without sharing and ignoring the child’s surroundings.  Sure those games teach hand eye coordination and some skills but it omits socialization.  I notice when my 10 year old son is permitted to play with a gaming system, he ignores everything around him.  He won’t even stop to eat or use the restroom.  I am convinced that the use of so many electronic games have taken away kid’s ability to use their imagination. I think a good imagination makes a great writer.

      I have been encouraged to engage in some type of play since I can remember.  I enjoy the competition.  As an adult, I play  with my children. Each night,  I pretend to drink lemonade made from my son’s bath water.  It’s gross but it’s true.  He squeezes pretend lemons and hands me a cup, so I pretend to drink it.  Apart from my children, I  enjoy playing word  games with friends.  I think it keeps me mentally sharp.

Relationship Reflection

Twins at 1 year old

Twins at 3 years old

"Mama"

     Imagine being forty-three years old and two precious children address you as mama words never heard referencing me? It's a pretty amazing feeling. I was blessed to forster two pre-mature infants who were abondoned in our local hospital. I had been battling depression after the loss of my mother and great-grandmother who died six months apart from each other. I had a pool of emotions rolling thru me.   I wanted to be happy because my only brother had just married his friend, my sister-in-law  but every now and then sadnesss crept upon me.  About two weeks before Christmas, I received a phone call inquiring if I wanted to foster a set of twin infants who needed a lot of medical attention. I didn't know if I was up for the challenge but I was willing to givet it a try.  With lots of help and prayers from friends, family and God, the boys are healthy, happy and thriving.  By the end of this summer, I will have adopted them. I can't imagine being without them because they have brought me so much happiness.  I smile just to  know I am able to give love, support and direction to them. I recieve love and blessing just knowing that they are what pushes me to make a better life for us all. 

"Brock"

     Brock is my only brother and I love him dearly.  He is such a loving person to all of out family members.  He is nine years younger than I am but I look up to him as if he were older.  He is enlisted in our coutry's finest military--U.S.Navy.  As a kid, he was wild, defiant and unruly but my grandmother's prayers worked a miracle on him.  He recently earned a Master's Degree.  Brock is a brilliant math wiz and thinker, he always has ideas that help his love ones. His goal is to keep family members close to each other, iron out their differences and make relationships work because he says that "WE ARE All WE HAVE!" How could a young man have so much wisdom?  He also helps keep my finances in order.  He says thing to me like, "Are you saving? Have you thought about college for the boys? Just get it,I'll pay for it. Now that's a good brother! It is very imiportant that we keep good relationship beccause he gives me the emotional support and family connection that I need.

"Auntie Do Bee"

     I am known to many kids in the neighborhood as "Auntie DoBee." I have one blood niece who refers to me this way and everyone just caught on.  I was once cast in a child's television program called,"Romoper Room." My character followed the rules and was described as a  "Good Do Bee;" therefore all my friends and neighbors refer to me as such. I got the name when I was about five years old and am still known as Do Bee.  This name carries an image of a person who wants to help and believe in everyone.  I am not perfect but I do love people and enjoy being used as a vessel for positve change. Carrying this image helps me to be a better person and find the good in people even when the unloveable are unlovely.  Being myself is so important to my emotional well-being and my identity lies in simply with expressing who I am.  

     These are a few relationship that I have utilized as an adult.  It has given me a strong foundation of trust, love and support.  I couldn't be me without having these relationships.  As an early childhood educator, I savor all of these relationships and more.  I've learned how to treat all people with respect and dignity and am always willing to share what I know.  This is a good start for me in this field, having knowlegdge without a delivery method is not good for children or their families; therefore,I welcome all relationships that enrich me.