Relationship Reflection

Relationship Reflection~~~

Meet My Family~ The top picture is of me and my children; I am Diana Cox of Terre Haute Indiana, Meagan-Leigh is my daughter and she is 23 years old , and my son, Caleb is 18. The bottom picture has my husband, Richard (loving called Richie by me). The reason my relationship with these people are so important is because they are my world. My husband and I have been married 25 years in June. My children mean the world to me. I would die for my kids. Even though my children are not learning to walk, talk or write they are still learning and growing every day. Every day is exciting and new for them and they are so excited to share it with me. I would have to say almost every day is a positive experience with them. My son, is a junior in high school and plays football, and throws shot put and manages the basketball team. He comes home and is so excited to share the “fun facts” of the evening with my husband and myself. My daughter is getting ready to begin a new job. Her new job is working as an Early Head Start teaching assistant. She will be working with me. This is new and exciting for both of us. She also recently has become very serious with a gentleman. She is awaiting his proposal. She shares a lot of things with me as this is a new aspect of her life.

Someone else I have a positive relationship with would be my co-worker and very close friend, Kim. She and I have shared many hours talking and learning about each other. She has become like a sister to me. I was so glad to have Kim come into my life. I needed a close “female friend” and she has become this for me. I truly love her like a sister.

The ways in which each relationship is positive and what contributes to developing and maintaining each relationship; is first and foremost, trust. I trust each of these people with my life. My husband, Richie and I have learned to trust each other and tell each other everything. There are no secrets between us. We treasure the time we get to spend together; even if it is cutting grass together or planting flowers. We love being together, holding hands in the grocery store is just one of the things you will find us doing on a Saturday afternoon. We have found out after 26 years of being together, communication is the number one key. We discuss something if it is bothering us. We never go to be angry. We are always honest and open with each other.

The challenge I would have to say in maintaining a relationship with my children over time would be; they don’t like the advice I give them. They think that I am butting in to their business. But after I step out of the way and let them handle the situation the way they think it is supposed to be handle, and it fails, they come to mom and dad for advice. They then realize that I was really right. The challenge I have learned from the rest of my relationships is sometimes I forget to listen completely. I forget to tune out everything else and listen and then give input. Sometimes this has gotten me into a whole lot of trouble.

Special characteristics of these relationships that make them partnerships; I would have to say trust and communication, and probably mutual love for one and other. My husband and I spend very little time together. The trust issue has never been an issue for us. Then the communication issue, sometimes neither one of us really want to hear what the other is saying but afterwards we realize that it is not what we wanted to hear, but what we needed to hear. We take our time that we get to spend with each other as very special time. Without my husband’s love and support I would not be back in school right now. He stands beside me no matter what.

The experiences with my relationships has taught me to be an effective childhood professional, because it has taught me that communication is key. Love and respect for each other goes really far. Talking out differences really helps, and being there for one and other is what it is all about. Taking it day by day. Step by step, and even if necessary inch by inch. Together we will make it to the finish line. Whether your finish line is getting to your 25^th Wedding anniversary, your graduation, your wedding day, or in my case, graduating with my Master’s Degree. One step at a time.