Grateful

     I really enjoyed the topics and themes we've discussed in Lifespan Psychology. I wish I would have done some things different such as investing in a computer beforehand. I could have taken my time on subjects I found fascinating instead of being rushed when trying to squeeze library time in between school, work and children. The topics I found most interesting were the development of the teenage brain, the alzhiemer's videos, and any topic about young children since I was able to relate and compare discussion to my own life. 
    This was my first online class and I have to admit it was a very different experience compared to in class teaching. What I enjoyed most was the freedom to do whatever you needed to whenever you wanted and participating in discussion. Seeing what people thought of your take on things was pretty cool and being able to let people know what you thought about their point of views, these things don't happen as much during in class discussion. What I enjoyed the least was not having as much guidance or having someone telling me I'm messing up. Like when I wasn't replying to the article reviews in the beginning of the quarter (oops!)
      All in all, I'm grateful for this experience and a great teacher and a great group of people to expand and share ideas with. Thank you!!!

As Good As It Gets

      Reading this article and how the Netherlands takes care of their elderly was enlightening. Anderson says, "Their attitude is, we're in this together and sooner or later we're going to become older and we'll need some help...the U.S. attitude is, we're all rugged individualists and we're going to take care of ourselves, not others." I love the citizens of Netherlands point of view. It's true that we're all going to get older at some point or another so we might as well help each other out right? It would feel so good to know that fellow Americans had this mind set and it would be relieving to know that people genuinely cared about one another. Obviously our healthcare could use some work because many of us don't even have health insurance and the costs are insane and almost impossible to pay when we do get hurt or sick. The U.S. is very good at the rate in which they see and help people, whereas the Netherlands have long waiting lists for procedures. Although the taxes in the Netherlands are extremely high it's an acceptable part of the life that they've created for themselves and each other, ensuring that they have a more comfortable and stress free retirement. The taxes they pay ensure they get the perks that come with old age as well as their pension. Maybe, we as Americans should take some notes on how to treat eachother.

Is There Love After Baby?

      I've experienced childbirth twice and both were 2 very different situations. My first pregnancy I had my husband with me. Things eventually didn't work mostly because he was jobless and not looking, forcing me to go back to work when our son was only 3 weeks old. I'm sure I was bitter about the circumstances and we grew apart at an alarming rate, so much so that I was raising our son, Darius, by myself by the time he was 3 months old. After 2 years of being broken up we tried to make it work again and I got pregnant within a month. When I was 5 months pregnant he was gone and I was left with not only 1 child to look after, but 2.
      After I had my daughter, Tamaya, I realized it was so much simpler with Maurice, the father, out of the equation. Like the article, "Is There Love After the Baby?", where new parents are trying to make their relationship work and half failing miserably, I found that I was able to devote all my attention to my kids instead of trying to make my man happy at the same time. I'm not saying every relationship where theres a child involved is or will become like mine, I'm just saying I've experienced raising a child with the other parent and on my own. I've got to see what it's like from both sides and I am content with the decisions I've made even though its the hardest job I've ever had to do.

Should We Stay Together for the Kids?

     This article really made me realize things about myself that I hadn't really accepted or given much thought to before. I grew up in a broken home and when my parents marriage ended I was actually thankful. I was sick of the fighting that would often result in physical abuse and the verbal abuse was normal to me. Watching this kind of relationship while growing up was more detrimental to me then I ever knew before. Maybe thats why my relationship didn't work because I was looking for love in all the wrong places which is what can often happen to children from broken homes as they enter adulthood.
    I think parents should definitley stay together for the children if there is no forms of abuse or drug-use in the home. Parents should try to give it their all and stick it out with their partner in order to maintain their children/s overall health and well being. The article says that, "children of divorce suffer depression, learning difficulties and other psychological problems more frequently than those of intact families."
     After reading this it made me anxious because I am a single mother raising two young children. Is there no hope for my kids? Well, there is. With our schedule being routine and with my strong sense of self it helps the children respond positivley to life situations. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing as a single mother and everything will be just fine.