Part 1 Establishing Professional Contacts and Part 2 Expanding Resources

Part 1, Establishing Professional Contacts

I have been trying to establish my professional contacts, with no responses. I have sent numerous e-mails some have come back and others just no response, yet. I have sent to the CEFP-Australasia Region, Childhood International, Head Start-Sharon Kirksey-Walcott, Step by Step Program Haiti, UNICEF, and Center for Early Childhood Care and Development in the Philippines as well as the ones that were returned.

I received an email from the ACEI, Sheri Levin, Member Relations and Communications Manager; hopefully she is going to be able to put someone in contact with me. Keeping my fingers crossed because I am so excited about this assignment. http://www.acei.org/

I am hopeful that more will respond, but until then I will research the Alternative assignment.

Part 2, Expanding Resources

I have chosen from our resources to research Child Care Aware of American formerly known as the NACCRRA. The web address is http://www.naccrra.org/ I have subscribed to the network and will receive the newsletters and any other updates. I chose this resource because of the vast amount of information including State Child Care Licensing, Cost of Child Care, Poverty, Quality Matters, School Readiness and Parent Perspectives as a few. I am excited and eager to dive in and learn more about this organization.

Daily Supports

Factors within my daily life that are supportive to me, oh there are so many. Number one my children, even though they are grown but still live at home…lol they are my rock my reason for continuing my education at my age. They have encouraged and inspired me to be the best that I can be. A close second is my husband of 22 years, I couldn’t live without him. He is my soul mate we have been together since we were 15 years old; I don’t know what life was like without him. He supports me in everything that I do and there isn’t a day that goes by that he doesn’t tell me how proud he is of me and my accomplishments. I can’t even address how difficult it would be to exist without these supports; I know that I would not be the person I am today.

My family, friends and colleagues are a wonderful support system in my life; everyone has been so encouraging to me and kept me going. My job well that is easy, the money keeps me living. My students and their families are the reason I travel 45 minutes to work and 45 minutes home every day. I love each and every child that I come in contact with and I try to build that relationship with their families as well.

As far as a challenge for me to imagine, I have always wondered what would happen to me if I was diagnoses with diabetes. My father, grandmothers on both sides had it and I developed gestational diabetes while pregnant with my first son. Well about 4 weeks ago I was diagnosed as Insulin resistant or better known as Metabolic syndrome as well as a heart condition. My greatest fears were having to be on medication for the rest of my life and being alone. I am so lucky to have the support system that I do. If it wasn’t for the support of my family and friends and the motivation I get from my student’s this would be a lot harder than it is.