Thank You

I would like to say thank you, to all of my colleagues for their positive feedback, comments, and insight as we learned together; how to communicate effectively as colleagues.  I wish all of you good will as you move on to your specializations and I hope that I have been a source of support as well.  Thanks again for your support.

Team Building and Collaboration

During the Bachelor Degree program at Spring Arbor University, we were a cohort group where we stayed with the same instructor and the same group of colleagues; though out every course until graduation, there were 17 of us, and first, we all did not get along, but as time went on our communication got better.  

Therefore, we were put into groups to do group projects; were everyone in the groups was required to participate; were a certain person had to be “miss know it all”.  Within these groups, we formed very productive teams.  Because we studied together for two years, some of us formed lasting friendships.  During the end of our last project, we all out for dinner and drinks to thank everyone for their contributions to the team. 

The way I would adjourn from the group of colleagues I have made while working on my Master’s Degree, would be to thank my colleagues for their discussion board/ blog support, contribution, and feedback.  Furthermore, I would wish them all well while completing their Master’s Degree.  Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because it gives everyone closure.

Nonviolent Communication

I am having a conflict with my classroom aide.  I am a new lead teacher in our classroom; she has been in the classroom since September.  She refuses to take direction or redirection from me and shows total disrespect for my role as lead teacher.  I have tried everything except kiss her bottom.  I am sorry to say that I have had to follow the chain of command in order to establish a positive working environment where we can communicate productively. I will try to implement these new communication techniques.

What surprised me the most about what others thought about my communication styles, was that I do not take time to listen unless it is on my terms.  This was hard to learn about myself because I truly feel that I am a good listener.  It seems to depend on the person or groups you are trying to communicate with it is a hit or miss situation.

The Platinum Rule

I really do not feel that I communicate differently with people from different groups at least I try not to.  What I do find is that people of different groups may communicate with me differently.  The strategies of “Do on to others and you would have them do unto you” and having empathy and listening effectively can help me to communicate more effectively with the people or groups.

Competent Communication

I respect my Site Coordinator as being a competent communicator, she embodies all the qualities that I admirer with regards to communicating effectively. She gives her staff per nit information in a timely matter, she give feedback to issues and concerns in a timely matter. She listens without being judgemental, and she makes everyone feels important and valued. I would very much like to model some of my communication skills after her because she is one in a million.

Early Childhood Australia

Early Childhood Australia, advocates for social justice that ensure quality and equity in all issues of education and care of children from birth to eight years since 1939.  Early Children Australia values the rights of children, leadership, excellence, respect, courage, honesty, openness, collaboration, diversity justice, and social inclusion for children.  Early Childhood Australia is the peak non-profit national, non-governmental organization, and is the leading early childhood publisher. Therefore if you are a leader in the early childhood field or a parent studying in the early childhood or you are just interested the well being of young children, it will be in ones best interest to join an early childhood organization such as Early Childhood Australia. 

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

I found this article to be most interesting because just recently, my husband and I got really sick from the flu and my oldest daughter had to come to our home to take care of us.  We are both in our middle fifties and helpless.  My daughter took us to the doctor, got our meds, groceries, washed our cloths and beddings, cleaned and paid our bills; all the while caring for her family

 The empty nest syndrome is the non-clinical condition that can lead parents with a feelings of loneliness after their children have grown and moved out, is becoming a thing of the past in an age where those individuals are caring for both aging parents and kids who have trouble finding employment and escaping the family home.  Researchers say that this new situation brings with it problems of its own.

Journal of Aging Studies, researchers from Oregon State University report current economic conditions and a highly-competitive job market have made it difficult for young adults to set out on their own, start a career and a family independent of their parents.  At the same time, seniors are living longer, and the special care they need often requires them to move in with their children, potentially placing three generations under the same roof.

“The end result, researchers suggest, are ‘empty nest’ plans that often have to be put on hold, and a mixed bag of emotions, ranging from joy and “happy-to-help” to uncertainty, frustration and exhaustion

“We mostly found very positive feelings about adults helping their children in the emerging adulthood stage of life, from around ages 18 to 30,” explained Karen Hooker, director of the OSU Center for Healthy Aging Research.  “Feelings about helping parents weren’t so much negative as just filled with more angst and uncertainty.  As a society expect to be taking on a parent-caring role, even though most of us will at some point in our lives.  The average middle-aged couple has more parents than children.”

Hooker and her team based their findings on data obtained from six different focus groups between 2009 and 2010. They found the majority of middle-aged parents with young adult children are reasonably happy to help them through tough times, and they also understand it is harder to get started in life now than it was in the recent past. That is due to a variety of different social, economic, and cultural factors, which have “combined to radically challenge the traditional concept of an empty nest,” the scientists said.

“The recession that began in 2008 yielded record unemployment, substantial stock market losses, lower home values and increased demand for higher levels of education,” the university said. “Around the same time, advances in health care and life expectancy have made it possible for many adults to live far longer than they used to – although not always in good health, and often needing extensive care or assistance.”

The study also discovered while parents do not necessarily expect their children to be 100-percent financially independent during their early 20s, they have a somewhat different reaction to caring for aging parents. Mothers and fathers who require an increasing amount of care could be both a joy and a burden.  The care of their parent was not, in most cases, something the middle-aged adults had expected to deal with.

“Many middle-aged people said it was difficult to make any plans, due to disruptions and uncertainty about a parent’s health at any point in time.  And most said they we’re willing to help their aging parents, but a sense of being time-starved was a frequent theme,” the statement said.  “The dual demands of children still transitioning to independence, and aging parents who need increasing amounts of care is causing many of the study participants to re-evaluate their own lives”.

“Some say they want to make better plans for their future so they don’t pose such a burden to their children, and begin researching long-term care insurance.  Soul-searching is apparent,” it added.  “An increasing awareness of the challenges produced by these new life stages may cause more individuals to anticipate their own needs, make more concrete plans for the future, reduce ambivalent approaches, and have more conversations with families about their own late-life care,” the researchers said in their study”.

Staff, R. O. (2013, Januaury 26). Middle Age Adult Have Easier Caring ForTheir Kids Then Their Parents. Retrieved from Red Orbit Your Unniverse Online: http:www.redorbit.com