My relationship with my boyfriend is special because we try everyday to keep our family together. We communicate, share our feelings, solve problems, talk things out and basically try to keep our relationship strong by maintaining our friendship. We are both first time parents. Needless to say, the pregnancy took us by surprise. We work together each day to raise our sons in a stable environment, riddled with encouragement, love, understanding and lots of kisses. We partner together to teach our sons about respect for others, manners and the ability to express themselves with love and understanding for each other. My boyfriend and I do not have a lot in common. Yet, the love of our boys and the determination to be a family has brought us closer together.
My sons, David and Andrew, are my whole world. I worried, even as a teenager, how I was ever going to afford to stay home with my children. I can say today that I am blessed to have the opportunity to raise my children in a healthy, happy and stable environment. They have taught me patience, love beyond a capacity that I had ever known, understanding and the ability to see the study of child development in a whole new way. By having children, I have become a stronger advocate for early childhood care and education. At this point, in California, preschool is not mandatory. Therefore, I am concerned everyday with whether or not I will find a good, quality early childhood program for my boys.
My sister is another strong relationship in my life. She has taught me a lot about being a mother. She has been there for me whenever I have questions, need advice, or just need a shoulder to cry on. She is a strong, stable individual that has taught me to be independent and to face life head on. Her children are now school age, which encourages me to advocate for education beyond early childhood. They currently attend a Charter school that envelopes the children in an environment of learning, without the hassles of having to "teach to the test."
