RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

Everybody needs a healthy relationship. Research has shown that every child needs at least one committed adult relationship to develop well. As adult, relationships are as important to me as to a child. I discovered in life that nobody can succeed in isolation. I have come to appreciate that both good and bad relationships actually contributed to my growth today. Some bad relationships really pushed me to show that I am not what the other person perceived me to be. Some of the relationships I value so much are that of My Mother - Christiana Ibe, My Husband- Engr Emmanuel Onuigbo, and My Pastor - Dr Obibi. One thing that is common in these relationships is their demonstration of trust in me. Sometimes I doubt my ability to accomplish a task but they have always encouraged me. They seem to be seeing some strength in me which I do not see. They have made me achieve things that I will look back and marvelled at. My mother taught me early in life that the only way to be a good child is to do jobs in addition to my assigned roles and this has made me to always go beyond people’s expectations. I am naturally a self-starter but sometimes I get stocked at the middle of a task, my husband has always been there to encourage me to continue. My pastor used to give me leadership roles even when I was seeing myself as a beginner. I look back with grateful mind to these great people that help me in journey of life.

Challenges in developing and maintaining healthy relationships.

One obvious challenge is lack of trust. For any relationship to be healthy, we must trust each other. Even when a partner fails, we should trust that the intention was not to fail. Another challenge is ineffective communication: when there is no effective communication, relationship suffers. Assumption is an enemy to healthy relationships and assumption comes in when there is lack of communication.

Special characteristic of these relationships: To my mother I believes that she has my best interest at heart,  to my husband I see myself as him therefor believed he cannot cheat himself and to my pastor I see myself as his project which he intends to accomplish well. All these reasons made me to have absolute trust in them and that allowed the relationship to thrive. As an early childhood  professional the relationships with children and their family is beneficial to children’s development and I have learnt that I need to intentionally build trust  and communicate effectively. Families and school must enter into a relationship to aid optimal development of the child. The most important ingredient we put into any relationship is not what we say or what we do, but who we are. Stephen R. Covey. We must model what we want the child and family to be. Trustworthy, honest and open minded.

MY HUSBAND AND I