DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

 

Finding the answers

 

Description of Experience:

I knew since I was a young girl that I didn’t want to get pregnant and be another statistic.  I also didn’t want to disappoint my parents.  I waited a long time to become a mother.  Even though my pregnancy was not planned I welcomed the experience and looked forward to becoming a mom.  I had previous experience handling children, babysitting my 22 nieces and nephews (not all at the same time).  But having a child of my own is very different than taking care of someone else's child.  I was going to be responsible for another human life. 

 

From the beginning of the pregnancy I had to change the way I approached life.  I had to eat healthy, exercise, and keep my doctor appointments.  Becoming a mother for the first time is an unforgettable experience that unfortunately only woman will comprehend.  My body was going through a transformation that I had no control over and that was scary so I read up on every aspect of pregnancy and child rearing.  This brought about my interest in child development.  I yearned to learn more on the subject and reached out to every source.  Reading books, magazines, the internet, taking classes in child development, and talking to other mothers helped me in my search.  I felt better knowing what was going on inside of me and knowing what to expect in my pregnancy.

 

    

Goal of Experience:

I wanted to understand the biology behind child birth, the psychology of child development and the morals a single mom can instill in raising a child.  I also wanted to contribute in creating a healthy baby by treating the life inside of me with respect and treating my body right.  I wanted to learn as much as I could so that I wouldn't let my fear of the unknown overpower me.  I’m passionate about finding information and I know the answers are out there, all I have to do is search.

 

 

 

 

 

Skill Gained:

  • I learned to reach out and ask for help.
  • I learned to use different forms of resources for information.
  • I learned to be patient, a good listener, and empathetic.

Lessons Learned/Learning for Life:

Reflecting on this experience I noticed that in order to learn and grow from an experience I have to be actively involved in the moment.  I have to feel the experience, reflect on my experience, and get feedback from people.  Giving birth to my son steered up my curiosity in child development enough to pursue my associate degree in that field.  Another example is my rough experience with my exboyfriend, the result from that is that I want to help other women get out of domestic abusive relationships.

    

Impact of Experience:

I know having patience is important when learning something for the first time.  It takes time to learn a new skill.  Being a good listener is imperative to whether you will comprehend what is being taught or not.  I learned to be an active or reflective listener by participating in the conversation.  I also learned while conversing not to interrupt people’s train of thought so that both parties get their points across.  Being empathetic will help me see other people’s point of view.  I will always continue to search for information for personal, academic or professional reasons this experience allowed me to explore all my options for retrieving information.

 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.