The Migrant Child

The article on the migrant child bewildered me and also touched my heart. I could not believe all the statistics on these children and their families. Here are a few that really stuck out to me as i was reading.

*It stated that children as young as 4 work along side of parents because of their small hands and flexibility.

*300 of these children die yearly due to farming related deaths a high number due to no supervision and drowning in ditches

* these workers only make $5000 per year compared to the national average of $40,000.

*life expectancy is only 49 where as the national average is 73

*only 20% of these children ever graduate from high school and continue to live in poverty

*there are over 2.8 million children of migrant farm workers

*The high number of eligibility for subsidized programs but such a low number actually served due to funding

*the living conditions they live in, run down farmhouses, cars, and even boxes

these are just some examples. I never really knew the importance of their work or never really think as I'm eating my produce everyday. The article made me think about about this. Without all those migrant farm workers what would do? would the average amercian work in those conditions, with that pay, in that weather? No. 

I worked in the berry fields one summer to make extra money my 6th grade year. I remember how miserable it was but i had my friends and it was just for a few weeks and something we choose to do. I can't imagine a lifetime of this work. 

What I would like to see is more people reaching out to these children. I did agree that you hear and see so much discrimination against these farm workers yet we need them. These children didn't choose this life yet are kinda stuck without the support of the community to reach out.

Attachment Theory and Attachment parenting

Wow who knew there was so much to the human attachment. I really enjoyed the section in the book along with the videos. The forms of attachment from Mary Ainsworth and how many babies fall in each category was interesting and to see how I could relate with my attachments and also what kind of attachment my daughter and I have.

*Secure attachment~relationships in which infants have come to trust and depend on mothers 60-65% American babies fall in this category

*Avoidance attachment~relationships in which infants turn away from their mother when they are reunited following a brief separation 20% of American babies fall in this category

* Resistant attachment~relationships in which after a brief separation infants want to be held but are difficult to console 10-15% of American babies fall in this category

*Disorganized attachment~ when infants don't seem to understand what's happening when they are separated and later reunited with their mothers 5-10% of American babies fall in this category

It was interesting to hear the consequences of attachment of Erickson and other theorist who believe that secure or insecure attachments can lay the foundation for future social relationships. 

I was born and immediately put up for adoption. I was in a orphanage until i was adopted at 6 months old. After adoption my adopted mother left us when i was 3. I then was raised by my father who was a truck driver and gone a lot so we had nannies in and out. A few years later my father died and we were sent back to our mother who we had not seen for years and didn't really know. I only vaguely remember my early years but I wonder if I ever really had a secure attachment with all the instability. I know that my mom and I never have  became really close and to this day I find it hard to trust her or count on her. It did impact my life as I have always been weary of others and have always found it hard to trust or believe in others. However with my daughter and I it's totally different and i have raised her a lot along the lines of the Attachment parenting video and completey opposite of how I was raised. I breast feed her for the first  year and she has always slept with me. She will be 11 Monday and even though she does have her own bed she is allowed to sleep with me whenever she wants. I've had opinions about this but i really don't care because its my parenting choices no one Else's and I want my daughter to continue to know she can trust me and always count on me and have a secure attachment. When i tell her I'm going to be somewhere or do something I back that. I want her to have what i did not and am glad even though I never really was nurtured and hugging we just didn't do, that I am able to give that to her. 

What i would like to know more about which was only touched on briefly is children that were brought up in an orphanage like me for that critical first part of life where secure attachments are made.

niche picking

I loved this chapter on biological foundations. Especially the section on heredity, environment and development and how they all work together to shape who we are. One part talked about niche picking~the process of deliberately seeking environments that are compatible with one's genetic makeup. This process tends to happen during childhood but more so when one is able to control their environment later on in adolescence. For example an introvert a more reserved shy person will seek activities that involve just one's self. An extrovert however will seek activities involving contact with others. I as an extrovert who has always been a "people person" have always chosen activities and situations that have included others. Some examples from childhood are girl scouts, drama club, choir, and sports. As an adult i have done volunteer work in homeless shelters, in my daughters classroom, and ultimately chose a profession of nursing. I love being around people and i love helping and making a difference in other peoples lives. What i would be interested in seeing in this whole area of heredity, environment, and development is adoption studies. To look at behavior and psychological characteristics of adopted children and see if they are more like their adoptive parents who provided a home environment or more like their biological parents who contributed to their heredity.

Nature Vs Nurture

The section that interested me most in Chapter 1 was the Nature Vs Nurture. Nature~the degree in which genetic or hereditary influences or Nurture~experimental or environmental influences, determine the kind of person you are. Nature and nurture are both influences in who we are. I found this interesting being I was adopted. I didn't meet my biological parents until my 20's and often wondered how biologically I might be similar to them. I know genetically one can inherit family genetics that can give one a great advantage in a certain subject such as math, writing, music, sports etc.(nature) That does not mean that you will automatically develop those potentials,It just shows that you have a genetic possibility for outstanding development. However, you may not develop your potential in these areas if you are raised in a home with no encouragement. When i met my biological family i realized I came from a family where sports were not only encouraged but both my parents and siblings did well in them. I always loved sports growing up and did well but eventually gave up because i had no support or encouragement from my adoptive mom. My daughter is awesome in soccer and I encourage her and support her strongly in this. Just because she has the genetics of a sporty(nature) doesn't mean she'll continue to blossom without (nurture) One thing I would like to learn more about in this subject is studies of adopted children. Being this is the first blog it was kind of hard. Hope it made sense and they get easier.