Chapter 11- Parenting Children with Special needs

This chapter in particular caught my attention.  I know it has to be demanding to parent children with special needs.  The most important fact is that there is love and with love everything is possible.  On the other hand, there are people who do not respect this, and this is why the article below talks about respect towards a child with special needs:

http://specialchildren.about.com/od/inthecommunity/a/We-Expect-Respect-A-Manifesto.htm

The below video from youtube is from a lady that has a child with special needs and how she has been able to take care of her beatiful child.  I like this video because she goes in great detail about her child sickness and how she has been able to help her child.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmSTXp3Oa4o

Having a child with special needs in the family affects family interactions and this families typically need varied kinds of support.

The below poem written by Meshell Baylor, shares the sentiments of love an autistic child feels from her mother in this special message to all parents.

To All The Mothers

By Meshell Baylor

My mother loves me unconditionally.
Even though I repeat the same old things.
My mother loves me so well you see.
She's patient when I cannot be.
She doesn't mind me pacing back and forth.
She doesn't mind the jibberish.
When I am frustrated beyond my means.
She sings, Don't worry the storm is over."
When I feel no one understands,
Mom is there to hold my hand.
To all the parents around the words whose
journey seems like this.
We know that you love us dearly.
But having you in our lives makes us blessed.

Chapter 3- Parents and Children in Varied Family Structures

The following article is about how american famillies have changed in 30 years.  In 1960 almost three quarters lived with their biological parents.  30 years later, it declined by 56 percent.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/352734

I choose the above article because, to me, it reflects in detail in test given to identify strenghts and challenges of various families structures, specifically in divorce families and single parents.

Please take a look at the below video from youtube.  A very awesome video about the different family structures.  I chose this video because it tells you about it in a very easy way to understand in basic drawings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUqkJFBkW_c

Family structure refes to the way in which a family is constructed and how family members are connected (Berger, 2005).  The most prevalent 2 parent family is the nuclear parent.  This family was the most accepted family structure in history.  However, in the past 2 decades other family structures have been accepted. 

Types of  family structures include:

- Nuclear:  A nuclear family is a family that has a father, mother, and children. It is the immediate family generally. The nuclear family is one of the most common family descriptions

- Lone parents:  Includes at least one child and the child has only one parent who cares for him or her without the physical assistance of the other biological parent in the home.

- Nomadic:  In this type of family structure one of the parents is always on the move.  Willing to work outside the country for a better opportunity to their children.

- Communal:  Two families living together in one house and sharing facilities

- Adoptive:  A family that is not a family by berth but a family that has legally said they will take care of the child or children.

- Reconstituded:  The sociological term for the joining of two adults via marriage, civil partnership, who have children from previous relationships.

- Homosexual:  A family of the same sex where they, usually, adopt a child to take care of them and live as a family.

In the book, Parent- Child Relations, we learned that although there has been a decrease in the number of adolescent parents in the United States, that there continues to be ovet twice as many adolescent births in the United States when compared to other industrialized countries.  Also, the 3 fastest growing family structures in the United States are headed by unmarried woman in their twenties, lesbian woman who used donor insemination, and grandparents who are taking the role of surrogate parents.

The poem below to me represents what this chapter is about.  Family.  No matter what type of family structure a kid may be in, the most important fact is that they are in a family:

Family

Author: Unknown

A Family is a blessing
It means so many things
Words could never tell
The joy a family brings.

A family is a bond of faith
That even time can't sever
A gift to last all of our lives
A family is forever.

Chapter 2- Parenting Patterns and the Impact of Culture and Context

Homepage

Bio:  Hello!....My name is Oscar Garcia.  I was born in Colombia South America in 1980.  I had my first child, Daniel, at the age of 19.  My second when I was 27, Isabella.  I never bothered to check what type of parenting style I am until this assigment.  My interest in parenting is very high, as I have 2 children, I want to be the best parent to my kids, so they can be the best parents to their children and so on. 

The following poem is a poem writen by a girl, Charlise Butner, the way she was raised.  This is the way I am raising my children, with love:

I Wasn't Raised

I wasn't raised in a mansion
Or fed with a silver spoon
I wasn't brought up to think money is everything
Because only fools believe that’s true
I wasn't raised to live out my parents dream
But to proudly dream my own
I wasn't raised to walk the popular path
But to strongly pave my own
I wasn't raised with material things
But something great indeed
I was raised with love
And love is all I need

Source: Raised With Love, Parent Poems http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/raised-with-love#ixzz1V2xrYkJI
Family Friend Poems

 

The following article is by Susan Manning, the founder of parent USA city.  The article is called "What is your parenting style?  And can be found at http://parentusacity.com/  I like this article because it explains what type of parent style she has in a good detail.  and after reading it and comparing it to chapter 2 in the textbook, i have found that I have a mixed parenting style.

 

Check out this video found at youtube about parenting styles:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHCX6j_OFoE

 

Studies in the United States have identified 6 different parenting styles:  Authoritative, Authoritarian, Permissive, Traditional, Indulgent and Indifferent.  One of the main parenting styles identified by Baumrind is known as the authoritative parenting style. This style of parenting is sometimes referred to as "democratic" and involves a child-centric approach in which parents hold high expectations for their children.

Characteristics of Authoritative parents:
- Listen to their children
- Encourage independence
- Place limits, consequences and expectations on their children's behavior
- Express warmth and nurturance
- Allow children to express opinions
- Encourage children to discuss options
- Administer fair and consistent discipline

Effects of Authoritative Parenting
Child development experts generally identify the authoritative parenting style as the "best" approach to parenting. Children raised by authoritative parents tend to be more capable, happy and successful.
children of authoritative parents:
- Tend to have a happier dispositions
- Have good emotional control and regulation
- Develop good social skills
- Are self-confident about their abilities to learn new skills

Characteristics of Authoritarian Parents

- Have strict rules and expectations.
- Very demanding, but not responsive.
- Don't express much warmth or nurturing.
- Utilize punishments with little or no explanation.
- Don't give children choices or options.

Effects of Authoritarian Parenting

- Tend to associate obedience and success with love.
- Some children display more aggressive behavior outside the home.
- Others may act fearful or overly shy around others.
- Often have lower self-esteem.
- Have difficulty in social situations.

Characteristics of Permissive Parenting

- Have few rules or standards of behavior
- When there are rules, they are often very inconsistent
- Are usually very nurturing and loving towards their kids
- Often seem more like a friend, rather than a parent.
- May use bribery such as toys, gifts and food as a means to get child to behave

Effects of Permissive Parenting

- Lack self-discipline
- Sometimes have poor social skills
- May be self-involved and demanding
- May feel insecure due to the lack of boundaries and guidance

Characteristics of  Traditional Parents

- Parental support is High
- Parentel Control is strict
- Expectations of maturity is High

Effects of Traditional Parents

- Self-disciplined
- Good social skills
- Feels secure

Characteristics of  indulegent Parents

- High responsiveness
- low demandingness
- highest in involvement
- lowest in strictness
- Do not provide limits and guideliness

Effects of indulegent Parents

- Irresponsible
- Immature
- Risk behaviors

Characteristics of  indifferent Parents

- Uninvolved
- Uninterested
- Required little of their children
- Express little love or concern

Characteristics of  indifferent Parents

- Aggresiveness
- Antisocial behavior problems
- Poor academic behavior

- Delinquency