Stressors of Childhood

During my childhood the predominant stressor in my life was chaos. I lived in a home with my mom and dad, but directly across the street from my grandparent's home. My mother, who passed away a year ago, was an alcoholic who went out almost every night. My dad worked everyday, but also most nights. I spent the days at either my home or my grandparents home. Many of my nights were spent at a babysitter's house. Some nights I spent with my grandparents. The nights spent at the babysitter's were usually late. I was usually picked up in what seemed like the middle of the night or early morning before daylight. I can still remember the smell of the cool night air combined with the smell of cigarettes. The hard pat was never knowing when I would get to go home or who would be picking me up. It's hard for a child not being at home and especially falling asleep somewhere other than home. There were lots of tears shed and lots fo time spent in the bathroom at the babysitters. The bathroom was somewhere I could go and be alone. The babysitter had to make me come out many times and then try to stop my crying. I could cry alone in the bathroom where I thought no one would know I was upset. I suppose crying was my relief. I would also call my grandparents from my house, at a very young age, to come get me. If they were available they usually came. There home was my refuge from everything at my house. At there home I was away from being taken to the babysitter. I had several friends in the neighborhood where I would go until dark, when I had to go home. I never wanted to go home because I knew that meant I might be going to a babysitter, but it could also mean going to my grandparents. I found strength and comfort in them.
Picture of My mom and sister at my Wedding October 9, 2009.

Note: Pictures of my grandparents, Memaw and Pawpaw, can be found on the right side of this page. Under Ginny's Childhood Web.

There are many other countries around the world where the chaos I experienced as a child doesn't seem very chaotic at all. I have always had a roof over my head and I knew who my parents were even if I didn't always know where they were. Even the parental fighting I experienced before my parents divorced, was like a slap on the arm, compared to violence children witness in other places. Countries such as Haiti where the majority of the population are under age 18. The country was hit by an earthquake in 2010 that caused widespread devastation. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Many of the Haitian children were orphans before the quake, but the numbers increased dramatically afterward. The stressors the children of Haiti face and cope with daily are poverty, natural disaster, isolation, hunger, noise, chaos, disease, environmental pollution, and violence. Haiti does not have access to safe drinking water. (You may refer to my previous post on access to healthy water to find out more.) Haitians do not have access to water so the children spend most of their time going to get brackish water. The country is impoverished and there is no water readily available which leads to poor sanitation. Many of the fields and livestock were wiped out by storms. Each year more and more tropical storms and hurricanes hit Haiti. Most of the people and children in Haiti are still living in tent cities which makes for a noisy environment and often brings about violence. The violence is gender based against women and children. Women in the Haitian communities are having to fight off rape and child trafficing even though there bodies are weak. The children feel isolated and scared. There is so much going on around them and rarely a calm moment. Some of the children want people to hear their stories so everyone see first hand the devastation and suffering they are a part of daily.
There are many organizations and foundations helping to minimize the harm of these stressors. Cholera prevention kits are being sent to help prevent its spread and when funds are available more medical supplies are sent to Haiti. There is a currently a clean water project for Haiti to install chlorinators in Por de Prince, Haiti. These will provide clean water to 300,000 Haitians and allow for more sanitary conditions. New orphanages are being opened thanks to caring people and private donations. The children have a safe place to live, learn, and grow because they will also receive the proper nutrition. Many of the children will never make it out of the orphanages do to lack of adoption and previous illnesses. Through many private donations and volunteers there has been a large effort to protect the children of Haiti and keep them safe.

Save the Children Voices from the Field: Haiti Earthquake Emergency

Haiti Children

Access to Healthy Water

Access to healthy water is extremely meaningful to me. I live in a developed region of the world in a major city. Of course living in a large city comes with exposure to many pollutants. There are constant news headlines warning about the pollutants that could be in the water. Luckily the water where I live comes from the Artesian Wells and most people prefer Memphis water over bottled water. There is also no color or odor to our water, which is nice when bathing and washing clothes. Memphis water contains florid which is good for the maintenance of healthy teeth. I realized just how thankful I was for clear, clean water after meeting my husband. We went to visit his family for the first time, not too long after we met. The water was brown. After flushing the toilet a time or two and hoping no one noticed, I wondered should I brush my teeth. I did brush them and showered. The water actually adds nutrients to your hair making it softer than usual. In the whole scheme of things the water there still holds very little comparison to other regions. Even developed regions outside of the U.S. do not have healthy water, it has color, odor, and foreign particles in it.

Children in other countries are dying everyday and almost every second from healthy water diseases. The water in Western Europe is quite contaminated which is the cause of many diseases related to water. The Compliance Committee there has two main goals to complete by 2015. They want to double the number of people having access ti improved water and to reduce child mortality under age five. Also, the countries in Africa are in desperate need of healthy water. In some African countries water supply systems are being put in,but they are very small in numbers. The lack of unhealthy drinking water which in turn gives children more time for an education. The new systems allow for faster retrieval of water which in turns gives children time for an education. More education means learning about healthy hygiene, for instance the use of soap and water to wash hands.

There are several organizations that we can get involved with to help in these other countries. Changes are being made one slow step at a time. I contribute to UMCOR, United Methodist Committee on Relief, with my donations but I can do so much more. I will work more closely with this organization locally to try and make a difference in the lives of these families and children. In my work we are always discussing and promoting healthy habits. In the future I will discuss with my students more in-depth, pollutants and what we can do to protect our waterways and environment. I will encourage the global concern for healthy water and what they can do to help. We must remember our environments and everything in it have an impact on the young child.

I have included some links here you may find helpful and informative.

Concern World Wide
Safe Water International
United States Environmental Protection Agency
United Methodist Committee on Relief UMCOR

New safe-water systems in rural Niger enable children to go to school

CHINWAGHARI VILLAGE, Niger, 22 March 2010 – Surrounded by a throng of other children, each carrying empty containers, 8-year-old Fatima Hamouma walked to the new, modern water taps in her village. In just a few minutes, she had filled all six of her containers. Just a year ago, fetching water from the old traditional well would have required at least three hours of hard work.

Childbirth in Korea

I have a friend who is currently teaching in Korea to the very young 2,3,& 4 year olds. I have another friend who just finish a tour of duty there for the U.S. Army and has just returned home. Women who are able and ready in America usually share there pregnancy with their husbands or mothers first. In Korea the news is shared first with the mother-in-law, then the father, and lastly her mother. I know of very few women who would tell their mother-in-law first. It is quite different from American culture. There are many rituals of what to eat, not to eat, and what to do and not to do. These are similar to what American's do for the prenatal care of the child and their health. Unlike my friend with who was lucky to an epidural even with the after affects, it's not an option in Korea. In the Korean culture the woman must bite down on a cloth and ropes to hold on to for pain. She is not a loud to show pain. Did I mention she must stay quiet? The only time I've heard of this is when Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise had their baby. She had to remain quiet but it was do to their beliefs in Scientology. Men are also not allowed near the mother in labor only the mother in law and women who have experience child birth. No one can come around fro 21-100 days following a birth. The father-in-law names the child the name of his choice. My friend chose her daughter's name and like most American families names are discussed with family and friends.
Also, for health purposes after the delivery mothers are encouraged to eat seaweed soup. I have included the picture below.

References
Korean childbirth Traditions.(2005,October 7).Retrieved from:
http://www.hawcc.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNKorean_04.html
Korea4Expats.com.(2010).Childbirth Customs. Retrieved from:http://www.korea4expats.co
/article-childbirth-customs-korea.html

Experience with Childbirth

I have very little experience on the topic of child birth. I never asked my mother before she passed what happened the day I was born. I do know my dad and grandparents were there. If I had to guess I would say several aunts, uncles, and cousins were as well. I have stood by a couple of friends while they were experiencing the joys of labor. I have been anxiously waiting in the hospital waiting rooms for many births of friend's children. All births I have been close to occurred in a controlled hospital setting in a major city. I have never had the opportunity to witness a delivery, but I'm sure I will one day. Someday I hope to have the joy of having my own child. I remember the birth of my best friend Dawn's daughter the most. We were fifteen when her her daughter was born, we had no experience with babies outside of babysitting, and no experience with child birth. When she found out she was pregnant it was a shock, at first. She told the father and a friend first, and she told her mother, my family, and I three months into the pregnancy. This is often the case with teenage pregnancy. As I know from reading in education classes those first three months are a the most critical time and should be monitored very closely. Here arises one of our problems with young mothers and the importance of prenatal care. So many young mothers are scared. As educators there is a need to reach them, make them feel safe, cared for, and aware.
Dawn called me as soon after she found out. About 39 weeks later when she went into labor she called me right away. I remember going in and talking to her while she was in terrible pain and sick. She was vomiting in a bowl and being the best friend's we were she said go rinse and wipe this out. GROSS!!, but you've got to do what you've got to do. I must say I might possible remember that moment the most. I know she would do the same for me.
I stayed back there with her for a while, I'm not sure how long. Her daughter's father was also in the room with her. I remember hearing from her mother the minute her daughter arrived. I was so excited. I couldn't wait to see her and hold Brittany. She was full term and had a natural birth with an epidural. The baby was fine weighing a normal 5 lbs 13 ounces. Both and mother and baby were healthy and allowed to go home. Dawn, however, had to return to the hospital the day after coming home due to complications from the epidural. She was paralyzed for 24 hours from spinal leakage. It passed and mother and baby were home, healthy, and happy. Dawn was very tired and quickly learned the intensity of motherhood. I was still there helping out when I could. I have included a picture from Dawn's recent wedding with her now 13 yr old daughter.