I have many people that support me on a daily basis. My husband is very supportive of me. He keeps me grounded, makes me see what is important and what I stress over that I shouldn't. He makes me see things and people for what they really are and tries to keep me from "sweating the small stuff". I say "tries" because I am a worrier by nature and that is a very difficult thing for me to change about myself. He is my best friend and I know that I can count on him regardless of the situation. I trust that I can talk to him without feeling judged by him. He is also very helpful around the house and we have a great time completing projects together. My children are a big support for me. Most people would think that I support my children (which I do) so how can I think of them as a support for me! My children are funny, creative, expressive little boys that keep me from taking life too seriously and they keep me having fun and laughing. I need my husband and my children in my life so that I enjoy life more. My parents have always been a huge support in my life. They raised me to believe in myself and try my best at everything. They are my sounding board for many challenges and choices that I have had to make in my life. My siblings and their families are supportive as well. We are a very close family and during a time when I was unsure of where my life was heading, being with family made the decisions and choices very clear to me. My friends are a very close knit support system for me. We have similar interests, similar motivations and they can help me work through problems and issues I am having. I know I can talk to them without judgement. My co-workers, classmates and instructors are supportive to me as well. I can bounce ideas around with my co-workers and use them to help come up with strategies for assisting centers with their issues. My co-worker encouraged me to start my masters program, she told me I could do it, when I was unsure of that myself. She has assisted me in the online learning process. Having my job supports me financially. I am able to take care of my children because of that financial support. I can feel independent and self-sufficient because of my job. I know I can take of myself and my children financially as well as feel like I am making a difference with the job that I do. My classmates and instructors have supported me by making me think deeper and in different ways, by helping me find out more of who I am as a student and making me more creative and expressive in my writing. I think living without my support system would be very challenging. I would be more stressed without them, I would laugh less and feel alone without my support system. I know I could survive without them, but life would not be as joyful, as rich, as fun as having them with me for the journey. I need them.
If I had to imagine myself with a specific challenge I would say that I am unable to speak and communicate effectively with people. I can understand this challenge because it is a challenge my ex-husband now has to experience after suffering a stroke. It takes many people and a lot of patience to work through such a challenge. If I was unable to effectively communicate, read, and write I would be unable to work to support my children and myself, I would have to rely on my husband as the only financial support for our family. I would not be able to communicate effectively with my children's teachers and would not be able to assist my children with their homework or read a book to them before bed each night. I would not be as much of a support for them as I am now and as a mom that is a devastating reality to face. I think one thing that keeps me so grounded and so positive about life is knowing how much people rely on me for support, about as much as I rely on them. I like to be needed! It would be very difficult to me as a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend to suffer the loss of my communication skills. If I lost my communication skills I would have to rely on others to communicate for me, at the grocery store, doctors office, school, etc. I would not be independent until I was able to learn other ways to communicate. If I lost my support system as well as my communication skills I honestly do not know what I would do, how I would function and survive.
