stressors and a child's poverty

Poverty affects children academically, socially and emotionally. I am one to know. I grew up poor. I always wore hand me downs. I was small for my age, so the cloths would be extra big on me. this rarely happened, so most of the time I had to share cloths with my brother. Unless someone gave me named brand shoes, my shoes was bought from Kmart, pay less and sometimes the thrift store, while most people around me wore name brand shoes. I wore too small shoes. My hair was always in braids beads and nappy; never the latest hair styles or styles for my age.

Poverty affected my academics, because I was very subconscious, uncomfortable and other things was going on that I could not focus on my education. I was socially an outcast. Most kids shunned me. I remember crying cause none of the kids would play with me. I was an emotional wreck. I handle the stress by not handling the stress. I knew there was nothing I could have done to change anything. I would what I called zoombify myself. I would function enough to make it. I would drift off in to daydream land. I would pretend that I was not associated to my surroundings. I heard things going on around me. I would see things around me. If I was not directly involved with the any type of interactions, I would zoombify myself.


Here is a link that I found interesting.http://www.zoriah.net/blog/2009/04/kenya_child_poverty.html
 http://www.babylifetime.com/article/1607/child-poverty-in-south-africa-regions/  Children generally copes with poverty the best they could. African children are usually surrounded by other children in poverty, so everyone is usually all on the same page. Everyone looks for ways to find food, care for younger siblings, eat what they can and ways to work for food. In one of the photos a young girl used a trash bag to protect herself from the rain. Some children find food while others starves to death. However, Africa is working to resolve famine. I know for a fact, a C chancellor and vice chancellor from our local pccua came back from Africa. They are working to set up educational systems. But as for the children, they are left making adult decisions and having adult responsibilities to survive.

Mental health of mother’s fathers and families is a very important aspect of a child’s life, from conception throughout adult hood. This subject is important to me, because I have learned how difficult a child’s life is when parent’s and families has a poor mental health. Mental health does not mean without a disability. I have seen a person with autism care for an infant and toddler better than a stable adult.

Mental  health is a rising epidemic in south Africa.  Money for mental care facilities is limited. In many areas care is for less than two percent of the population with mental health issues http://www.consultancyafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1213:the-silent-crisis-mental-health-in-africa&catid=61:hiv-aids-discussion-papers&Itemid=268

I also found out that children with mental illness are increasing, but the hospital can only hold ten children. In 2010 fifteen to twenty children per week had their first evaluation. http://allafrica.com/stories/201007221065.html

childbirth in my life and around the world

On October 12, 2009, I gave birth to my third child and daughter, Kailey. I had to have a scheduled c section, because the doctor I had before Kailey’s doctor cut me. I was a little hesitant, because I didn’t want to go through another c section. I learned that I did not have to have a second c section.  I went in to church on the 11^th and the hospital that night around 9 o’clock. I couldn’t eat after six o’clock. My husband and two daughters spent the night in the hospital with me. We don’t have family or people we can depend on to support us or be there for us. I went through surgery alone. My husband cared for my daughters. Delivery went quick. By the time he had dressed the girls put away blanket and the air mattress, and went into the regular room; I was out of surgery and in recovery. Kailey was my biggest child born. She weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces. I slept for the rest of the day and off and on during the evening. That evening I spent the night alone at the hospital. My husband came back the next day. I met and held my daughter for the first time, about ten a.m. I remember staying in the hospital for four days. I left the evening of the fourth day.  I choose this example because it wasn’t my first experience and my second experience was at a time my family was in town for our church week long revival. I was not able to bond with my child until the next day. I am not sure if having a csection instead of vaginal delivery affected the development of a child. Her head wasn’t shaped like a cone.

I thought this was a very good birthing tradition, from Africa. Before a child’s birth a mother goes away along and sits under a tree until she hears the song of unborn child. Once she hears the song she returns to the village teach the song to the child’s father. As they conceive the child they sing the song to invite the child to its birth. Later they teach the song to the midwife. During the child’s birth they sing the song to invite them into the world. As the child grow up the entire village learns and sing the song, allowing the child to hear their song throughout their life. This song is song for the last time at the child’s death.

This experience is different from my personal experience because of the links in the child’s life. My children didn’t have a lot of people around them rooting for their birth or helping to groom a healthy development, arrival or conception. I am sure the child who grows up with as much consistency and love; will have a better chance for success. I learned how imperative it is to bond, sing and talk to a child. It promotes a healthy development.