Relationship Reflection

I truly feel that relationships can alter or make the person who you become. I have been through a personal rollercoaster the past few years and it truly showed me who would stick around and who were key people in my life who have made (and still do) a difference. Throughout my life I have had relationships in my family of course, friends who have come and gone or friends who have stayed through tough times, and other relationships I have met through various activities in my life who are all different ages (like church, work, neighbors, etc). Recently I realized who in my family have become even more dependable/loyal, extremely supportive, not judgmental, and who extremely love me and my son. Since I am a single mother, my family has become the “village” for me and my son, and not only my family members, a select few longtime friends have now earned the title of “family”. Being a mother is also a connection or relationship I never truly understood the magnitude of, until I felt my son move inside me, heard his first cry when he was born and watching him grow before my eyes. Being a mother not only changes my title or role in life, but it has caused me to awaken the very protective part in me and the overwhelming love you can feel for a little life that you created. Everything I do, is truly for my son. The depth motherhood has brought me, is indescribable yet has changed me incredibly for the better.

Being a mom has also brought me closer to my mother, who I already have had a positive relationship with my entire life, she’s always been like my best friend and I tell her everything and she’s my number one cheerleader. Since I am currently living with my parents, they are witness to my son’s growth as well and have helped me in raising him and has seen our connection and the impact we all make on him and each other.

Growing up, both sides of my family (like aunts, uncles, cousins on either side…) have been somewhat close through holidays and various family gatherings. The major relationships I have made in my family were my cousins who were in my age range. The closeness in age, bonded us right away but we could relate to each other on both a personal level and just having fun being kids. Another cousin I find who always seems to overshadow a lot of the others, is my cousin Rachael, she is over 10 years older then I am but I somehow have always been drawn to her and has always referred to her as my “big sister”. (I only have an older brother, no real sisters) Even when she started having kids, I would be their aunt and now it’s the same with my son, we’ve always been close and tell each other everything, almost like a real sister role, so she has in a way, been a role model for me as I was growing up.

My paternal grandmother has also become a major person in my life, she was an amazing woman and lived 99 years, died just 4 months before her 100th birthday. She was such a worldly soul who had a big heart and always opened her heart and home to others. I remember before she passed, she had an incredible memory and told endless stories about growing up, being a nurse, and other various family stories. I, of course wanted to listen as attentively as possible trying to absorb and remember the intriguing stories that could effect our family and their history, I know her a whole lot more now because of that. One thing that stuck with me was when I was going through a difficult time, right around the time she passed away, a few months later my father found an angel pin he had misplaced. He told me that it was a gift for me, from my grandmother and she said to him “give this to Jaime, she is in need of it”. The moment he said that, I had Goosebumps and was overcome with emotion, she knew, somehow she knew what was going on with me and it seemed like she was watching over me. She was and still is my guardian angel. She has been gone for almost four years now but I still tend to always want to make her proud and live my life like she would; without complaints, with love and integrity and the realization that family is everything.

I have gone through a lot in my life, through a lot of ups and a few downs but one thing is for sure, throughout events and relationships that I have come across, it has developed me into the person I am today.

In regards to the impact my relationships have on my work, it has shown me to listen, to not judge any situation or family situation or dynamic and I feel the warmth I have always received from close friends and family has rubbed off and in turn, I bring the utmost care and consideration to the children and families I care for.