Relationship Reflection

Mom and Dad (Mr. and Mrs. Milligan)

       Relationships are important to me because it is a force of trust, support, love, and well-being. All my life I have an awesome relationship with my mother and father. However it was the two of them that taught me the importance of a relationship. My parents have been married for 50 years. As I grew and watched the love they have for each other it is spectacular. They care for each other needs, support each other, love each other no matter what the obstacles, and the main thing that I noticed as a child is that they trust each other. I believe trust is a main factor to make a relationship with anyone. When trust is not their then the relationship is not there either.

Gwen Phelps-Milligan and Monique Phelps

I currently have a positive relationship with my mom and dad, grandma, Aunt Dorothy, my daughter, my pastor and a good friend of mine for the last 10 years. My relationship with my mom and dad, grandma, Aunt Dorothy, and my daughter is a very close bond. They are all there in my time of need no matter what it could be. They trust me, support my endeavors, and are always looking out for my well-being.  My mom and dad were there when I did not know who I was or wanted to be. They supported me in anything I choose to do to better myself. If I made drastic mistakes they would say well that is lesson learned and forgive me without second thought. Their love for me is unconditional. My grandma and Aunt are very supportive and with my grandma being age 97 I am there for her to help her and she always talk to me about how important life can be and keep striving to live regardless what comes my way. My Aunt Dorothy is supportive by letting me know how I am doing and how to improve with love and care. Then there is my daughter. My relationship with my daughter just became very close. This happened after she had her baby and she realized that I would be there for her regardless of the outcome. I support her choice to be a nurse and give her all encouragement to succeed. She is there for me too. In the past year I have gone through a lot of trials and tribulations and she has supported me in my choices and encourages me to overcome obstacles.  Then there is my friend for the last ten years of my life. She has been there with me through thick and thin. I remember when we used to work together and she would help me with being a creative teacher. Then I left that job went to another in the same field and when she got laid off, I was there for her to help her get a job with me. Today we work for different companies in the same field but support each other as much as possible with family and work. I really appreciate her as a trustworthy, reliable, encouraging and caring friend.

                The challenges of these relationships that I have learned are to be honest and trustworthy. Therefore I was able to receive the same. There was a time in my life where I did not trust people and were afraid of someone taking advantage of me due to the relationships I endured during my young years of growing up. When I went on my own away from my parents I trusted everybody until I realized that you cannot trust everyone in your life. People stole from me, misused me, and made me feel as though I was incapable of achieving anything. However because of the support of my parents I did not let that keep me from reaching high goals. I am a more confident person with built resilience and I am able to overcome anything.

                My experiences have taught me the value of relationships with others. In my work I do whatever I can to help others and to build their trust in me. I see a lot of families coming through my center that reminds me of when I was younger and how I felt. Therefore I give them the encouragement, support, love and trust that I was given to me by my parents to help me overcome the obstacles of growing up. With this I learned to be a nurturing educator for children and families.