Final Week

As we wrap up this week, I think where as the time gone...  I particularly found this weeks reading to pertain especially close in my own life.  I lost my grandmother almost 10 years to the day :(  She was my rock, my caretaker, and most of all the person I had enstilled the most trust in.  I had a bit of a rough childhood as explained in earlier blog posts and she was the one person always there for me.  The death of my grandmother was an expected death, but I don't ever think at any point the process is made any easier.  I had a tremendous sense of emptiness after she passed, along with several other emotions that at times seemed uncontrollable.  I will admit over the years its gotten to be a bit easier, but I do have my days when I wish she was still around.  With the holidays I beleive is when this is on my mind the heaviest.  I miss all of the traditions that our family once shared and we now do not.  Some say that death brings families closer, that is the exact opposite in mine.  Grandma was the framework that held everyone together.  Hope she is resting peacefully :)

Week 9

This week’s material didn't really appeal to me until I started to post my "home group" post.  I watched the link on Alzheimer’s and just when I thought I had a good interpretation of the disease, I was so wrong there is so much more information out there to explore. The text sheds more light on the disease in chapter 14, but I found the video link so much more informational.  One thing interesting is that actual diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease can only be made following a brain autopsy, after death…  So in the mean time the disease when diagnosed it is “probable”. 
I initially was going to do my research paper on a different topic; however since I plan to do more research on this subject I have officially changed my mind J
Happy Thanksgiving All

Week 8

This week's material interesting, yet scary!  These are all things within the lifespan that are quickly approaching me...  Balancing my school life with my family is a task in itself to conquer, I stay busy studying to keep up with good grades while my daughter has homework and sports just about every night.  Luckily I do not work which eases the challenge of someone else caring for my daughter, however this wasn't always the case and I did return to my last job after the birth of my daughter in order to make ends meet.  Work-family conflict (the feeling of being pulled in multiple directions by incompatible demands from one's job and one's family) sums up the feelings that I once had, as well as the feeling I still have once in a while.  There is not enough time in one day to do all things necessary to accomplish the needs and wants.

Chapter 13 hit home a bit, family dynamics!  I lost my grandmother almost 10 years ago and she was the kin keeper of our family and after her passing everything went out the window.  I am now in a position to try and keep traditions alive and give my own child something to pass on to her family later in life.  I also have been caring for my ailing grandfather for the past year, and that is no easy task as he still wants things done his way, yet he is not able to do them himself.  In the text it states that usually it is middle aged adults caring for their parents and in my case I am the grandchild taking on the roll.  I reuse to send him to a skilled facility as long as I am able to do it myself.  I feel that keeping him in his own setting will give him better quality of life opposed to being in a facility.

Week 7

WOW, over half way done with this quarter and it feels great!  I enjoyed this weeks material as I already knew I had my own perspective and opinions that proved true through various studies.  I posted in my "home group" about divorce or seperation as I would call it if not married but have children. 

Chapter 10 gave me a whole new light on how I may or may not have come to be an adult.  I am in my early 30's and at times still feel as though I am not where I "should" be in life.  I had my one and only child at 23 which helped me to become a bit more mature at a fairly young age...  This mostly relates to role transition, where I had to assume new responsibilities as a mother.  Prior to having my daughter I worked a low paying job full-time, went dancing every weekend and basically did whatever I wanted with my only responsibility being myself.  Then came along this little baby, whom had no instructions and my sole responsibility was her!  I wouldn't change it for the world. 

Also found it interesting about friendship going into adulthood, I don't want to elaborate to much as this is what I choose to do my "Special Project" on for this class.