Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

My father was an alcoholic and was very verbally abusive.  When she drank he would loose his temper with us and hit us with a belt.  We would always have to walk on egg shells when he was drinking and stay in our bedrooms.  he was very cruel to my mom and there has been many times he was physical to her.  Towards the end of my fathers life I asked him why he did that to us.  Many of the events he could not recall.  He never thought he really hurt us and did not think he had a drinking problem.  He did apologize for what he did and said he tried to do the best for us.  My father never had a father and his mother was never around.  I honestly believe my father never knew how to be a parent because he did not have any good role models as parents.  When he became a grandpa, he finally understood how to love a child unconditional and how to communicate in a positive loving one.  My sons loved their grandpa and I finally was able to let the pain and anger go.  All my siblings are very close but we are very aware that our dad was an alcoholic and we have a higher risk at becoming one.  Some of my siblings have had to fight that demon.  

In Cambodia the Organization that helps family in need against child abuse is called Phare Ponleu Selpax.  This organizations helps over 1500 children.  Here are some facts about the organization and who they help.  No matter where you live or your race, economic status child abuse has no has no discrimination!!!!

Organization: Phare Ponleu Selpak
Project: Family oriented improvement
Location: Battambang, Cambodia
Target group: Families at risk, Children who are victims of abuse and exploitation, Street children, Children in alternative care

Phare Ponleu Selpak offers a program to meet the needs of vulnerable children which includes family support and reintegration, educational programs, arts and culture. The program reaches about 1 500 children from families affected by alcoholism, migration, violence and abuse, orphans, abandoned children, domestic or farming slaves, children victims of trafficking and street children( www,phareps.org).

Reference

http://www.phareps.org/

Child Development and Public Health

The topic I chose was immunization.  The reason why I chose this topic is because so many children die everyday because they do not have access to vaccinations.  UNICEF said "that there are more than 30 million children that are not immunized either because vaccines are unavailable, because health services are poorly provided or inaccessible, or because families are uniformed or misinformed about when and why to bring their children for immunization"  (UNICEF).  Less than $30. 00 a day it cost to immunize a child and prevent them from dying.  This make me so sad that so many children die because their country does not have the funds or medicine.  This a global issue.  All children, should be  immunized no matter where they live, their race or ethnicity.

Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World

My first son was born in a civilian hospital in Philadelphia.  He was induced at 8:00 am but was not born until 3:00 pm during General Hospital.  It was the best day of my life.  Sean-Michael was the first grandson.  My family came to the hospital the next day and my dad was so excited to hold him.  My second son was born in a military hospital in Jacksonville Florida.  He was born on his due date.  Chad my ex husband just came in from a 3 week med cruise.  i was in labor waiting for him to get off the John F Kennedy Air Craft Carrier.  Once Chad came out we than went to hospital but I was not dilated enough for them to keep me at the hospital.  So we walked around the hospital for hours and finally at 10 pm i gave birth to Austin-Chayse.  The Olympics were on and everyone was watching it.  My sons are my entire world.  I never realized how luck I was to be able to give birth to my sons in a hospital with doctors and medicine available in cased something happened.  Many countries do not have this luxury.  Over 300,000 woman died during pregnancy or childbirth, mostly in poor countries in 2008.  They are giving birth in their homes without proper medical care.  I think this is a serious problem and it needs to be addressed.