Every Moment Counts

Blanca G. wrote our second entry on chapter 14. This
is her nephew, near some of the animals he loves.

In chapter 15 of Roots of Empathy, Mary Gordon begins by saying that “Children become who they are at home” (p. 209), and that the most powerful relationship is between the parent and child.  Therefore, the most significant person in a child’s life is his or her parent. According to Erik Erikson, the first stage of trust versus mistrust sets the foundation for future relationships. Therefore, parents can move towards building a strong bond between their children. A good way to do this involves attending immediately to their child’s basic needs.

  Parents create a stronger relationship and experience unique moments with their newborn. Having a newborn child will be one of the best experiences that a couple can have.  Having a newborn baby can drastically change the lives of the new parents, because now they have to take care and dedicate more time to the newborn child. I agree with Mary Gordon’s description of how a parent can be the most valuable person in a child’s life and that parents should celebrate every unique moment with the child. I still remember when I was a little child; my parents would give everything to ensure that my siblings and I received good attention and dedication. Their empathy toward eight children was significant in our lives because I still remember those memorable experiences from my childhood because of our parents’ dedication and compassion. Now that I have experienced working with children, I understand how my parents felt when we were trying to get their attention. Gordon indicated that “there is no unimportant day in a child’s life; every moment, every conversation, every activity is important” (p. 209-10).

As of today, I only have one nephew who is 2 years old and I try to enjoy every special moment with him. For example, I am able to celebrate his accomplishments with him, such as when he adds a new word to his vocabulary. At this early age, my nephew shows curiosity towards animals, and his dad has noticed.  My nephew’s parent brought animals such as rabbits, goats, doves, chicks, roosters, and other animals so that he can feed them and have compassion for animals.  My nephew enjoys spending time with his father and with his animals because both of them feel sympathy towards animals.  I think that my nephew and his father are building a stronger relationship because they spend so much time together, experiencing good communication between father and son. They are able to understand each other perfectly. For example, my nephew’s dad is able to pick up the cues from my nephew, and then plan experiences accordingly.

I think that understanding a child’s needs is fundamental because not every child at the age of 2 is able to communicate perfectly with his or her parent. There is a connection between my nephew’s experiences and Gordon’s explanation that “what children carry in their hearts is not events but relationships” (p. 210), and my nephew has a strong relationship with his parent.

            Gordon’s description makes me remember several things that I noticed about my nephew. When he was nine-months old, he would cry when his parents were not at home, but when they would return he would move to them and hug them tightly. This vignette demonstrated that my nephew felt safe around his parents. According to Gordon, “The loving touch and the warm voice of a parent are the fuel that fires the growth of a baby’s brain” (p. 209).

            This reading caught my attention because sometimes, we do not realize that every moment and every activity is remarkable and unique in a child’s life.  Every facial expression and action that a child makes is important for his or her parents and for the people who are around him or her. The reading definitely made me think about stages and moments in a child’s development. As children grow up, they are learning about their surroundings and people who care about them.  I recently shared this book with my co-worker and her reaction to the book was positive because she enjoyed the descriptions. In conclusion, I feel that my nephew is fortunate that he has parents who are helping him build self-knowledge and confidence through a healthy parent-child relationship.