Maybe I'll Use My College Degree Afterall

Foster Parent Classes, Week 4

Most people don't know this, but I was actually a Psychology Major in college. Lyon College doesn't offer a teaching major. You had to major in another area and concentrate in Education. I have always been fascinated with psychology, the way people think and child development, and I still am. Tuesday night at our Foster Parent classes, the trainers talked a lot about stages of development. Immediately, it all came flooding back. They used Erik Erikson's theory on social development, which I have seen in children of friends and family members. I also remembered Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, looked it up and it was interesting as well.

For those of you considering adoption, or foster parenting, I think you'd find these things interesting. That is my psychological advice for today. Take it or leave it.

All in all, the classes were great this week! I have often beaten myself up for running up student loans and getting this great degree, and then I don't utilize it b/c I'm at home with my kids all day. God just continues to affirm to me that I am, in fact, just where I'm suppose to be and that I truly am using the education, gifts and talents he has blessed me with. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and I praise my Lord for it!!

Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow


Erik Erikson's Stages of Social Development
No, I did not draw this myself, but it was
the best I could find
http://theliterarylink.com/understanding.html


Big Boy Underwear & Big Girl Panties

Lucas and Ashlee are at that age where potty training looms over our heads. I know that we should be ambitiously striving for toilet use, but I just can't seem to muster up the energy. Luke, however, is full steam ahead. On Saturday, he decided it was time to break out the undies. Lucas has some Mickey Mouse (or as Lucas says, "Mick Mick") Big Boy Underwear and of course, Ashlee is stuck with hand-me-down Princess and/or Dora Big Girl Panties. They were each equally proud of themselves and strutted their stuff. I took lots of pics and here are some of my faves:

Ashlee with her "Bear-Bear" (who has
the nastiest ears on the planet!)


Lucas in his "Mick Mick's" with Kitty-Kitty

Ashlee, Lucas and Luke