iLEARN, iDO, iTEACH...

My father was in the Vietnam War. He was a typist for the Army. That meant he flew all over typing for the Army. It may not seem like that big of a deal, but as he recalls, everyone's job in a war is a big deal.

In his own words I will let him tell you what happened...

I had a nervous breakdown after I got out of the Army, having abused drugs and alcohol.  I was in Germany for two years working in a NATO headquarters guarding Europe, but I was never in Vietnam itself.  Because of the drugs and alcohol, therapy and medication followed after the breakdown (when I was hospitalized for 2 months undergoing tests and treatments).  In the end of that journey through depression, pain, isolation and physical problems that could not be solved by human hands, I stumbled upon Teen Challenge in June, 1971.  They offered free counseling and that was the carrot that brought me to their evangelistic meetings, where I accepted Christ.

 

Since then my father has relied on Jesus to help him daily. He always talks to me about how Jesus always got him through every gloomy situation he put himself in. That He always loved him unconditionally and how the Bible clearly explains how we can live our lives so that there is peace and joy. This is how my father coped with the stress from being in a war, and how he continues to cope with everything that life throws at him.

Thanks,

Cortnee :)

"According to the Pan American Health Organization's Haiti Profile, inflation was estimated at 15 percent and food prices increased to 10.4 percent from 1999 to 2000. Moreover, Haiti's per capita income is less than $400 (in U.S. dollars) per year, the average life expectancy is 57, and half of the children under the age of five are malnourished (World Bank 8). Hence, Haitian mothers and children are more likely to experience chronic poverty" (Edmond, Randolph & Richard, 2007).

"A number of researchers have shown that living in chronic poverty has a harmful effect on maternal behavior. Specifically, poor parents experience more chronic stress over family economic pressures, such as difficulty paying bills, substandard housing, and poor-quality medical care, as well as the stress associated with the daily tasks of childrearing (Hashima and Amato 394; World Health Organization 10). Because parenting can influence children's social, emotional, and cognitive adjustment, efforts have been made to determine the variables that affect parenting behavior, and one such variable is parenting stress." (Edmond, Randolph & Richard, 2007).

When I think of childbirth I think of my son, James, age 6. He is my only child and therefore, my only personal experience with giving birth. What I remember about my son's birth is that it was magical. From the moment he came out and was put on my chest I fell in LOVE! I loved my son in the womb, but my love for him was magnified by a 1,000 percent when I saw him for the first time! I will never forget what he looked like and how he felt in my arms. I remember that he came out screaming and I could have cared less. I think I even told him he could yell as loud and as much as he wanted! His head was so full of blonde hair I was shocked. I had never seen a baby with a full head of blonde hair like his. It was beautiful and so was he. The nurses took him to the changing station where they made sure he was perfect and I remember not being able to wait until he came back to me. I wanted to hold him forever. After he was cleaned up and given back to me with a clean bill of health, I held him and rocked him for as long as I could remember. I didn't take my eyes off of him for one second! People came in to see him and congratulate me but I don't remember saying much to them or even looking at them. I knew in my head I was exhausted but I could have held him for another three days I think. I didn't want to waste one minute not looking at him or caring for him. He is the most special and precious thing I could have ever been blessed to know or love. 

My thoughts regarding birth and its impact on child development is that we have come a long way!  I feel like we have made such huge strides in regard to understanding how and why children develop. Because of these strides, we understand so much more the benefits of caring for children in the womb and beyond. It amazes me the research development in this area as well. Being able to understand brain and body functions inside the womb is astounding. I also feel that the understanding that we need to start care as soon as we know we are expecting has impacted child development in that it has strengthened how we continue to care for children as well. 

I chose to study and write about the Beng people of West Africa. "The Beng (pronounced beng), also known as the Gan or Ngan, are a people group of Cote d’Ivoire" (International Mission Board, 2012). The reason I decided to study and write about the Beng's birthing practices is because of a previous study I had done years ago about the Beng culture. I studied them originally in an infant/toddler class and had to do a report on them. This was so fascinating to me that I decided to find more information on their childbirth practices and share it with you here. 

In Alma Gottlieb's book Under the kapok tree: identity and difference in Beng thought, Alma talks about the different cultural aspects and taboo's that are common in the Beng culture. The Beng culture puts a large emphasis on the superstitions that happen in the forest. They believe it is taboo if a woman is eating while pregnant and walking through the forest and drops crumbs on the ground. They believe if this happens, the child will be born a snake. Therefore, during childbirth "it is taboo for a Beng woman to deliver a child in the forest at large and in the agricultural fields in particular" (Gottlieb, 1997). If a Beng woman is having contractions, she must find her way into the village in order that the child will not be born a snake.

These obvious differences between the United States and the Beng people are astounding. I would never conceive of giving birth to a child in a village or in a forest. Nor do I believe that if I drop crumbs on sacred ground that my child will be born a snake. I will however comment that when I was pregnant with my son I remember having vividly wild dreams about him being an alien. But I hear that is normal during pregnancy because of our hormones being out of whack. But I never actually believed I was going to give birth to an alien!

I respect the Beng culture and their beliefs, but I do not believe that they are an educated people. I feel that superstitions and taboos are something that we make up in our minds to justify what is happening. But justifying things to reason without actual knowledge of truth will only lead to misconceptions and more ignorance. Which, to me, is not what child development is all about. I feel that the more we understand the more capable we are of taking care of our young ones. 

Thanks,

Cortnee :)

References:

Gottlieb, A. (1997). Under the kapok tree, identity and difference in beng thought. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press. Retrieved on January 7, 2012, from

http://books.google.com/books?id=cL23oNvqiXkC&pg=PA83&dq=beng birthing practices&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sdUIT7mdGsehiAKdptmaDw&ved=0CFYQ6AEwBQ 

International Mission Board. (2012). People groups. Retrieved on January 7, 2012, from http://www.imb.org/main/pray/searchby/PeopleGroupResults.asp?Hitdate2=Currentdatetime()&PrayerCode=NHB00&Age=90&submit12=Find Prayer Items