I was the older of two children. I have a sister who is five years younger then I. My sister and I fought a lot growing up because we had very different interests and we were both jealous of each other, however we have a good relationship now. Disagreements were usually over trivial matters, which we debated until someone gave in or nobody remembered or cared any more. We were disciplined mostly by taking away privileges and lectures.
My parents had a very stable marriage, they rarely fought at least as far as I knew and they are still together. a happy and functional adult. I probably wont use exactly the same style of parenting. My skills in discipline and guidance are compilations of various observed parenting styles, things I have learned from studying other cultures child rearing practices.
I grew up in Grapevine, Texas a small quiet suburban community, where we knew almost everybody in the town. My school was mostly uneventful I got along well with most teachers and did well with most subjects. Math and gym were my least favorite subjects. I loved history, English, Science, and art. I was proud of my abilities in science and especially electronics and computers. I had a small but close group of friends mostly from church.
I didnt really have any traumatic experiences as a child. As an adult the only difficult experience I have had was when I worked in childcare and when some of the children I had worked with for a long time would move away, specifically one girl whom I had cared for from 3 months to almost age 2. We had a lot of difficulties with her health and I had become very attached. When she moved to Atlanta her parents asked me to come and be her nanny, but I chose to stay because my family and everyone I knew was here. Not to mention I was just beginning my relationship with my future wife.
I am a Christian and very involved in our church. I try day by day to live a Christ-like life. I plan to raise our children to love and be accepting of people and to minister to people the way Christ did.
I received my G.E.D in the fall of 1994 and attended Tarrant county college in the spring of 1995 through the spring of 2000. I studied child development, business, photography, and core curriculum classes. I think education is a lifelong process, one of my favorite quotes is, know something about everything and everything about something. I hope my children value education and pursue as much education as the need to become happy productive members of society, what ever that is for them.
My first job was being a nanny part time for my aunt from the spring of 1993 to the fall of 1994 when they move out of state. Then I worked part time at the nursery of First Baptist Church of Grapevine until early 1996. In the summer of 1995 I started full time work as an infant room teacher at childrens courtyard. In the summer of 1996 I move to the young toddler room. In the fall of 1998 I was promoted to lead teacher and went to help open a new center location where I ran two 2-year-old classrooms since we were short on teachers until the summer or 1999. I left over frustrations with management and philosophy changes in the company. I changed careers disillusioned with institutional child-care to pursue a career in my other interest in photography. I now work at Arlington Camera and have my own photography business, TheBabyPhotographer.com which I enjoy even though I still miss the kids in my classes at daycare, I do visit them on occasion. I plan to build my baby photography business and incorporate it into a center for art and children.
I dated very little before my wife. In fact I had never had a serious relationship before Jennifer. I met Jennifer while working at the same daycare. The other teachers encouraged me to overcome my shyness and ask her out. We were attracted to each others love of children, the fact that we were both Christians, and shared similar goals for life. We really enjoy spending time just talking about everything and love spending time with our friends and family. We both just started making statements like when we get married or like when we have children the decision just came naturally. Neither of us have ever been married before. We both love children, enjoy computers, enjoy art and music, love God and our church family. Most of our spare time we spend with our pastors family, they are also our closest friends.
When we disagree we discuss it until we agree what to do or decide it doesnt matter. Usually if I am upset I retreat to spend time playing with children to take my mind off of it. Coloring pictures with the pastors 8-year-old or watching is 5-year-old play Nintendo or swinging outside with his 2-year-old for me it is stress relieving and the kids love the attention. Only occasionally do I get really mad and when I do I usually watch T.V. alone so I dont bother any one.
We both do household chores but Jennifer does most of the cleaning. I maintain the vehicles and decorate around the house with the pictures. We listen about each others day and talk about the events.