Parents and their influences

This week in class we talked about how from birth until our death we are constantly influenced by those around us. One of our most important and needed influences is our parents. From birth parents are vital in providing care and nurture. However, they must also interact with us and socialize with us. I did not realize until this unit that a baby's brain is like a sponge and picks up on other people tendencies. This attention stimulates a child's brain and allows for normal physical and mental growth. On the contrary we learned about neglected kids and how they devolp physically as they age but have the mental capacity of an infant. Research found that the longer these children have been neglected the less they can learn later. We learned of a 13 year old who was locked in a closet her whole life until being rescued by authorities. Once rescued doctors tried teaching her to walk, talk, and do things we take for granted. They found it difficult eventually running into a wall where nothing else could be absorbed. Her brain function comparable to a patient in a mental institution. I am thankful for the loving and caring parents that I have and am grateful for their care now and during my infancy.