My Supports

As a person that has limited movement in the knees due to crippling arthritis I depend on my family for support.  Despite having several knee surgeries and being told I am too young for knee replacements I have to rely on the aid of my ex-husband and children in completing many different tasks.  The arthritis limits the range of motion of my knees thus making it difficult to walk for a distance and when walking stairs. I use a cane generally as support to provide stability and take frequent breaks when walking along with several medicines to ease the pain.  While I can sort my laundry I reply on my children to bring it up and down the stairs and to wash as dry them for me.  I can no longer walk the track or malls for exercise.  My knees prohibit me from walking with friends or family in the mall shopping, attend shopping trips, or sit for long periods of time with my knees bent.  I think the use of the various medicines I take aids in the relief on some of the pain but it does not take it totally away. The medicines make it some that I can function.  The only downfall with the medicine is that it makes me sleep which also stops me for living my life to the fullest.

Despite my limited abilities, I think that if I did not have my family, medication, or cane I would not be able to function at all.  I would not be able to complete household chores of laundry, cooking or cleaning.  Even though I cannot walk the mall like I once did, I can at least go to the mall for a specific purpose of shoes for me children or one maybe two stores that are close together.  If it were not having this crippling ailment I don’t think I would realize the important knees play a part in the daily functions in my life nor would I appreciate the help given from family and support. 

While I don’t have this crippling disease, I do suffer from the need of knee replacements and have had four procedures done on each knee.  I do need both knees replaced but have had two surgeons tell me that I am too young for the procedure because replacements are only guaranteed for ten to twelve years and would have to be redone.  They recommend I wait until I am in my 70’s to get it done.  I also have had surgery on my back and neck resulting in three screws being implanted.  I do rely on my friends and family for support and only take the medicine if I am in great pain.  I am trying to live my life as much as normal as possible despite my limitations. 

My Connections to Play

“Growth comes from activity, not from intellectual understanding.” Maria Montessori

 “To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.” Maria Montessori

 “The child can develop fully by means of experience in his environment. We call such experiences ‘work’.” Maria Montessori

My parents and siblings all supported and still do support play.  As a child I was encouraged to go outside to play every day.  My father would sit outside and watch us as we played and taught me how to ride a bike with and without training wheels.  Today my siblings and I still play through having game nights weekly and include our children in the activities. 

Play to is different for many today than it was when I was a child.  When I was a child children were outside riding bikes and playing various games with friends.  And it was done without a fear or thought of danger from being shot or any other criminal activity.  Today children are consumed with video games and little to no physical activity.  Or there is so much violence in the streets that parents fear to let their children outside to play or children are being shot, abducted or hurt when they are outside or playing with friends whether they are outside their house, at the park, or at any function.   

 With the great push of physical activity from the First Lady of the United States of America Mrs. Michelle Obama, the NFL’s Play 60 and other agencies, I think children and families will see the importance of play and the effects physical activity has in everyone’s life. 

References

Daily Montessori . (2011). Quotes by Maria Montessori.  Retrieved from www.dailymontessori.com/maria-montessori-quotes/

NFL Play 60.  (2012). NFL Play 60: The NFL Movement for an Active Generation. Retrieved from www.nfl.com/play60