Ian Mahoney – Week Three
Ian is now 3 ½. It has been 2 years since Leila had learned
of Phil’s death, and she knew that her life would never be the same. It’s a
good thing she had Tyler – she could see Phil in his eyes everyday, and he had
Phil’s kindness, particularly when it came to Ian. Leila was in her early 30s
and still had her life ahead of her. She had been spending a lot of time on
Facebook, reconnecting with high school friends.
* What are the major developmental milestones for a 3 ½ year
old? What should Ian be doing physically, cognitively, and emotionally at this
point?
* Does Leila receive survivor’s benefits if Phil was in the
National Guard? Do the children receive any survivor’s benefits?
* What else is important for you to know about Ian’s family
at this point? (Hint: Think about all that you don’t currently know about the
family that could be helpful for you with regard to demographic *information.)
DECISION POINT: Does Leila begin to date?
For normal development to occur, a child must go through vital stages during the course of their life. Of course there are some variations to development in every child, but these skills are skills that Ian is developing rapidly. Ian has just turned three and a half and has been going through these stages since the day he was born. As Ian turns three, important and noticeable changes start to occur. According to MedLine Plus, there are many physical, cognitive, and emotional skills that almost every three year old goes through. Physically, Ian gains four to five pounds, grows two to three inches, and suddenly has all of his 20 primary teeth. According to the website, GreatSchools, there are several fine and gross motor skills that should take place in a three year old. Ian develops some gross motor skills which include; running around obstacles, catching and throwing large balls over his head, climbing ladders, and riding tricycles.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, Ian develops a variety of fine motor skills. These skills include assembling simple puzzles, copying shapes, and finger painting. Many skills improve as Ian develops cognitively. As a three year old, Ian’s vocabulary expands to hundreds of words and develops plurals and nouns. He can also dress himself, has a longer attention span, shares with others, and there is a decrease in separation anxiety for short periods of time. As these cognitive skills develop, Ian starts to ask questions. He constantly asks his mother and Tyler of the whereabouts of his father. Leila tries to stay positive whenever the questions arise and simply informs Ian that his father is now in a better place.
ReplyDeleteAs Ian continues to develop, he will start to play cooperatively with other children. According to Education.com, new emotions should develop as a child turns three and a half years old. Ian develops a variety of emotions which include; sadness, jealousy, wariness, content, joy, and exuberance. Ian is tuned into the feelings of other people around him, especially his family. He can sense when people are upset, angry, or happy. Since his father died not too long ago, Ian notices that his mother is upset almost daily and has become sensitive to her feelings. Additionally, Ian receives praise as a powerful reinforcer, and he constantly has the urge to please adults. Ian’s behavior helps Leila get through her times of struggle. Leila realizes that her own son is trying to make her happy, and that is something she can live for.
ReplyDeleteMilitary.com provides families with information on a Survivor Benefit Plan. This plan is available to all those family members who lost a national guard resulting from death. Without this plan, the guardsman’s retirement income suddenly stops, leaving the spouse and his or her family without a substantial income source. The Survivor Benefit Plan is basically an insurance plan that will pay the spouse a monthly payment to help make up for the loss of the guardsman’s retirement income. Leila and her family are currently under this plan, receiving a monthly payment to keep their life afloat. Leila’s children are beneficiaries until they are 18 or 22 years of age as long as they are full-time, unmarried students. Even though these benefits are not the same as her family once was receiving while Phil was still alive, it still helps her out tremendously because it is as if though her family is still receiving two incomes every month.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there is still some information missing to Leila and her family’s story. These questions are important for us to consider as we learn more about Leila’s story. The following are some questions that we have yet to answer about the family. What kind of job does Leila have? Is it stable? What kind of salary is Leila making? What kind of town or neighborhood does Leila and her family reside? Assuming Leila has a job, who is helping out with the kids, and who is watching them once Leila goes to work? As we continue to learn more about Leila and her family, these questions are ones that are important and will help us to learn more about her demographic information.
ReplyDeleteAs a group, we decided that Leila has not yet begun to date. Leila, at this point in her life, is emotionally unstable. She has too much going on in her life right now, so maybe in the next year or so she can finally start dating. In the next year or so, she can maybe find a mature and stable man to fulfill the love and protection she has been missing for two years. If Leila were to start dating right now, it would create too much unnecessary stress in her life. Her youngest son, Ian, needs to be provided with the explanation of who his father is and what kind of person he was before she brings in a strange man that is not Ian and Tyler’s biological father. She needs to devote her time to herself and her young children during this time in her life.
ReplyDeleteQuestions for Group 2:
ReplyDelete1) How does the fact that Ian never met his father effect his behavior and development?
2) How is the relationship between Ian and his mother? Does she show affection?
3)Does Leila have any support from family or friends to help raise her two boys?