LGBTQ

I remember before in college when one of our professors asked us if we like gay
people and we agreed saying, ‘Yes.’ Then, he asked another question saying, “Would
like to have a gay friend?” Again our answer was yes. But our professor’s question did
not end there. He asked another follow up question which made some of became quite.
He asked, “Then, is it alright for if you will have a gay child?” That question made me
realize my beliefs and views about gay people or to the LGBTQ community because my
answer to our professors’ question is definitely a ‘no’.
I know my belief seems old fashioned but if in the future I am going to bear a
child I don’t want him to be gay. But I am still hoping that when in the near future I’ll be
able to handle cases in LGBTQ community that my beliefs won’t go on the way and I
will still be able to make sound judgments. So moving aside my judgments let’s tackle
more of the things I learned about LGBTQ.
LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning. Common
issue about LGBTQ community is that they are discriminated by the majority which
leads to other individual to seek professional help. In helping them it is important for a
counselor to know where the client is in terms of acceptance. The more it is important to
when one of the presenting issues of the client is sexuality.
And these steps are what I learned to help for the LGBTQ clients. First, is to
identity awareness. The point when the child or adolescent begins to realize he or she
has feelings that are different from others and different from what they have been
taught. Second, is to identity comparison. The individual begins to explore his or her
feelings alone and to compare them to the beliefs of society, parents, and peers. Third,
is to identity tolerance. During this stage, the individual will often not agree towards his
or her feelings and attempt to deny them. Fourth, is to identity acceptance. After
realizing that sexuality is a part of who they are, they begin to embrace it, explore their
feelings and desires, and start to find a place in the world where they are accepted and
belong. Fifth, is to identity pride. Often involves anger toward parents, society, religion,
or other aspects of the world that tells them that they are bad, wrong, immoral, or
mentally ill merely because their feelings are directed toward the same sex. Lastly, is to
identity synthesis. The final stage in which homosexuality becomes a part of who they
are rather than the defining factor. Instead of being a gay man or lesbian, they begin to
see themselves as parents, employees, leaders, teachers, supervisors, coaches, and
volunteers who just happen to be gay. In the final stage, they are able to accept
themselves more wholly rather than seeing their sexuality as separate from the rest of
who they are.
As I have said before learning things are easy but what will happen when you are
already in that situation? It is hard but most importantly we need to think of the client’s
needs to help them on their problems or issues especially with the LGBTQ people.

Dealing with Destructive Children

I know how difficult it is to take care of children. There are days that children can
be so adorable when they do something but there are days that we also don’t like. It is
the time when these kids show tantrums or being destructive that measures your level
of your patience especially to the parents. Examples of basic characteristics of
destructive children are that who constantly breaks something such as toys and
someone who writes on walls. But I would like to emphasize that children are not
destructive by nature.
Both the environment and parental influence affect a child's behavior, implying
that much of the destructive behaviors in children are probably caused by poor
environments and parenting. By understanding the risk factors for destructive behavior,
a parent can adequately address and correct the problem. However, parents may seem
that yelling or getting angry back at them will result in a child is actually
counterproductive. And parents should be aware that continued destructive behavior
can also indicate a lack of limits. Every child has a unique personality and needs, so
parents should make an effort to understand a child. As parents, they should have the
responsibility of making the limits clear to their child. Define what behaviors are wrong
and why they are wrong. After explaining this, help the child come up with ways to
change other behaviors. In this process, parents not only make their expectations clear
but it shows that a child’s action have limits, it can also teach their child the value of
respecting property, taking the chance that he continues with such misbehavior.
In conclusion, parents, caregivers or other significant persons to the child’s life
should make sure to teach them that bad behavior will have consequences and that he
will get no new things until they behave. If a child breaks a new toy, take it away and let
the child know that the behaviour they are doing is not acceptable. Most importantly, be
a loving parent and one who is concerned for the future of the child instead of spoiling
them of the things that are needed. After all, children are not destructive by nature. They
just have to be aware of the things that can result to destructive behaviors with the
participation of parents and counselor.
Single Parent

I believe that raising a child is difficult for parents all the more when you are all
alone. Even when the person is already accustomed of the fact of being a single parent,
there will always be a time when he/she will still need an extra hand to get help and
support. Single parents mostly have too much to do but have not enough time to do it. It
can be between cleaning the house, cooking meals and packing lunches and his/her
own forty-hour work week, single parents can be the only one the child can be relied on
for all of their needs. Most of the time single parents forget or do not prefer to consider
their own needs. When those times come, single parent should remember that they can
reach for help and that they are not alone with their struggles.

When a single parent needs help, he/she should not overlook the people around.
For instance, you will never know that they are ill to help you and you are just too shy to
ask. I know that they might be will to help take care of your kids while you take on a
second job or cut back on child care. Friends or family members can also help by just
lending an ear to them. Many single parents face emotional struggles, particularly if they
are still adjusting to their new lifestyle. Just being a good listener and faithful friend will
make a big difference.
 Moreover, our government now should also give focus on this issue. I am hoping
that the government can offer more help to them. And to our society, I hope that we
would refrain from commenting negative thoughts to them but we should be able to help
them even in our own little ways. Instead of helping those single parents having a hard
time, sometimes people tend to judge others and love to put people down when they
are already in that situation. For me, I salute single parents who can raise their child
alone because doing that kind of responsibility is tough but they chose to do it still.

Working with Children in Conflict with the Law

The term ‘children in conflict with the law’ refers to any person below the age 18
who has come in contact with the justice system as a result of committing a crime or
being suspected of committing a crime. And it is sad to know that today more children
are engaging in committing a crime. Most of those children have committed lesser
crimes such as vagrancy, truancy, begging or alcohol use. But others have really
committed serious crimes. It is alarming to know that some children are forced to do
crimes because of the strict commands of adults who use them because they know that
they won’t be imprisoned just like adults.

The saddest part is that these children in conflict with the law together with their
families, are victims of poverty, hunger, social inequality and state neglect. Adding up
the issue right now whether is it really better to lower the age of a person who can be
liable to commit crime. In my own personal opinion I can agree with that but I hope that
if it happens more centers or rehabilitation centers be built specifically for them so that
they can be helped. Because one of the problems with those children is that at the
moment there are lacking rehabilitation facilities that could cater the needs of each
children here in our country if you want them to get helped.
 So to help these children who come in conflict with the law need to be informed
about their rights. Preventive measures can improve children’s understanding of their
responsibilities under the law and help them avoid conflict. Thus, massive campaign for
information/awareness on children’s right must be instituted to enhance community
awareness on children’s protection and development.