This is the Fun Part

A shift has occurred.
I have jumped over a broomstick.
I am in the midst of writing a dissertation proposal and publishable paper.
And the universe is conspiring to help.
I have reached out to every professor, scholar and professional that has informed my thinking and they are reaching back.
I have a dream team of brilliant minds reading my work and offering feedback: Dr. Aurora Jackson, Dr. Sheryl Kataoka, Dr. Stuart Kirk, Dr. Hector Myers, Dr. Ken Wells, Dr. Deborah Glik, Dr. Karin Elliot Brown, Dr. Zeke Hasenfeld, Pia Escudero, LCSW, Reevah Simon, LCSW.
Thank you, Yesus - Thank you, Yesus - Thank you, Yesus.

Everything I read now is within my research interests - fascinating - and stimulating ideas.
It does get better.
Last year kicked my behind.
This year, I am having fun.

Today, I read the following and just have to share:

From Eamon, M.K. (2001). The Effects of Poverty on Children's Socioemotional Development:  An Ecological Systems Analysis.  Social Work, 46(3), 256-266:

". . . The relation between parenting practices and child behavior may be stronger in later childhood because of the cumulative and reciprocal influences between the parents and child over time...the association between the quality of parenting and externalizing behaviors was stronger for older children and adolescents compared with toddlers and preschoolers . . . Rothbaum and Weisz's analysis emphasizes the importance of parent-child interactions throughout childhood (p. 262)."

From the best chapter ever written!!! :  
CHAPTER 6:  Protective Factors and Individual Resilience by Theee Emmy E. Werner in J.P. Shonkoff & S.J. Meisels, eds., Handbook of early childhood interventions (2 ed.) (pp. 115-132):

"A lively debate has taken place over conceptual issues, centering on whether resilience is a state or trait, whether successful coping in the face of adversity is domain specific, and what the psychic costs are for at-risk children who manage to grow into competent, confident, and caring adults."

"...One can begin to discern a common core of individual dispositions and sources of support that contribute to resilience in individual development.  These protective buffers appear to transcend ethnic, social class, and geographic boundaries.  They also appear to make a more profound impact on the life course of children who grow up in adversity than do specific risk factors or stressful life events."

"The 'vulnerable, but invincible' 10-year-olds in the Kaui Longitudinal Study were neither unusually talented nor intellectually gifted.  They did, however, possess well-developed problem solving and communication skills that they put to good use.  Their teachers noted that they were not only sociable but also remarkably independent.  They were able to control their impulses and concentrate on their schoolwork, even if they grew up in homes marred by chronic discord, parental alcoholism, or psychosis.  Parental and self-reports indicated that these resilient children displayed a healthy androgyny in their interests and activities and engaged in hobbies that were not narrowly sex-typed.  Such activities gave them solace in adversity and provided them with a sense of mastery and pride.  This was especially true for the resilient children of parents with alcoholism."

Ahh, food of the gods.  Thank you, Emmy, and God bless you for your incredible scholarship.  Now go and tell someone about resilience.