“The dynamics of relationships intrigued me. I wanted to know the whys of how a family worked”.
– Deedy Gonzales
Ever since I was a child, I have loved to observe people and the “why” behind what people do, where they go, and why they do it. This happened everywhere I went. If I was sitting in a pew at a church service, I would be wondering how the service was put together noticing all of the details. I had so many questions. I was never bored. Life fascinated me. During Sunday School, I loved to watch my teacher teach and how the class was designed. It inspired me to want to teach others. As long as I can remember, I have taught others that were younger than me (even my dolls). It was during these times I would observe how families interacted with each other. I was the “fly on the wall.” If I would go to a friend’s house, I would observe their “family chemistry.” The dynamics of relationships intrigued me. I wanted to know the whys of how a family worked.
As I grew in biblical knowledge, my desire to apply these principles to the dynamics of parental interpersonal self-reflection grew. I wanted to know: Why do we become the parents that we become? Why do we raise our children the way we do? What are the marks of a godly Christian parent?
There was something about these questions that continued to tug at me to dig deeper. I wanted to explore and unravel the unique story of individuals, their childhoods and their effects. I wanted to intentionally put the pieces of the puzzle together, take the time to self-reflect, and learn more about God’s purpose for the parent. Combining my concerns about the answers to my questions and noticing there was limited literature and resources on parenting preparation versus parenting skills, my passion for parents and families became more evident and a reality.