At a young age I was conditioned to live fast. It started in elementary school when I kept up with grades by doing homework in the car, traveling with a nationally competitive basketball team.

I continued that busy trend in middle school; I became a member of student council, I held an honors GPA, I joined a forensics team (acting, speech, and debate), sang in the highest level of school choir, and I participated in sports teams each season.

I did all of that as an early teen while learning how to maintain friendships and not lose sight of family. For me, high school was no different, with sports, grades, relationships, choir, and now I added in work and volunteer projects to my schedule.

This fast paced life was something I was taught to achieve and a lifestyle many applauded. Looking back on it all I am not sure how I pulled it all together, but I did, day in and day out, yet I never felt it (I) was enough.

My life stayed busy even when I became pregnant at a young age. Up until 20+ weeks pregnant I worked over sixty hours a week, took on 15 credit hours at school, and maintained a few activities from before. Then, at twenty years old I had my son and I felt like I needed to keep at this busy pace all while learning how to be a single mom. I felt like if I didn’t keep going people would start to judge my work ethic or character differently.

However, life had other plans for me. I quit my job when Isaiah was born because I couldn’t afford infant care and the child care facilities around me weren’t accepting government help. Losing an income meant I lost my gym membership and other activities that require money.

I gave up a lot of hobbies and stayed home with my little one. The only thing I kept at was my schooling, but even that took a hit because I took on a smaller work load. Suddenly, my life wasn’t so busy and I was surprisingly content with that.

After eight months of staying home, I finally got a job as an infant teacher at a local daycare and my son was welcome to come with me. I finally got some of my groove back adding work to my new schedule of motherhood and school. I stayed at that pace for a couple years and I found inner peace, I enjoyed the busywork that came with school and a toddler, and work helped keep my mind off of my anxiety, yet I had just enough time for ME. I began to do things I enjoyed again and giving myself that time made me a better mother, teacher, and student.

I graduated university in May of 2016 with cum laude honors, working full time (majority of my five years), and being a single mom throughout. When school ended, I fell into a worried mindset, knowing school helped keep me busy and my mind focused. I scrambled for things to fill the void, as I am conditioned to do.

I got a new job with new goals and then I applied for a leadership position, I bought a house and now would be the sole caretaker of household deeds, I started a side business, and I revved up my volunteering. I thought to myself, “I used to do everything so juggling this time should be easy!”

Unfortunately, I was mistaken because my mental health started to dwindle and I felt myself questioning every decision. It took me a few months to realize that I am completely okay with a “slow” paced life. To me, university work, single mommin’, and work was a perfect pace. It kept me busy while giving me time to make me and my relationships a priority.

Now, I’ve learned a capacity I can mentally handle and I am 180% okay with others looking in thinking that my life is simple in comparison. I’ve learned that I am not living my life for the outside world to tell me I am enough. I don’t need 60 hour work weeks plus a billion side jobs to keep me going.

Just recently I’ve slowed down, and I am PROUD of it. I am not lazy or unmotivated, I have merely chosen to live my life differently from what the world says, and I’ve found peace in that. For me, it makes being in the now more attainable… and the now is so good.

My one hope for everyone is they find their pace. It takes a lot of trial and error, and I am sure I will continue to adjust my pace as I continue on in life. But learning just how much you can handle is a relieving sense I cannot begin to describe. I believe the boundaries I set aide in my overall well-being, making me a better teacher, mother, friend, daughter, and more.

Everyone has a different pace; some live a fast life and some choose to live slow. My one message is that YOUR pace is meant for you. I encourage you to find it and don’t let anyone tell you, it’s not enough.

~Ms. Caitlin
Wellness Coordinator
Young Scholars Academy

Summer is upon us, but for early childhood this is simply a new chapter in our adventures. We are here year round, rain or shine. Our focus of what we expect from ourselves to give back to the children does not change hardly at all transitioning from school year to summer time.

Yes, we often have new children and new responsibilities, but at the end of the day we are still here to help children develop their cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, and social interactions and most importantly have FUN! Early childhood lays the ground work for the next 13 years of schooling. Making a positive impression now will have a much more positive impact on all of the other years of school.

As teachers and parents we need to remind ourselves that learning should always be fun, and that learning does not have to be fancy. Any item in a room can strike an interest or conversation. Depending on how the adult chooses to introduce things to children plays a huge part in what kind of understanding that child will take with them.

Answering your three year-old’s one-thousandth question of the day is maddening, but the benefit your child takes away from that moment could be the life changing one. To a small child the whole world is a new and exciting; they are soaking up every inch of it.

Whether you realize it or not young children are gathering as much information as possible, and growing all of those connections in their brains. The 5+ year old kiddos that we have for the summer are using and pruning what they have learned in the past five years or more to get the best picture of their world.

Summer can be a fun yet stressful time for all. There are new adjustments to make, and you know that they are temporary. However, many parents can feel afraid that their children will lose all of the progress that they have gained over the school year.

This is a legitimate fear, so let’s alleviate that fear. This can be avoided in many ways: find your child a great summer camp like the 3 different ones offered at Young Scholars Academy! This will ensure that your child is getting time to work both their minds and bodies in a safe and social setting.

In addition to this, do simple things at home to keep them from turning into the ever dreaded “couch potato”. Here are some simple and cute baking activities to try from the Food Network: Recipes Kids Can Make

These recipes will range from some work to no work on the adult’s part depending on the age of the children. With younger children have them stir and lick spoons! Just them being included, spoken to, and getting to watch, and touch the process is enough to have their brains firing in all directions. With somewhat older children trace your finger along the words of the recipe as you read, and have them help measure things out.

For older children let them read the recipe and do the preparations (including cutting, cracking eggs, or handling the heating device). This will simply only require your attention for safety and help if needed. Just be engaged with your kiddos the entire time. Once the cooking is done does not mean that the learning is done. If possible extend this activity to an outside dinner setup, or create a snack stand.

Summer comes and goes very quickly so make the most of it by having fun. Each fun activity will have teaching moments. If you are doing things with your children and giving them the attention that they deserve, then nothing learned in previous school years will be lost in a few months of excitement. Get out and enjoy a hands on summer with your kiddos!

~Ms. Brooke
Curriculum Instruction Coordinator
Early Literacy Leader