Who Cares for the Caregivers
Who Cares for the Caregivers
If you read my weekly posts, you know that I do a LOT of thinking- too much for my own good at times. Recently, the topic that’s been swirling around my brain is: who cares for the caregivers?
I spend a great deal of time having really deep discussions with early childhood professionals. I know that diving deep is the only way to get to the root of things. During these discussions, the topic of our own childhoods often pops up. If you didn’t know already, all that stuff that we struggle with as adults has its roots in our early lives.
While I am not an expert in trauma, I am well aware of how its tentacles wrap themselves around every aspect of our lives, especially when we care for others. Let’s take a look at the data:
There are about 992,000 childcare jobs in the United States.
94% of childcare workers in the US are women.
In the US, nearly two-thirds of adults reported having at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) before their 18th birthday.
Women tend to have higher ACE scores than men, with 15.2% reporting 4 or more ACEs.
People who face four or more types of ACE as kids are 12 times more likely to experience mental health issues, particularly anxiety, drug abuse, depression, and suicide attempts.
If we look at the data, we can see that a huge number of us who provide care for young children have experienced adverse childhood experiences. I believe we choose to care for children because we want them to have a better life than we have had. The issue is that we can serve others when we are not caring for ourselves.
Something I’ve learned after living on this planet for 50 years, with 30 of those years working in education, is that no one is coming to save us. We have to be important enough to ourselves to take care of ourselves. If we don’t think we are important, then why would anyone else think we are?
You, yes you, are important. You deserve the same care, nurturing, and consideration that you provide to others.
Stop saying yes to everything - NO. - is a full sentence.
Sleep more, scroll less- technology is not the answer to our problems.
When you feel overwhelmed during the day, pause, take a deep breath, get a drink of water, and then decide how to handle the situation.
Take your paid time off- you earned it, so take it.
Sit and be present during the day- the children will love it, and it will remind you why you do this work.
Ask for help- it’s a strength to know when you need support.
Communicate effectively and often- if you don’t talk about it, how will the issue get solved? Conversations are not confrontations - think about what you want to say, listen when others are speaking, and be open to others' thoughts and ideas.
The children are not giving you a hard time; they are having a hard time. ALL behavior is communication. Take the time to sit, observe, and understand the child's needs. This will save your sanity and your relationship with the child.
Leave your work at work.
Do things that make you happy. Can’t remember what those things are? Try something new!
Looking for more ideas? Check out the links below:
