Value the Caregiver

The education industry is vast, it is a major employer and a large percentage of the worlds population go through the system it cuts across all ages and covers a wide range of subjects. The process starts from the same spot, the young children, maybe 3,4,5,6 years of age. At this point basic skills are inculcated in a child starting with motor skills, language and basic mathematics are introduced. This is the core, the foundation, the starting point to all the excellence the world experiences.

Having been in the education industry for the better part of my adult career life, I have seen the lives of young learners play out right before my eyes. I witnessed transitions ranging from separation anxiety, toileting, language and basic mannerisms shaping up. It is like watching the wake of a new day, the dawn, the sun making it's way to dry up the morning dew; highly needed but barely thought of.

What has become apparent to me, cutting across social classes and physical locations, people mandated to offer this much needed services are looked down upon. Yes, I said it, I was hoping to have a better way of expressing myself but I could not sweeten the deal it is harsh ,unnecessary and totally uncalled for. I am talking about early childhood education teachers and home caregivers for children, they are mostly bundled into one not so highly thought of individuals. The children in question on the other hand are viewed as the future, the arrow sent to the next generation as mentioned in the Bible. They are loved on, pampered, cozied up and they deserve it but so do the amazing adults that care for them.

Children are a beautiful, innocent and loveable; they exhume loving emotions from adults, at least for me. I love how quick they forgive and forget, I wanna borrow a leaf from them. They are a handful too, they call for patience, consistency and much more to inculcate the values that will help them function better in the society. All this is not learnt in a whim, it comes from the sacrificial work of the dedicated men and mostly women who do the job.

Many young people detests the education field and more literally abhor, loathe the Early Childhood Education field. Is it because they dislike working with children? Some do but most have a record of ill treatment, devaluation evident in our society of the years directed towards those serving in this industry.

It starts with paying them better, addressing them as the noble people they are and appreciating their work. Yes, the children are the future and their future is in the hands of their caregivers.

For generations, women have been trampled over by their male counterparts. Most cultures clearly spell out what is required of women and failure to achieve attracts dire consequences. Men on the other hand, in failing to deliver, their excuses are mostly acceptable by many including women in the community. Let me bring you closer home, ever seen an unkempt married man? How about a woman? Both cases have the lady to blame. Okay, maybe this one is on us but uncountable ladies have had to step up and provide for their families with their husbands as their first born.

I’m not discouraging any lady from stepping up to the plate and doing what is best for their family, no, go girl.  I’m out to correct the misconception that some breed of people should get away with things while others have to carry more than they ought to. What started off a simple way of containing the lady thousands of years ago has culminated into a generation that finding an all rounded man is like the proverbial horse passing through a needle. It’s our own undoing. It’s getting rare and rare by the day and what’s shocking is the fact that we’ve gotten accustomed to it. In fact, there is a crop of women I just learnt of recently that have made peace with the injustice that they’d frown at any lady standing up for their right. We’ve buried our heads in the sand far too long till peeping through attract a multitude of people asking one to stay put to keep the waters still.

There is a generation gap in this generation. Let me explain: most people are educated in this day, age and time. The exposure is massive and the internet has made the process faster than was ever thought possible. With education comes change of mindset or at least, incorporating the new, transitioning to embrace the beauty that education brings forth. Some people have the balance in this matter, understanding for example that culture says that women are not entitled to property but the new age has bridged the inequality gap to make it all inclusive. Simple. Why do we then complicate it? Wanting to stick to the things of old because it gives one an advantage?

Don’t let this article make you mistake God’s order in terms of gender. I am a strong believer in submission to authority, in the case of family, the man is the head. What I’m passing across is the fact that leadership comes with responsibilities that is part of the package, carry it people.

Ladies, this is the generation of change. Change is not easy, I needed to replace my tooth brush the other day, I didn’t like how the new one felt in on gums, I was accustomed to the old. Gain access to what is rightfully yours, let justice prevail. We are paving a way for our children and five, ten generations to come. Your silence doesn’t do anyone any good, it just postpones the problem.

Emotional Intelligence 101

 

Many jobs, if not all, require some level of intelligent quotient, commonly referred to as IQ. Our education system has equipped us with the ability to correctly tackle general mathematical and analytical questions. To stand out in the market, one needs to not only have a high IQ but also emotional intelligence that will come in handy in recognizing intrapersonal and interpersonal needs and handle them appropriately deal.

Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological and social well-being. Much has been shared on psychological spectrum with many working overtime to quash the stigma therein. Little is known of our emotional and social well-being. The assumption is that we automatically grow into to attaining sound emotional and social interactions; this is far from true. Deliberate choices must be made to see stability in our mental health in the dynamic professional realm.

The public relations industry for example is full of short deadlines to be met. The competition in the industry cannot allow any industry player to ‘loss it’. Interview questions are also tailored to corner the interviewee. That’s the agenda, to make you say things that might contradict your previous statements or bring out your well hidden prejudice to the lime light. The ever changing media channels call for quick catch up that if not approached tactfully might be overwhelming.

Some people have it easy while others have to learn and practice using their emotions appropriately. Our personalities influence our response to different life circumstances whereas our backgrounds or past experiences shape us. Every level of the organization requires sound judgment and communication. Managers do not have room for error on this one for their subordinates look up to them and they greatly impact the image of the organization.

Non verbal cues speak volumes making covering up true emotions unmalleable. When one is agitated for example and they try to play calm, the audience can easily notice the true emotion. Have you ever met someone who even in the midst of rocky moments can afford a smile; they are calm, cool and collected. The kind that will keep their composure, take nothing personally sail through murky waters? How about those who the slightest issue spins them out of control? The kind that raise arguments that are totally beside the point and easily detour from the course. There goes the difference.

Since the benefits of emotional intelligence directly impacts how one conducts themselves, you can improve your ability by:

1.      Recognizing your triggers

2.      Being true to yourself

3.      Understanding the people around you

4.      Practicing  (in case of an interview, do gruesome mock interviews)

5.      Choosing calmness no matter the circumstance

When the storms are raging and the turbulent waves rock your boat, remember that they will subside and you will be here tomorrow. A calm response will suffice in every situation.