Keeping self-care at the center of your advocacy
How to fight for early education and still maintain your sanity
By Chrisi West, Digital Advocacy Manager
Krista Scott, LIC SW, Senior Director of Child Care Health Policy
As advocates for children, we’re not afraid of a good fight. We’ve fought for programs supporting children and families for decades, yet somehow it feels like we’re getting hit from all sides recently.
Here are some tips to stay sane and still make a difference — because if you’re like us, you’re starting to lose your grip on, well, everything:
1. Don’t lose sight of your tribe. It’s hard, we know, when so many important issues are coming up, one after another. And, yes, these issues are all pressing and critical for the well-being of children and families. But you’re not in this alone. Hundreds, even thousands, of activists and advocates like you are all coming together to take action on behalf of children and early learning — from the racial equity angle, through the lens of poverty, or just via the issue of access and affordability of child care in general. Maybe you’re addressing the budget proposal to eliminate programs supporting afterschool and community child care programs for working parents, cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or the potential millions of uninsured children that will result from repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. For example, if you’re interested in children, but want to focus on child health and nutrition issues in the new budget, check out the Food Research and Action Center. They do amazing research in this area! Whoever your tribe is, just know that your action is just one in tens or even hundreds of thousands of actions. You’re part of a wide tribe of active child advocates.
2. Narrow your focus. No one has more than 24 hours in a day. And if someone says she does, she’s lying. Trust us. So, choose the causes you’re most passionate about, or have a personal connection to, and fight for them with all of your heart. If you can’t give money, give time. If you can’t give time, give your talent. There are plenty of ways to support children and early childhood education. Even if it’s 15 minutes at 10 pm after the kids are asleep and your work emails are all answered. Do your best and give what you can. You can put more energy into one or two causes, rather than spread yourself thin trying to volunteer for every cause! Whatever your focus, learn all you can and then take steps to get involved. Parent and early education advocates are always needed to share their stories with media, lawmakers, or online. Your voice puts a face to our statistics, you remind lawmakers that there are real people behind these numbers. [And if early education and child care is your thing, check out our website at ChildCareWorks.org, or the National Association for the Education of Young Children, for background on the cuts being made to child care and early education!]
3. Make sure you take time for yourself. Seriously. Don’t go on Facebook, don’t check Instagram, and for the love of all things holy, do NOT check Twitter. Do something that doesn’t involve the news we’re bombarded with on a daily basis, 24-hours a day. Go for a walk. Play with some children in your family or neighborhood. And if you really have the urge to punch something, maybe take up cardio kickboxing. The time you spend solely on yourself isn’t time wasted, when you should be advocating or learning more about your issues. It’s time that adds to your long-term sustainability in the early education movement, and let’s face it, also your sanity. No one will judge you for taking a time-out every once in a while. And if they do, show them this blog from Psychology Today.
Because we know from our recent research that busy people have three key barriers to self-care — access, time, and money. Access to gyms or parks, time away from work and family to focus on yourself, and money for healthier foods, gym memberships, and classes. Sometimes, self-care means being creative — sneaking into your bedroom with your tablet and doing a quick workout or meditation for 10 minutes can make a difference. And you might feel like you don’t have enough energy after a long day, but you can do anything for 10 minutes! Remind yourself of that and take that time out — you’ll thank yourself later.
Remember: You. Are. Not. Alone. Find those people fighting for the same issues you’re fighting for and join them!
And breathe. You know the saying, “Moving at the pace of Congress”? Well, there’s a reason why that’s a thing. Because Congress, and government in general, usually move pretty slowly. Here at Child Care Works, we’re in this for the long haul, and we hope you are, too! So don’t burn out on us. Our children — and our future — need you!
Get involved in the movement for affordable, accessible, high-quality child care.
