By Nicole Blais

A part of me wished that the New Year’s arrival would somehow miraculously erase all of the woes of 2020. Unfortunately, that is not how the real world works and we are still wedged between reality and memories of a world pre COVID-19. HCS has continued to provide services to children and families either remotely or in-person and it has been an incredibly exhausting and exhilarating ride. In the past 10 months, we have experienced enough events to last a decade: the pandemic, protests, a contentious presidential election and a toilet paper shortage, to name a few. Traditionally, during the month of January we reflect back on the year that has just passed, personal lessons learned and declare a resolution that will improve the quality of our lives. 2020 also gave us lessons learned on a macro level, like the realization that the childcare industry is one of the pillars of the American economy, that quality work can be done remotely, and that frontline workers in hospitals, childcare centers, and grocery stores are always essential, pandemic or not.
With all of the “a-ha” moments we have had as individuals and as an organization, one of the resolutions that we will bring with us in 2021 is mastering the art of self-care. We have prioritized the need to take care of ourselves physically and mentally to be able to manage this new normal. It is imperative that this practice is embedded in the work that we do every day. The caregiver needs to be cared for otherwise it just does not work.
We recently held a virtual Professional Development event for staff that focused on the body, mind and spirit. Our Professional Development manager, Jeanne Regnier, organized the day. Our staff bring hope to the field of early childhood education and strength to so many families, especially during this time of need. Charging their batteries is an essential need for continued hope and success. Opportunities such as yoga, motivational exercises, cooking, creative art, and finding gratitude during a pandemic have helped to reenergize and remind us that we are important too. We have built a tremendously talented staff wellness committee that is an embedded part of our HCS community and it’s only getting stronger.
We are ready for whatever 2021 has in store for us and welcome the New Year with open arms. From all of us here at HCS, we wish you a year of health, peace and self-care. ■