A mother is a special gift from God
KAYSIA JOHNSON VAUGHAN, DIRECTOR, SME PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, SCOTIABANK Daughter: Victoria, four
BEING a mom can be tough. In fact, as the saying goes, if you do not find it hard sometimes, you may not be paying attention. But it can also be rewarding.
As a mom of a four-year-old daughter, director, SME Professional Partnerships at Scotiabank, Kaysia Johnson Vaughan’s responsibilities are great. Her primary business is ensuring that small and mediumsized businesses (SMES) across the northern and central Caribbean countries receive financial advice, capacity-building opportunities, new products and services to help them improve efficiency and grow.
Mothering takes effort — physical, mental and emotional, because we want the best for our children. Johnson Vaughan is intentional about spending time with her daughter, despite the constant demands of her job. She deliberately carves out time for each aspect of her life, and she is very focused on getting her tasks done.
“A mother is a special gift from God. I am happy that I was chosen for this very important job. I get the opportunity to mould and shape someone, in this case my daughter, to become who God called her to be. It is not an easy task as it comes with its challenges. However, it is always a learning opportunity for me, because there is no clear manual as to how you should grow your child,” Johnson Vaughan said.
Along this journey, Johnson Vaughan has looked at all the positives of motherhood, and the fact that she wants her daughter to have a meaningful, positive and impactful life. “I focus on trying to ensure that she is wellrounded — spiritually and academically. She still gets playtime and I help her to build her social skills. Overall, I am learning to find out what her passion really is,” she said.
With motherhood already being a full-time job, moms are responsible for every aspect of their children’s well-being, 24 hours a day and seven days a week; there are no vacation days or sick time, and it is a full-time responsibility.
“I try to find time to play with her. I also pray a lot with her and go through the scriptures, and I take the time to discuss what’s happening in the world. Just for her to understand and to be clear. I am also aware of her surroundings, and I speak to her about life and what it means being a holistic woman, and being well-rounded. I also ensure that the values of being kind, considerate of others, being compassionate, caring, loving, and also being bold and confident that they become a part of her DNA,” Johnson Vaughan said.
With just so many hours in the day, Johnson Vaughan appraises what is really worth saying yes to — from after-hours networking to volunteering at school. She quantifies her potential gains and losses, and ensures she focuses on what is really worth her time.
“It is not easy to balance everything, and I try and make sure that the most important things for her — I don’t miss them. So whether it’s her sports day or recital, I am there. I also create playdates for her, whether with her friends or I take her out for ice cream, or we might just go window shopping, just some sort of activity to create that bond,” Johnson Vaughan said.
With a very demanding job, Johnson Vaughan said she still wants to ensure that her daughter enjoys her childhood, and her future is secure.