MORE THAN A MOTHER: A mother is a special gift from God

Kaysia Johnson Vaughan, Director, SME Professional Partnerships, Scotiabank

Daughter: Victoria, four

NEWLY appointed Director of SME Professional Partnerships at Scotiabank, Kaysia Johnson Vaughan, has many responsibilities, but bar none, the most rewarding for her is being the mom of her four-year old daughter Victoria. During her busy workdays, she is dedicated to ensuring that small and medium-sized 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. Nonetheless, despite the daily demands of her job, she is always intentional about spending time with her daughter and carves out special “mommy and me” time each day.

“A mother is a special gift from God, and 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 often reflects on 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 well-rounded both spiritually and academically. She still gets playtime and I help her to build her social skills by involving her in any activity that she finds interesting both at school and outside of school. Overall, I am keen on learning what her passion really is, and I am committed to helping her realise her fullest potential ,” she said.

Johnson-Vaughan shared that the changes caused by COVID-19 pandemic in some ways allowed her to develop a strong bond with her daughter.

“Working from home allowed me to witness so much more of her growth and development that I may not have otherwise had. With the return to office and school, I prioritise finding 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. 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,” she shared.

The values of being kind, considerate of others, being compassionate, caring and loving are paramount, and through her daily interactions with her daughter she tries to impart them. “I also empower her to be bold and confident in everything that she does so that they become a part of her DNA,” Johnson Vaughan said.

With only so many hours in a day, Johnson Vaughan shared that she carefully 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 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 the support of her husband and family, her ultimate mission as a mother is to ensure that her daughter enjoys her childhood, and that her future is secure.