Usually, some head start staff are former head start parents, however in my case, I was the opposite. I am a single mom who was a teen parent. That’s a whole different story. I was still able to get my Associate’s degree and was already experienced in the human services and early childhood education fields prior to working in head start.
My employment experience with head start includes being a Family Service Worker for two Detroit head start agencies. In 1991, I was hired by Vistas Nuevas Head Start for their home based program and helped it become one of the first head starts in Detroit’s Public Housing program. Later in 1992, I joined the staff at Hartford Head Start where I started a male mentoring program. I left head start to go to the Michigan Family Independence Agency (now Michigan Department of Human Services). I also went back to school to get my bachelor’s degree.
My real job was being a single mom. I had my children 7 ½ years apart and as we say ‘children are individuals’. When I had Malcolm X., I was older but still single and still struggling. My oldest son, Michael has a calm spirit like Martin Luther King had. Malcolm X is not named by accident. He was a highly intelligent ‘active’ child. So ‘active’ that his pediatrician said that, “When he turns five, I will prescribe him Ritalin.” At the time he was 2 years old. Malcolm X’s brother, Michael, was embarrassed about his brother’s ‘outbursts’. Imagine having the spirits of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. at the dinner table. They agreed to disagree but could later reach an agreement about ideas. Malcolm X. at 2 years old could call a ‘family meeting’ to say that he felt he was being treated ‘unfairly’ by his older brother, Michael. When asked how he could be ‘compensated’ for his ‘mistreatment’, he would say “Michael must be nice to me.’ Imagine, a child no more than 3 years old, able to conceptualize these sorts of feelings! I was stressed trying to hold our family together.
I went to work for head start when Malcolm X. was nine months old. I found one child care home provider (out of 100 calls). I’d worked in the field so I knew what questions to ask. Imagine a parent who doesn’t know. By the time he was three years old, she and I agreed that Malcolm X. needed more socialization and learning environments than she could provide him at the time.
I was able to enroll him at Hartford Head Start. Although I was over income, Malcolm X. was considered a ‘special need’ based on his dire need for socialization and learning environment opportunities. I was working across town so I couldn’t pick him up from school in this half day program. At the center, we found a parent who could work with the day care home provider and transport him from school back to her, until I got off work. Additionally, the day care home provider later allowed him to sleep over one night a week because I had so many challenges (i.e. worked across town, get second child (10 years) to relatives, go to school and get out at 10:00 p.m.) It was emotionally hard for all of us not being together as a family for 24 hours or more. But we pulled through.
Malcolm X. thrived in head start. I felt he was loved, secure, and supported in his ‘uniqueness’. We’ve always taught Malcolm X. that he has a ‘voice’ – head start allowed him to ‘voice’ and express himself. He was never ‘labeled’. He had a difficult time transitioning into kindergarten (he missed the head start hugs) but his father and I advocated for him to prevent the public schools from ‘labeling’ him.
Later, I got counseling for him instead of ‘The Pill’. His issue – he wanted his parents to be together. I learned to make his Dad responsible for ‘breaking his promises’ and for him to be the one to tell Malcolm X. I also learned how to make a stable routine in our chaotic lives. At five, I enrolled Malcolm X in karate upon the suggestion of a holistic psychologist. He earned numerous awards and went nearly to a brown belt.
Today, Malcolm X. is 15 years old. He attends Southfield Public Schools. He volunteers for the Southeast Michigan American Red Cross Trima Teens. Last year, he won national honors for his volunteerism. He is also a member of the Detroit Youth Foundation KDYS VII Program. He also volunteers with the University of Michigan youth race relations and diversity symposiums.
Oh me, well… I also received my Master’s of Science in Administration. But that’s only part of my testimony. God has also allowed me to come full circle in my life. I work for the City of Detroit Department of Human Services grantee office. I am the Sr. Child Development Compliance Assistant (monitor) for Hartford Head Start where many of the staff remembers me. Recently, I have written a book entitled: May – December Winds: (And Dorothy, You’re Not in Kansas Anymore). It is a self-help guide for teen girls and those who impact their lives. It focuses on teen girls who involve themselves with older guys. This is a social trend among teen girls and God placed it on my heart to write about it. I am embarking on a national book tour that will also bring attention to this ignored epidemic as there are many girls killed due to this dangerous association. Please visit: www.lynettelove.net
My short term goal is to make it accessible to head start parents, educators, and the fatherhood initiative as I discuss the importance of mother-daughter, father-daughter, and sibling relationships. I also address society’s responsibility as a whole to protect our youth. Many may identify with the inspirational aspect of the book as I share my own experiences as a teenager.
My long term goal is to make it suggested or required reading for all colleges, universities, and human services programs so they will have a tool that will help them provide continued quality services to this target group (teens and families). Being a best seller will take care of itself.
Additionally, the book is helpful as it also assesses our own lives as individuals who are also parents and professionals. It helps one to know when to move out (of their comfort zone), move on (to the next level), and move forward (from a job or life situation) that becomes so stressful that by staying, will only hinder the growth of themselves and the people around them. In head start, children receive a nurturing, encouraging environment. For this to continue, we must provide our parents and staff with the same environment.
I love head start! I want parents to know that they must continue to fight and give their testimonies and support for all to hear. I hope I’ve done that with you!
On behalf of children, youth, and families.
Lynette Love