Why NaeNae?…Let Me Explain Myself

In 2017 I finally made it back into the workforce after the older three kids were in elementary school. I took a job at a local elementary school daycare where I could take my youngest with me. It was such a blessing to be able to go back to work to help our family out, and the daycare was at the same elementary school as the older three. It was in that season that I started finding myself again after having four children, and re-entering into social life. I learned a lot about myself through the eyes of all of those children, and little did I know that my boss at that time would become one of my dearest friends. 

Flashback…

When my niece was little, she couldn’t say “Candice,” when she tried it came out as “NaeNae,” so for most children I became known as NaeNae. Naturally for the kids at the daycare, it was no different. My husband was also dubbed Doodoo by my little cousin as soon as she could speak, also struggling to pronounce his name (which is Douglas or Dougie, depending on how you know him). That’s right, NaeNae and Doodoo.

A little further back, before NaeNae, I battled social anxiety. After each pregnancy, I really struggled with postpartum. Now, I still functioned through all the struggle–and there were good times, it wasn’t all dark–however, I was living in fear and anxiety that kept me from having friends, trusting people, and living life to the fullest. But the daycare allowed me to believe in myself again through the eyes of those children, and it changed the course of my life for the better, and gave me the self-confidence I needed. 

Fast forward… 

Those children at the daycare got to know me as NaeNae, and NaeNae became a version of myself that I loved, a version of myself that I could believe in, a version of myself that I wanted to strive to be every day. NaeNae was fun! NaeNae was crafty! NaeNae could make boo-boos better and solve disagreements. I was finally starting to figure out who I was in this adult life, and where I wanted to go. 

When my time at that job finally came to an end because my boss was moving on, so did I. The time at the daycare was sometimes stressful and chaotic as you can imagine, but those children were always so forgiving and loving at the end of the day. Those same children are now in elementary school; years have passed, and I’m still known as NaeNae to them.

In Matthew 18 Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Whoa! All of the lessons learned at the daycare were setting my priorities straight, softening my heart back to firstworks, and retraining me to have faith like a child. Not to mention humility, if those kids couldn’t do something, they were not afraid to ask for help from each other or NaeNae.

Even in our adulthood, forgiveness, love, and humility is vital, not just to survive, but to live a life of fullness. For a lot of us, especially women, the forgiveness and love is not just for others, but ourselves. We get calloused toward ourselves. Constantly putting ourselves down and rarely recognizing our need for help.

I bet there has been a pivotal moment in your life where you didn’t recognize who you had become, coupled with a journey to being better, to rediscover yourself. More importantly, to rediscover who God wants and calls you to be. The clearer that becomes, the less value the opinions of others have, including our own opinions of ourselves. Thank God for his mercy and grace, and His unreluctant pursuit for His people.

I believe that the best is yet to come for you, your family, your children, and your business. Here’s to rediscovering the best version of ourselves, together!