Born in 2000, Kyra is the mother of a two-year-old daughter. She is from Hartsville, South Carolina, where she lives and works as a shift supervisor at Starbucks. She recently spoke with Capita’s CEO Joe Waters to discuss the future she wants for her daughter. This is the first in a series of conversations with Gen Z parents. Read more of our analysis on what to expect as Gen Z starts to parent.
“I just want her to have a happy life, for her to enjoy the people she’s around and for her to thrive and feel great about herself and her surroundings.”
Joe Waters: What do you want for your daughter as she grows up?
Kyra: I want her to be the best person. I want her to be kind, compassionate, and empathetic towards others. I expect her to do things that she won’t regret. Even if she tries and fails, I want her to always feel like she’s learned something, whether or not it was the best outcome. I just want her to have a happy life, for her to enjoy the people she’s around and for her to thrive and feel great about herself and her surroundings.
Who is helping you to raise your child to be that person that you described?
I really believe–everyone says it–that it takes a village to raise a child, and I have a really great family that helps me out. I live with my aunt and uncle and they help me with her. They just are so sweet to her and always help her out and guide her on her little journeys throughout the house. She tries to pull on the cat’s tail and they’ll remind her to be kind. My boyfriend helps out and he loves her. He always plays with her and just acts goofy and silly. And then obviously, the daycare teachers and people I have around, they are just the best.
Do you expect the government, schools, and other institutions like churches to help?
When it comes to the government, the only way I expect help is to make it not difficult to raise a child. Obviously, just ensuring that there are no excessive roadblocks when it comes to opportunities for her and things to do with her. I take whatever help I can get, like through government programs, but I don’t necessarily expect it. I think it’s great what we’re doing currently when it comes to WIC, helping out those moms, as well as food stamps, when it comes to certain incomes. I think it’s good that the government has requirements to qualify for those things and if you need the help, you get the help.
When it comes to schools, I expect them to guide my children right. I don’t necessarily gear towards any specific ideology or mantra, but I think that schools should overall be positive forces in society. I don’t think they should expose children to things they aren’t ready for or desensitize them too early. Church is the same way. Be positive, let kids learn things as they get to particular ages, but keep them kids as long as they can be.
How do you feel about your future, and your family’s, after the pandemic and the heightened awareness about racial violence in the country?
I feel a little unsteady, especially with our current housing market and the direction that is going. I know that a lot of people say, “Oh, it’s in a low now, but it’ll get better soon.” I hope so, because I plan to expand my family and move into our own house. And, although there are certain parts of our country that are making adjustments and moves towards racial equality, that’s also another thing that’s a little unsteady for me. We need to put in place policies that help bring people to equality. I feel unsteady, but I’m positive that we have the right people, slowly and surely, coming into parts of the legislature and our government that’ll help bring the whole country towards that better future for our children.
Would you say that you’re more hopeful or less hopeful than you were this time a year ago?
Maybe a little more hopeful, because I know this time a year ago, it was the height of the pandemic and racial tensions were increasing. But I feel like since we’ve been in it for this long, for a year, and there’s change slowly coming, more change will come.
Where do you get information about parenting, news, what’s going on in the world, the things that are top of mind for you?
When it comes to information for parenting, I get a lot of it from Britney and the (Darlington) First Steps team. They’ve been really helpful ever since I found out I was pregnant, all the way to being a new mom and just slowly figuring things out. They’re just a great community. Awesome ladies. I couldn’t ask for any better help. I also get a lot of parenting advice from my parents and local people and friends who are also parents.
When it comes to news, I’m not going to lie: between work and school and raising my daughter, I don’t keep my head much into it, but I see it in passing from YouTube videos that I listen to occasionally, or podcasts while I’m driving.
Are you on Facebook? It doesn’t seem like a place where your generation is spending much time.
I am occasionally, when I have to be, like when a family member says, “Hey, I messaged you on Facebook.” I have to re-download it so I can talk to them. But honestly, I stay off of most social media. The closest thing I have to social media is YouTube. But I don’t do anything on it. I just watch videos.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Our thanks to Darlington County First Steps for their help in elevating the voices of parents as the next generation begins their parenting journeys.