Today we’d like to introduce you to Janice Stokes.
Hi Janice, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I grew up, I was that little child in the back of the classroom who barely said a word. In high school, I remember that I loved teaching kids how to swim, but if I had to talk to adults, I would freak out.
Now, 40 years later, I am still an introvert and spend a lot of my time watching people, but I am different because of my business. I learned to value myself and build a successful business. I learned to talk to adults.
My story started because I was a young mom who wanted to ‘stay home” with her kids but needed to make money.
I had no idea that one step would completely change my life.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not a smooth road. As I grew, I became more confident and started standing up for myself. I remember earning a trip in my first direct sales business. My reason for earning that trip was because my husband and I had never been on a honeymoon, so I wanted to give that to us. However, on the trip, there was a black-tie celebration event, and I was all dressed up and ready to go celebrate my accomplishment, but my husband at the time forgot his belt, so he was not going to go to the celebration. I learned that our marriage was more about him than it was about me, and we ended up getting divorced several years later.
I had to revitalize my business as a single parent with two small boys and move across the country.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
ReadMeAStoryToday is the name of my business because I believe in the power of others reading together. Reading aloud with others helps to create a bond between the reader and the listener that is unmistakable. From stories, we learn to empathize with others., we learn compassion for others, and we learn about the world and the places in it. Reading opens the doors to possibilities, but twenty percent of kids today struggle with learning to read.
I know exactly how those students feel because I struggled with learning to read as a child. I made it through college because I chose a small college that valued my strengths, but I still struggled with my self-esteem. What helped me become a better reader as a young mom? Reading aloud to my kids.
However, even though I read to my kids all the time, they still struggled with reading. Why? Because dyslexia runs in families,
I want other moms to know that if their child struggles with reading, it is not their fault. It is not because they did not read to them enough or wait long enough for them to “bloom.” I want them to know what to look for signs of dyslexia in young children. I want them to know ways that can help them and get them the early intervention they need at a young age.
I want to provide for them and the children they read aloud with interesting stories so that even if a child struggles to read, they will still enjoy being read to and learn all the important things that books can expose them to.
I believe books change the world, but not just any books, but “GREAT” books.
I get to provide a way for parents, schools, and organizations to earn free “GREAT” books to instill a love of learning from books in children.
What makes you happy?
My heart is happy when I see children enjoying the pleasures that come from reading a book. or being read a book. Recently, I went to Guatemala, and with the help of another Spanish-speaking person, we got to read PaperPie Shine the Light Books to these kids. There is a question on each page, and they get to “guess” the answer. I loved seeing kids’ smiling faces when they were being read these books.
I also love seeing the transformation of the self-esteem in my clients when, for the first time, I help them see that reading makes sense.
Pricing:
- Become a storymaker and join my nationwide team in making a difference with children for only $10
Contact Info:
- Website: www.readmeastorytoday.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/readmeastorytoday
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readmeastorytoday
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@readmeastorytodayjs
