Episode# 3 ; She Said “I’m Out” After 25 Years — and Started a Mindfulness Movement for Children
Vicki Schaefer
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She Said “I’m Out” After 25 Years — and Started a Mindfulness Movement for Children
In this beautiful and grounded episode of Her Brave Story Podcast, Chrystal sits down with the wise and radiant Vicki Schaefer — an early childhood educator, mindfulness coach, and founder of Little Wise One. After decades of nurturing children in the education system, Vicki made a life-changing decision: to walk away from a secure, familiar job and follow the quiet call of her soul.
What unfolded next was extraordinary.
From a pinky promise made with her late sister, to a dream that sparked her first set of affirmation cards, Vicki shares how trusting herself — even when it was hard — led her to create a heart-centered business that’s now impacting thousands of children, parents, and educators.
In this conversation, she opens up about:
Why she knew it was time to leave the career she once loved
How she built Little Wise One from the ground up
Her new Mindful Child Educators Program — and how it supports emotional well-being through movement and play
The importance of listening to children’s voices
How to regulate your nervous system (especially as a parent or caregiver)
And why it’s never too late to begin again with purpose and heart
✨ You’ll walk away with practical tools, moments of deep wisdom, and gentle reminders to breathe, trust, and return to yourself — no matter what season of life you’re in.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
What it really takes to walk away from a 25-year career — and how to know when it’s time
How to trust your inner knowing, even when the path ahead is uncertain
The power of small, intentional acts in shaping a meaningful life
How to support children’s emotional well-being through mindfulness and movement
Ways to regulate your own nervous system — especially as a parent or caregiver
How Vicki created her affirmation cards and built Little Wise One from the heart
Why listening to children’s voices is key to connection, growth, and healing
What it means to start over with purpose — at any age
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Why Vicki left a 25-year career in early childhood education
03:00 – The pinky promise that sparked Little Wise One
06:15 – Honoring her sister and the meaning behind the feather logo
09:30 – Trusting intuition and walking away from what no longer fits
13:10 – The power of presence, mindfulness, and setting daily intentions
17:25 – How Vicki’s affirmation cards and journal came to life
21:45 – Creating space for children’s voices and emotional well-being
26:40 – An inside look at the Mindful Child Educators Program
31:50 – Grounding tips for parents and caregivers (you’ll want a notepad!)
36:20 – Why it’s never too late to begin again — and what’s next for Vicki
BIO:
Vicki Schaefer is an early childhood educator, qualified children’s yoga and yoga therapy teacher, accredited mindfulness coach, and the founder of Little Wise One — a heartfelt company dedicated to celebrating children’s inner strength and innate wisdom.
With over three decades of experience inspiring, shaping, and nurturing young hearts and minds, Vicki’s mission is to help children navigate life with resilience and grace — and to do her part in making sure every child feels seen, heard, worthy, and loved.
From teaching Kinder Dance in her local community to co-developing a preschool fitness program, her passion for health, movement, and emotional well-being has touched countless lives.
In 2020, Vicki launched her first Little Wise One resource — a deck of beautifully illustrated affirmation cards for children — followed by The Wisdom Within, a guided journal for young people.
Since then, she has supported thousands of children, parents, and educators around the world on their journey of mindfulness, self-regulation, and self-discovery.
Her newest offering, A Mindful Child, brings her decades of experience together into a practical and heartfelt guide for educators, yoga teachers, and parents — combining movement, mindfulness, and a deep reverence for the spirit of childhood.
