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mom next door Amanda Vincent BY EMILY DREZ PHOTO BY LAUREN ASHTON LIGHTS DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY
OCCUPATION: OWNER OF STUDYVILLE HUSBAND: BENN CHILDREN: NOAH, 15; WILLIAM, 12 HOBBIES: READING AND HANGING OUT WITH FAMILY
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S parents, Amanda Vincent and her husband, Benn, were frustrated with the homework scene at their own kitchen table every night. They felt like their sons, Noah and William, needed to work not only with their peers but also with expert tutors. “I graduated sixth grade already,” she told them. “Now, it’s your turn.” She realized the importance of having realistic expectations for yourself as a parent and also for your children, so she created Studyville to help students with their schoolwork and to keep families together. Studyville is a tutoring center for students where they can work on homework and get help from tutors if needed. That way, families can have a normal dinner together and not stress about the children’s homework during quality family time. During her daily hustle, Amanda loves raising her boys, working with the students at Studyville, and helping them succeed. Her job has even taught her a few valuable lessons about life that will last a lifetime in the hearts of her children and students: not everyone is perfect, but, with grace and humility, you will succeed. What does a normal day look like for you? AMANDA: I work out early in the morning before I take the boys to school. Then, I work from home, pick them up from school or sports practice, and take them to Studyville before we come home and get ready for dinner. What are the joys and challenges of raising your children? AMANDA: We have so much fun being their parents, but our schedules are frantic. In one word, how would you describe yourself as a mother? AMANDA: Busy. What do you like to do as a family? AMANDA: We love to be outside. Some of our favorite outdoor activities are hiking, riding bikes, and kayaking. What’s your favorite thing about being a mom? AMANDA: Watching them grow up is definitely the best part. They’re really good kids, so it’s super easy to be their mom. It’s a privilege to raise other human beings. 24
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Watching them grow up is definitely the best part. They’re really good kids, so it’s super easy to be their mom. It’s a privilege to raise other human beings. What has parenthood taught you? AMANDA: I’ve learned it’s not all about me. What are some things you hope to teach your children? AMANDA: Above all things, I hope they learn grace and humility. What is something your job has taught you? AMANDA: Working with students all the time has really taught me that no one is perfect, and I try to incorporate that lesson into my own home. What has been your biggest challenge in parenting during the pandemic? AMANDA: Having to wear a mask and being in isolation has been really difficult. What has been your biggest challenge for Studyville during the pandemic? AMANDA: We’ve only been open during a pandemic, so we actually have no clue what normalcy looks like. We have been very fortunate to have not had an outbreak because we are super careful and obsessive about keeping the space clean and sanctuary. Occasionally, we have had staff exposed and had to shuffle tutors and staff, but we were fortunately well-equipped to do just that. We also understand parents are dealing with everything we are, but on a much deeper level, which is why we offer the ability to cancel anytime without penalty. A parent can call us five minutes before their session and cancel, and they won’t be charged for that. Parents have really appreciated that, and we haven’t had anyone abuse the policy, so we are keeping that in place.
