of being a mother, a really good mother, faults and all. I also enjoy and
am fulfilled in my demanding job. I have healthy boundaries and know
now when to take a break or ask for help. That is how motherhood has
changed me, for the better.
Cheers to the moms, mamas, mommies, tias, nanas, abuelas, etc. out
there doing their best to raise healthy, loved children. Falling and getting
back is what we do. Because what other choice do we have?
LS
María L. Villagómez
Dean | Language Arts, Educational Support
Learning Technologies
So many of us don’t expect to
feel overwhelmed after having
children; after all, they are
a blessing! And they are,
except…
As a first-time mother and
as a working professional, I felt
extremely overwhelmed after
having my son. That my
husband and I decided to wait
until we were 38 and 44 years
old didn’t help the situation. By
waiting so long before having
kids, we made our situation
worse because we had already
been accustomed to having so
much free time before we had
our son. Our energy was lower,
our routines were well
established, and our commitment to work was our priority.
Maria with her son John
Greyson Liscano and husband
John-Michael Liscano.
After having our son, everything changed. No one shared with us how
difficult the change could be. Sleepless nights along with low energy and
full-time jobs were a bad combination. However, after five years, we can
confidently say that having our child not only was a true blessing, but a
valuable learning experience. It has made us more humbled and more
compassionate human beings. And you learn that there is no one else in the
world whom you’ll love more than your kids. They bring you joy and
unconditional love.
Right after having my son, some people would ask us if we were
planning on having another child, to which I would quickly say “no,
absolutely not”, “it’s too difficult”. Some accepted the response, others less
so. Here’s the thing. My husband and I felt that we gave up part of
ourselves, part of our lives when we became parents. We don’t regret it, but it
was a reality; we did give up time to raise our child. We had to. We chose to.
I think it’s important for parents to talk about how difficult parenting can
be, in addition to sharing the wonderful things about being a parent. It’s
healthy to do so. It’s realistic. It’s humane. Other parents need to hear about
all realities that come with parenting. It’s therapeutic.
Karen Gutierrez
Sr. Program Specialist
Maryland Department of Health
I am first generation immigrant
from Colombia. My husband
and I got married in 2006 and
a week after our wedding we
decided to pursue the American
dream by traveling to the U.S.
for good.
Five years after our arrival,
we decided it was time to have
a baby. Both him and I were
working hard to grow in our
professions. As a woman and
Latina entirely unaware of the
challenges ahead, I was ready
to have a baby.
My son is eight years old
Karen with her son Martin and
husband Sammir Perez.
now, he is the engine of all my
achievements and passions to
continue to grow in my career. On a side note, this does not mean it has
been easy to be where I am today.
It is difficult. The most challenging time was when my son turned one
month, and I had to go to work. My heart was broken into pieces when I
had to leave him the first day.
My husband, as a Latino man did support me in many ways.
Nancy Calderon
Banker
Beneficial State Bank
LS
I am a single mother of two, my eight-year-old son Derek and my four-year-old
baby girl Scarlett. Derek is in the second grade and enjoys learning about
dinosaurs, and sharks. Scarlett is in preschool and enjoys dancing and singing.
My son was a very shy and
timid boy and preferred not to go
out and play during recess but
stay in class with his teacher. I
decided to enroll him and my
daughter in a modeling and talent
academy in our hometown. That
was such a huge success.
When they are not
modeling, we enjoy finding
shells at the beach or banana
slugs on our hikes.
While they are in school, I
work full-time as a Senior
Beneficial Banker and Community
Engagement Point of Contact for
LS
Nancy with her daughter Scarlett
and son Derek.
30 www. lat inastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol . 25, No. 2, 2019
/www.latinastyle.com
