The journey of motherhood is a different experience for every woman. It can present obstacles that can be tough to face. For full-time teachers, however, this intimate chapter of their lives becomes even harder to manage. Most students share a surface-level bond with their teachers, limiting how much of their teacher’s identity they know. However, Mrs. Raquel Bolaños and Mrs. Lindsey Levy have a lot more to share than just Literature and Algebra.
The beginning of this school year marked the end of maternity leave for both Mrs. Bolaños and Mrs. Levy, and they say the difficult transition has worn them out. According to the mothers, adjusting back into their work lives while keeping up with their home lives is no easy feat.
“I have two little kids under the age of four, so it’s hard to find the balance, and I’m still working on that. I need to find a new way to manage time and to balance family and work. The number one thing that comes to mind is that it’s exhausting,” Mrs. Levy said.
Similarly, Mrs. Bolaños says she’s having just as hard a time managing her family while working. “Home life is really hard because the minute you wake up it’s like you hit the ground running,” she said. “Getting kids ready, getting myself ready and dropping off [kids to school], working a full day and then going home. It’s really hard. I find that I don’t even have time to rest until eight or nine o’clock at night. The concept of free time is just non-existent.”
The struggle for balance can come before a new birth. Childbirth can present many obstacles for women, and often times it takes a toll on their own health as well. Mrs. Bolaños struggled with a series of unforeseen events. She went into early labor the same day she was supposed to return from winter break with students. Bringing her daughter, Evelyn, into this world over a month earlier than expected was “the hardest thing I’ve ever been through in my life,” she said.
Mrs. Bolaños enjoyed her time at Disney as she neared the end of her pregnancy (Photo submitted by Mrs. Raquel Bolaños).
Mrs. Bolaños stayed in the hospital for a week after giving birth, and her newborn baby wouldn’t go home for another month. In that time, she dedicated herself to doing the most she could for Evelyn, visiting her in the hospital every single day until she was strong enough to come home. “The day we got to take her home… I feel like that’s the day that I could breathe again,” she said.
Evelyn and Mrs. Bolaños are now both healthy. Mrs Bolaños’ story offers a little bit of insight on the obstacles of motherhood. From a student’s point of view, it can be difficult to comprehend the many external demands of a teacher’s identity. Mrs. Bolaños and Mrs. Levy work hard and face challenges daily, like the many miracle mothers at this school, but it may not always be recognized. “You only see the good stuff that happens in motherhood. You don’t always see the bad things that could happen,” Mrs. Bolaños said.
Despite the obstacles they’ve described, Mrs. Bolaños and Mrs. Levy say they are hopeful for the weeks to come. With the roles of both mother and teacher, these ladies are currently working on finding that medium, and are optimistic that it will come with time. “It’s a work in progress every day. Some days I do it well; some days I don’t. I try my best; I try to give my kids as much attention as I can, but still, my students need my attention, too. I think as the year goes on, it’ll get better,” Mrs. Levy said.
Embracing her bump, Mrs. Lindsey posed for her maternity photo shoot at the beach (Photo submitted by Mrs. Lindsey Levy).
“There’s always a balance someone has to find no matter what role one plays. Right now I’m balancing being a teacher, being a mother, being a wife, and also finding the time for myself. That’s the biggest challenge I have right now. I can’t tell you that I have it figured out, but I’m trying and I know that the balance is possible,” Mrs. Bolaños said.
