How motherhood motivated me to change
Meet Angenita, a current Cara participant in the April cohort. In honor of Mother’s Day, she shares how her children motivate her to work hard and find meaningful employment.
A new opportunity…
“I have three children. A 13-year-old, an 11-year-old, and my youngest is 2 years old.
“Raising my youngest son has been a very different experience than my first two. I didn’t get to raise my first two children from birth because I was incarcerated. Now, I get that opportunity. I will be able to see one of my children grow up from the start and to be there for them. That is extremely special. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity as a mother.
“It hasn’t been an easy journey for me. I hate being unemployed and in a position where I cannot provide for my children the way that I want to. That’s what drives me to make a change.
“I feel so blessed to have this opportunity as a mother.”
What I’ve learned as a mom…
“Being a mother can be stressful sometimes, but I think it’s in my nature to be a caretaker, so I love doing it. Parenting has taught me to pause, be patient, and listen to my kids when they’re going through something. I never want to talk down to them and only want to motivate them to be successful.
On finding a job while parenting...
“I’m staying dedicated to this program for the sake of my kids. I’ve really grown here and I believe I’m really close to being placed in a job. I want others here to look at me as a leader. I try to do things like lead Motivations to set an example for others.
“Finding a job through Cara allows me to set my own standard in what I’m looking for to best support my family. I need a position during the morning shift so I can take care of my kids in the evening. It is reassuring to know that I have options that will best suit my needs as a mother.
How Cara inspires me...
“Cara has inspired me a lot. The five competencies I’ve learned here like professionalism, time management, etc. are really important to lead a successful life. I want to be able to teach my children the same things.
“I want them to continue through school and go to college. I want to have an income so I can start saving up money so I can help pay for tuition. I want to motivate them and support them. I’m excited to find employment soon so I can model success for them. I’m ready to work and support my family. I’m making the moves to get there.”
This Mother’s Day, you can support hardworking moms just like Angenita by giving a gift that helps transform a life. You can also read more inspiring Mother’s Day stories here.
