The Answer - A blog about Education, Preparation, and Commitment.

Achieving Social Justice And Raising My Four Kids

May 13, 2011 by Hope Pacheco

When people find out I am a mother of four and work full time at YES Prep, the reaction I typically see is a widening of the eyes, a shaking of the head, a deep sigh and then a question---“How do you do it?”  The question seems to leave their lips with an exhausted breath.  It’s almost as if they can image my exhausting effort to find a work-life balance.

When the questions comes my way, I  sometimes think of sarcastic comebacks or try to preempt the question with some funny remark about working and raising four kids.  I try not to let it bother me but, each time the question comes up,  I spend time reflecting and asking myself, “How do I do it?”

How do I maintain balance? Is it the circle of support that surrounds my family? Is it asking for help when I need it? Is it giving myself permission to be imperfect? Is it my faith?  Is it having a wonderful husband and partner? Is it my 4 amazing children—Julia, Olivia, David and Daniel? Is it the structured schedule that guides our days and nights?  Is it having a flexible work schedule? Is it having a boss who understands the demands of working and raising kids? Is it having a work environment where we share in the joys and challenges of being a working parent? 

Most days, it feels like work and life are pretty balanced.  Other days, well, the balance tilts in one direction or the other and the support and the routine and the prayers and the schedule and the understanding boss just don’t seem to be enough.  On those days, instead of asking how, I have to ask why.  Why do I do it? Why sacrifice time away from my family to work at YES Prep?

I chose to get up every day, send my girls off to school, leave my boys in the care of someone else, while I work on behalf of YES Prep students, families and staff.  I am fortunate to work with people who are passionate, committed, courageous, and unrelenting in their pursuit of excellence.

I embrace my choice because I believe in the mission of YES Prep Public Schools.  I believe in the call to action to achieve social justice. I believe empowering our students with education will serve them both in and out of the classroom. I believe that all children have the right to, not only a quality education, but quality support services rooted in the same goal of preparing our students to graduate from college.  I believe that our collective efforts are transforming Houston, community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood, school by school, family by family and student by student. I believe I am making an investment in the future of all children, my children. I don’t just chose to work at YES, I chose to work to create a better future for all children, my children.

The “how” may never be enough, but the “Y” is what sustains me. 

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