Image courtesy of Ocean Ng
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — While many young people focus on their studies and personal time,
Ana Rangel, 20, has had to learn how to balance three demanding roles: student, worker
and mother.
Ana Rangel, originally from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, represents many young Latina women
in Northwest Arkansas who face the challenge of balancing education, work, and
motherhood. Her story highlights how perseverance, family support, and cultural
adaptation are essential in managing these responsibilities and building a better future for
her son.
Her experience is part of a larger trend in the state. Arkansas has the highest teen birth rate
in the United States, according to a new CDC study. The state averages about 27 births per
1,000 women ages 15 to 19, more than 90% higher than the national average of nearly 14
births per 1,000 women in the same age group. Arkansas also has the youngest new
mothers on average, with the highest birth rate in the 15-to-19 age range in the country
Since Rangel became a mother, her life has changed in unexpected ways. Her days now
start before dawn and end long after most students have returned home. “Nothing is the
same anymore. I used to go out with my friends or sleep in, but now every minute counts,”
Rangel said.
Fortunately, she had the support of her family and her boyfriend, who were there for her
throughout the pregnancy and after the birth of her son. However, the beginning was not
easy. “It was very tiring, and that’s even with my mom’s help, who even taught me how to
burp my baby,” Rangel recalled.
When her son turned one, she decided to go back to school. She was able to enroll him in a
daycare, where he is cared for while she attends classes, allowing her to focus on her
studies. However, this also means being a full-time student, which comes with an intense
academic workload and sleepless nights. In addition, she works as a manicurist three
times a week, adding another layer of responsibility to her already demanding schedule.
She says her pregnancy was very smooth, with few complications; however, the
postpartum period caused her a lot of anxiety. “They romanticize the postpartum process,
when the truth is I didn’t feel well,” she said. It was a difficult time: she cried frequently and
sometimes felt that her baby didn’t love her, even thinking he preferred his grandmother.
She became frustrated, and although her boyfriend helped, the sleepless nights were
exhausting. At first, she couldn’t even breastfeed, so they had to rely on formula.
She remembers an episode with Lucas, her son. “One time he got sick, I took him to the
pediatrician. They recommended he continue drinking milk, while my Mexican family
insisted on all their home remedies.” It was then that Rangel noticed a clear cultural clash:
While the doctors gave her a direct solution, her family offered a myriad of remedies, each
with a different opinion on what she should do.
Another difficulty Rangel faced was a strong fear of going out alone with her baby. “It took
me a long time to go out alone with my baby; my family and my boyfriend always
accompanied me,” she said. She was afraid of not knowing how to react if he cried or if
something happened, and one day there was simply no other choice but to take him with
her. Just thinking about it caused her a lot of anxiety.
Now that her son is over a year old, Rangel and her boyfriend have adapted to their new
routine. When they get home, they try to take walks together with the baby, and when they
return, while Rangel gives him a bath, her boyfriend has already prepared his things for
bedtime. She also notes that, although daycare provides meals, she still prepares
healthier food for him at home. Her son now cannot be apart from her; he adores her
Rangel often reminds her boyfriend, laughing, that his first word was “mama.”
Rangel’s story reflects the experiences of many young Latina mothers in Northwest
Arkansas, where a growing number of families face similar challenges balancing
education, work and childcare.
Despite all the challenges and experiences, Rangel has learned to manage her time and
new responsibilities. She also feels very grateful to her parents for the tremendous support
they have given her since they learned she was pregnant. Now, she and her family could
not be happier to have Lucas by their side.