From School Psychologist to Advocate: Jennifer Arenas-Cárdenas shares her journey between work and family

Jennifer Arenas-Cárdenas, EdS, current ArizonaLEND trainee, was recently featured in a PBS News Hour segment called “Why Mothers with Young Children are Leaving the Workforce.”

Jennifer Arenas-Cárdenas, EdS, current ArizonaLEND trainee, was recently featured in a PBS News Hour segment called “Why Mothers with Young Children are Leaving the Workforce.” The clip highlights three mothers who share personal stories about the pressures and decisions that lead many women to step back from or reconsider their careers.

Jennifer, a former school psychologist in Tucson with over 10 years of experience, shares her own experience balancing professional expectations with the realities of raising children. In the segment, she reflects on the financial and emotional strain of maintaining full-time work while managing childcare needs for three small children. While Jennifer wanted to continue working, “If I were to go that route, then my entire take-home paycheck would be going into their childcare,” she explains—capturing one of the many barriers faced by working mothers across the country.

Watch the full PBS News Hour Clip here:
https://www.pbs.org/video/leaving-the-workplace-1759268331/