You know what sucks?

[Tree-Hugger]

I am currently unemployed and raising two little kids. My husband works not one, not two, but three jobs. Two are less than $8.00 and hour and the other is $9.00 an hour. None of those jobs is full time. He has been searching all year for full time employment and it's non-existent for someone like him (relatively unskilled). He's hardly home since he is always working. Take today. He worked 9am to 5pm today. He just walked in the door and will quickly eat dinner before taking a nap and then heading out to work from 10pm tonight to 6:30am tomorrow. Tomorrow, he will go back in to work at 5pm until 10pm, sleep a little and get up at 4am to go to work at 5am.

I lost my professional license because I was unable to pay the license renewal fee. I can't renew until the end of 2014....and I won't be able to renew unless I have a certain number of continuing education credits, which I can't afford (to attend conferences, lectures). I've tried get work outside of my field and people don't want me because they are afraid I will eventually leave once my license is renewed. I am also a poor candidate because working around my husband's hours is near impossible. My son has some mental health issues, nothing too serious, that make finding adequate childcare difficult. And it's unaffordable anyway.

We are on food stamps that never seem to last all month despite the fact that I primarily cook from scratch. We barely make rent and needed Catholic charity help with that recently. We're overdue in electricity, unable to afford rent insurance, and we have medical and dental bills out the ass. God knows how we'll afford heat this Winter. By some miracle, my husband and I are covered under Medicaid at the moment, in addition to our kids. None of my husband's jobs offer insurance.

And it sucks. It's hard enough to live this life. But day after day I read and hear comments about how people like us are takers. We are sucking on the government titties. We are mooching. We are lazy. We just expect hand outs. I have Congress people talking about how it's not that hard to be poor. Politicians vote against families like mine. Christians tell me God helps those who help themselves....and we're obviously not working hard enough to secure God's mercy. People tell me, "well, you just need to go get a job." As if it's that easy. And of course I am sinning by using the internet right now. Being poor, I do not deserve internet time....or a car....or food.

There is so much judgment out there for people like me and it's sponsored by and supported by our wonderful Christian politicians. It sucks.

[Laelth]

1. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[Squinch]

2. Kick.

Tree Hugger, you should send this in to every "letters to the editor" page in your locality. It is a very good description of the life that the Republicans have made, and are trying so hard to ignore their responsibility for.

[Mnemosyne]

3. I agree with, Squinch. You should get this out there. nt

[Tree-Hugger]

11. I have thought about it

I live in a supposedly politically mixed area, but the GOP types are especially loud and rabid.

I have thought of sending in a letter to the paper. I have to see if they allow anonymity.

[Squinch]

23. Actually, I would recommend that. I have gotten some intimidation after

sending letters to the editor, in the form of threatening letters and people signing me up for subscriptions for conservative rags.

[Tree-Hugger]

25. I could definitely see that happening

The things people say publicly scare me. They are *angry.*

My son is in grade school. I have this fear of him being picked on if my above words came our publicly with my name attached to them. I wish it wasn't that way and I'm going to work to change that. Until then, anything I write will have to be anonymous.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. THIS is a post which should have more than 3 replies and 21 recs.

Of all the lauded posts... the ones written by the well-known, the ones that many just click rec on because of who it is, not what they're saying, we let these truthful posts drop like rocks.

This post should have maintained a position on the front page.
This post is far more important than Confederate Flags, ACA breakdowns, fights, and mutual backscratching.


This post. Right here.

I am sorry, Tree-Hugger, that even your own party...and those of us here...have failed you.

[Tree-Hugger]

12. Thank you :) nt

[Squinch]

32. I agree.

[LuvNewcastle]

5. I hope things get better for y'all soon.

It sounds to me like you're doing all you can for now; you just need a break. You're in a rough patch now. I can't say how long it will last, but just keep telling yourself that you're going to make it through this.

I've been through more times like that than good ones and what I usually do is think about what I'll do when my situation gets better. It takes my mind off my present situation and I make better decisions the next time I have a little money. Another thing I do is think of all the ways my life could be worse, and then I'm glad for what I have now.

These sound like stupid little mind games to play, but it does seem to help. It's hard to see the end of it right now, but you'll get there. Life for most people is a series of ups and downs. Your time is going to come again, but you can't there without going through this.

[Tree-Hugger]

13. I agree

I do my best to think positive. I focus on things being better in the long run. It's one way to stay sane.

It will get better.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for sharing, Tree-Hugger.

[kentauros]

7. Have you considered posting your needs to the site Wishadoo?

Last edited Sun Oct 13, 2013, 09:38 PM - Edit history (1)

DU-er OneGrassRoot runs it, and is quite good at rallying DUers to help out

Here's the site: http://www.wishadoo.org/
And here's OneGrassRoot's profile contact page: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=174406

There was also something I read in a newsletter called Bottom Line that listed legitimate home-based jobs. One was even for helping other people with chores, building furniture, and so forth. I'll see if I can find those links again



edit: Okay, the publication has that particular article online, and here it is:

Finding a Work-at-Home Job: Most Are Scams, But These 7 Are for Real
http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/business/finding-a-work-at-home-jobmost-are-scams-but-these-7-are-for-real

Good luck to y'all, however things work out for you. Keep us posted, too

[Tree-Hugger]

14. I remember seeing Wishadoo

I will definitely check it out.

Thank you so much for the link. I have it bookmarked to read in a little while. Thank you!

[kentauros]

16. You're welcome :)

I'm glad I remembered that and found both. I remembered that task-rabbit site, but couldn't remember the name. It sounds like just the kind of thing for a freelance handyman, too

[SheilaT]

8. You didn't say what your professional field is,

and that doesn't really matter. I will suggest that if you want to get work in a totally unrelated field, just re-do your work history so that it looks as if you've simply been home raising kids all the time.

I actually did stay home and raise kids, for twenty-five years. When I went to re-join the workforce it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. I had no previous career to try to get back to, and I was simply applying for entry-level jobs.

My younger sister, who had worked in a profession, tried to go back to it after being out for about fifteen years, and the doors were completely closed to her. So she returned to school, got a new degree in a different field, and has been happily employed for about fifteen years at this point.

Sometimes the only way to get ahead is to change completely.

In any case, hugs to you and hope that things get better.

[Tree-Hugger]

15. I would like to change

I have a buttload of student loan debt and cannot take anymore on. However, I am saving my pennies for some non college training (doula, breastfeeding, childbirth education). I keep my eyes out for any opportunity that comes by.

[SheilaT]

21. I'm going to suggest you simply be applying for whatever

jobs you can currently qualify for without any additional training. I know that sounds a bit harsh and along the lines of "just get a job", but it's not intended as anything other than pure practicality. If there's a large demand where you are for those fields you named, you can probably get into them fairly easily. Perhaps apprentice yourself to a doula, which would also give you the knowledge to help nursing mothers, to hold childbirth classes. But if there's not much demand, as much as you'd like to do those things, get a job that you can get.

[Tree-Hugger]

22. Not harsh. I agree

I do apply for whatever I can get inside an outside my field. What I was saying was that I'd like to further my career goals in the future, but I have to put that aside because I don't have money for training and certification programs at this time.

[Cha]

9. Aloha Tree Hugger~ Consider the source of those

who are sneering and trying to act like they're better. They're not. I pity them for being brainwashed malleable beings who don't know much of anything at all, thanks to hate propaganda outlets.

So glad you all got on Medicaid.. that's what they're there for and I hope it stays viable for you!

[Tree-Hugger]

17. I hope so, too!

We definitely need it.

I pity those folks as well. It has to suck to be so angry. I was raised differently and I just can't fathom having that mindset.

Thank you for the hug.

[Curmudgeoness]

10. Thank you for sharing a truth that some many ignore.

I also hear all those things about how the poor are just lazy takers, and all you have to do is get a job and start working instead of mooching off of the privileged. I know too many people who are in the same situation as you, and it breaks my heart.

I hope that your situation can change in the future. People who try so hard should do better than the fate you and others are suffering.

As to your continuing ed credits, I do not know what field you are in, but in the field of accounting, there are several firms that do in-house continuing education programs that qualify. If I were in your situation, I would try to find one of these companies that would allow you to attend and would help you keep up the credits with no cost, or just a minimal cost for record keeping. It costs them nothing extra to have an additional attendee if you can find such a company.

[Tree-Hugger]

19. Thank you

For years, the amount of freebie CE credits was astounding. I went almost ten years without paying for a single lecture. My college used to host them, but they decided to spend more time and money in hosting alumni dinners.

I am allowed to get 25% of the credits online, so I have done that for free. I keep my eyes open and have friends in the field who keep me informed. Something will come along beforethe end of 2014, dammit.

[polichick]

18. Our country is so fucked - money over people. k&r

[Tree-Hugger]

20. So true

Money is worshipped way more than the Jesus our leaders pretend to obey.

[Tree-Hugger]

24. Adding to my own post

There's another thing that sucks .... heat. I'm freezing in my house. It was 50 degrees in there this morning. Cooler weather is on the horizon and we have zero money for heating. This pisses me off. Obviously, I am mad because I am living this situation, but I am also mad because no human being should have to worry about this shit!

I urge everyone to keep getting out to vote whenever elections come up. Even if it's not a big election year, go out and vote. Don't be complacent. Get these greedy fucks out of office and replace them with humans who will fight to guarantee a living wage. Millions of Americans need this to happen. While those baggers are crying over pictures of Eagles and flags, thinking it makes them patriotic, kids are going hungry and actual human beings are wearing threadbare clothing and freezing their assessment off in homes they can no longer afford. And they think *we* are the ones who are decaying the moral fiber of this nation.

[haikugal]

29. Have you applied for help with your heating?

I receive help with my electric bill and it makes a huge difference even though I keep it turned down as much as possible. It's harder with kids I'm sure. I feel so bad for you. Wish you lived near me...I'd try to help any way I could. Child care in your situation is a very real problem. Been there...do you have any family that could help out with that?

The way things are now you could work yourself to death and still not earn enough to keep going. It's a travesty.

Big hugs to you and I'm glad you posted with such honesty! You have courage...keep your chin up!

[Tree-Hugger]

30. Yes

We have what's called LIHEAP - I'm not sure if it's nationwide or just this state. It's energy assistance for Winter months. Enrollment begins in Autumn. I just applied a few days ago. It takes about a month or two (judging by what I know...it may be quicker) to kick in. They send you a check for a percentage of your estimated heating costs. So, hopefully, we'll have help with that in the next month or two.

I do have my parents an hour away. My mom does try to help with childcare when possible. She doesn't drive, so transportation is an issue, but she can help at times.

Thank you for the hugs!!

[haikugal]

31. That's what I have...

once it kicks in it will help a lot.

You're welcome...if we all keep working together to turn things around it should get better for us all.

[gopiscrap]

26. OMG you have my prayers and concern

other than lobbying, wish there was something I could, for you

[Tree-Hugger]

27. Prayers and Lobbying are good!!

And definitely helpful!!

[gopiscrap]

28. Yeah but, I wish I could do more