Anyone, especially women, lack the knowledge to go up that corporate ladder. You think an entry level position will get you in the door so you can make the good money. Guess again, things have changed. Entry Level jobs are for fresh, out of college people.
What about single parents, especially mom’s? They have to work 2 jobs just to pay bills for a cheap, run down to moderate home. There’s no time to go to school, even if it is on line. They don’t even have much time for their kids. They have no life and they are getting stressed out.
Who’s suffering? All person’s involved. The parent is overwhelmed, overworked, and tired. They feel guilty for not spending time with the kids on their homework or just quality time. The kids are stressing and confused about why their parent is never there for them or to help with homework or questions or anything. They can’t remember the last time that they were all together and happy doing anything. They wish all the time, that their parent didn’t have to work so much. Sure they may know why the parent has to work, but there is still resentment and hurting going on, which makes the parent feel worse.
What if the parent needs daycare? A very small percent of daycare’s are open at night or overnight. The ones that do, charge more. Most babysitters make as much as the parent or more. So the parent really isn’t making anything. If a parent can find a cheap one, they will more than likely be cheaper on the quality too. There are very few exceptions to this rule, however, it is a good one to go by. A parent must rely on day-cares and babysitters especially if there is no family to help. Most jobs don’t care if you have issues with childcare. If you are not 100% available anytime, they don’t want you. That’s not fair, but it’s the way this daft world is.
How can we make this different? Can we change this cycle? Will we change this cycle? Who will change this cycle?
There are single parents out there that live with family members with their kids because they cannot afford rent and/or other bills. Let’s say that a single mom has three kids, two are in daycare and one is a latchkey kid. The parent only works one job and makes $9.00/hr and works 33 hours/3 days a week. The parent is looking to supplement the income with two more days of work and go to school at night. Daycare costs are cheap compared to most, but the parent only pays $120.00/wk for both kids. That leaves a gross income of $177.00 each week. There is car insurance which costs $101.19 per month. The phone payment is $46.59 each month. Now that leaves $29.22. Where does this parent get the money to pay taxes, gas, and other bills and necessities that come up? Can this person really make it on their own?
What is wrong with this picture? Now don’t go and say they can apply for state assistance. It’s been tried. You are made to go through lots of deadlined hoops for very little help and a lot of aggravation. The parent was awarded $187.00 per month for one of the kids for child support and $875.00 for the other two. The non-custodial parents never pay it. It is an order of the court so it counts against you when you apply for assistance. If you make more money, they take more from you, even if you only made $1-$2 more an hour. Instead of helping, they keep you begging for help until your lifetime amounts of assistance are exhausted.
Now, give me another way to help these parents. Let’s put our heads together and figure out a way. We can take it nationally if we come up with a good enough plan and get enough signatures. What do you say. Write back and give me your opinion. What would you do in that same situation? I would love to know.
