How Single Parents in the Low Paying Job Loop Can Make Ends Meet
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.
Published by MJ Wright
A writer, entrepreneur, mom (of twins), who loves education, knowledge, and the wisdom it turns in to. Aspiring to be the author of children s books; inventor of several ideas and businesses; and future... View profile
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10 Comments
Post a Commentdidn't see lou motyka8/28/2008's comment when i put mine....it's sad that so many people can relate so closely to this article
wow, i don't remember writing this article! haha
did i write this?......wait did you write this about me?
i really was hoping for the answers!!! i am a single mom of three earning 9.50 and hour 35 hours a week 5 days a week rotating shifts, i am looking for that second job, (almost impossible seeing my availability is not all the time anytime any day) 25 dollars a month foodstamps! that is what i get. no rental assistance, no nothing. i just want something like four hours a night after 9pm. please anysuggestions. (oh i live in a VERY rural area and not many bussinesses around here) bartending? thx for your great article!
I second that motion!
Thank you for the comments. There are so many people, mostly women, who are in this predicament. The government also put restrictions on our housing. Lets take me for example, I have 12, and 4 yr old boys, and a 4 yr old girl. They say that I can only have a 4 bd place. If the boys didn't have such an age difference, they could share a room, and boys and girls at a certain age, cannot share a room. If you do and HRS gets notified, you can get in trouble. But what if I can only afford a 1 bd? The government doesn't allow us to support our families on a one income household. Don't even get me started on babysitters and the few after hours daycares!
Excellent arguments. This is why I believe we need to increase the minimum wage, and make it easier for working parents to go back to school. People are so against welfare, because they say people don't need it. But the income limits are so low, you have to be flat broke before you are elligible for welfare. They need to increase the income limits for welfare and food stamps. We are a nation of the working poor.
I am in a similar situation. I have two young girls whose father hasn't paid a dime. Moves state to state so that child support cannot keep up with him. I have to live with my parents because I cannot afford a two bedroom apartment on my own( apartment complexes require with 3 people to have a two bedroom).. I get childcare assistance because I have to work to provide for my daughters since their father is not helping. I was working a fairly decent paying job which gave me a raise at least every three months. Since I had government assistance, I could no longer afford the raises but I couldn't decrease my hours at this company. I was forced to switch jobs just to be able to provide the basic necessities. I am in school full time to be able to get out of this mess that I put myself and my daughters in. I feel sorry for people who are in this position because it feels like there is no end in sight for this situation. I fortunately have great parents who allow us to live with them, but I
Thank you. Like I said before, something needs to give.
This is a good article, there are a lot of single parents out there, and even if you do make a decent income its hard to make ends meet on one income. A lot of the extra's go lacking. Single mothers and fathers need more resources, to help raise their children in turn making the children more productive in society. My belief is most people think of single parenting as a "them" problem. But it affects society as a whole when a child is not getting the best possible care through no fault of the parent, but based on the situation itself.
Thank you very much. Something needs to give, there's too many of us out there not to get noticed.
Nice interesting article. Good job! Looking forward to reading more of your articles. I grew up in a single parent home so I applaude your efforts!