Sunday

[mynewplace]

And all those days in between

Hello, fellow bebbehs!  not much to tell these days.  Got my kid Friday, will probably have to take her back to my parents today.  This really sux, and I am fucking hating it. She's been SOOOO good for me, and I've missed her terribly.  I just can't find another option. Day care is out of my reach. Period.  I can't bear to leave her alone all day, she's not dependable at all. 

We went to see Kit Kittredge yesterday afternoon - Scarlett and I were the only two in the theater.  It's received poor reviews, which to me just says that clean family movies are becoming a thing of the past.  It was very well done, had well known actors who performed nicely, and was beautifully shot.  It was also rated "G".  I guess that's a death knell these days.  We enjoyed the movie, and will probably buy it when it comes out on DVD. 

We've done house work all weekend.  Brent will come over later this afternoon to help me permanently affix the slats to my bed frame.  I'll be meeting Leigh in an hour or two to get a key to her house.  I'm going to help her girlfriend Katie feed her cats while she and her family are gone.  

Right now Scarlett is watching some stupid Nickelodeon movie that is quickly getting on my nerves.  Not sure if I can stand two hours worth.  Maybe it's time to do some more housework.   o_O?

Comments

[thekatebeyond.livejournal.com]

My youngest just turned 12 this month. He's possibly the most responsible kid in the world, and I wouldn't leave him home alone afterschool either. They just aren't ready yet, at that age.

I work in social service, so please forgive the impertinent question - it's an occupational hazard. Are you sure there are no community centers or programs to pay for afterschool care in your area? I know every state is different, but here, through our local workforce program, they paid for my niece's son's daycare so that she could remain employed. She only had to pay $1 a day.

You might try calling Child Care Aware at 800-424-2246, and asking about subsidized programs in your area. Or in your state, you can dial 211 for referrals to local services. I can't tell you how many times in our work we find that there are services available, but people just don't know about the services. It's worth a try!

Please forgive me if I'm being obnoxious. I don't know your whole situation, so I really shouldn't be putting my two cents in, but I just can't overcome that urge to help. :-)

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

You're not being the least bit obnoxious, and I appreciate your urge. Truly, I'd be the same way if it were someone else. But I've exhausted all those options. I'm in that miserable place where I make too much money to qualify for state assistance, but not enough money to afford local childcare. I am willing to give the Child Care Aware number a try. I've never heard of the "211" deal, but I might give it a shot as well.

Because I receive child support I'm probably more aware of these sorts of programs, as they've been recommended before.

This is one of the reasons I'm pushing my boyfriend for marriage - we could make it better with our combined incomes than either one of us are doing right now. If we stayed in my apartment for six months, we could save enough in rent alone to either buy a house or rent a larger condo. I'm probably too practical for my own good.

[thekatebeyond.livejournal.com]

In the times we live in, it's practically impossible to survive on a single income. (And believe me, I know - we're doing it too.) And the thresholds for assistance are ridiculously low. I see so many people who fall through the cracks. Hopefully, there's something out there, or your boyfriend decides to propose already! ;-)

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's great to know I have a social worker on my list.

[thekatebeyond.livejournal.com]

Well, I work in the social work field. I'm not a social worker. I'm the Director of Operations for a national human services charity. However, I have access to a heck of a lot of resources, so if you find someone with a need, I'm glad to help find the resources for them. :-)

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

I see. I worked as a receptionist typist for a foster care agency. That was REALLY interesting. I learned a lot about mental health care there, which kinda helped me in my own mental health issues.

[thekatebeyond.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's amazing what you pick up, isn't it? I've been here for 15 years, so even though I only work directly with clients on rare occasions, I've learned a lot about how to find assistance.

It's terrific that we have kids the same age! It's funny, but for years I didn't know anyone (that I could relate to, anyway) with kids, and now I have three LJ friends with kids the same age as my youngest.

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

I've found some great people with kids her age here on LJ, too. And a few with older kids who are giving great advice, and letting me watch how they handle parenting issues.

[thekatebeyond.livejournal.com]

For me, it's great to have people who understand where I am in life. I had my oldest (he's 15) when I was just 20 and married two years. Most of my friends hadn't even thought about marriage yet. So none of them could relate to what I was going through. Now I have a whole group of friends with 7th graders! Go figure! :-)

[sapphirescarlet.livejournal.com]

I know I couldn't have done it at 20. I was too wrapped up in myself.

[thekatebeyond.livejournal.com]

I was advanced. *grin*