I know I'm blessed - I see it in my son's eyes everyday
POWER OF GIVING CHARITY SUMMARY: I didn't plan on being a struggling single mom. I don't think anyone plans on being a single parent. But I do all that I can for my son, and for our future. I just need a little help right now. READ MORE...
NAME: Laura Edwards LOCATION: Florida GENDER: Female PLIGHT: Struggling Single Mom POWER OF GIVING VERIFIED: Yes AMOUNT NEEDED: $665.00
LAURA'S STORY:
I am a struggling single mom of a beautiful little boy who turned one on Mother's Day (5-11-08).
I work full time in a medical office as part of the billing and insurance department, and I go to school part time at night to try to make a better life for us.
I do not qualify for any government benefits (even though I only make $8.50 an hour) and I do not receive any child support from my son's father (who is currently not even in the same state as me).
I work hard, I study hard, and I raise my son on my own. I do not have luxuries. I don't have a phone, I don't have cable. Nothing that I don't absolutely need.
If I didn't use the internet for school (I take some classes online as well as on campus) I would not have it at all.
I don't have fancy things. I do live within my means, but the older my son gets, the more money I need to spend and with gas prices soaring, I'm finding that I just can't make my money stretch as much as I once did.
My mom does help me by buying my son's diapers and wipes (which I have not been able to afford more than a few times since he was born) and she also helps with groceries when she can.
I'm constantly looking for ways to cut back. I try to get things in bulk that wont spoil. Ramen Noodles are quite popular with me and my son.
I know that things will be better next year, but I'm just so worn out and stressed right now, that I just want to ease the financial stress I'm under.
I bought my car long before I had my son, and it's due to be paid off August 2009. I owe $4,100 on it. I've often thought of selling it and trying to find something else, but I know that my car is dependable, and with not having a cell phone or anything else, I don't want to risk giving that away to get something that might not be so dependable with my son in it.
I'm not looking for a handout, although it may seem that way. I am taking the steps I need to take to improve my life for myself and my son.
Right now, I'm just going to school for medical transcription. But only because I would be able to work from home once I get my certification.
This would free up my schedule to not only spend more time with my son, but to also allow me to go back to school for what I really want to be - an occupational therapist.
I didn't plan on being a single mom. I don't think anyone plans on being a single parent. But I do all that I can for my son, and for our future.
I just need a little help right now.
Thank you for listening.
Laura Edwards
Comments for
Struggling Single Mom Looking For Your Help
You made me cry true tears of joy today. Thank you so much for your donation and for your comment. The biggest thing I've found through this site, is true genuine caring people. People who cared enough to leave some helpful tips for me, people who donated, and people who have done both. I've been in touch with Connie ever since initially sending in my story. And you're absolutely right. My son is worth every single hardship I have to bear. I know it's not forever. I'm working as hard as I can to make sure that he and I both have a good future. And more often than not, when I've sought out some kind of help, be it financially or emotionally, I've been looked at as if I'm not a good mom, or that I'm just looking for a handout. If that were the case, I wouldn't be going to school. I wouldn't have spent so much time waking up at 6:30am to get ready for work, getting home around 6pm, spending time with my son until he went to bed, and then staying up until 1 or 2 studying or working on projects. When I was still working at the medical offices, there were days when I literally told a friend of mine to keep kicking my chair or dialing my extension to make sure I stayed awake. haha It's so uplifting and refreshing just to know that this world isn't all bad, and not everyone is out to knock you on your butt, or kick you once you're already down. I know that there is a reason for everything. I know that going through this hardship now really makes me appreciate everything so much more. It gives me so much hope and optimism for the future. It really does. I guess it's my motivation to want better. And I will eventually get there. I know this isn't the path I would have necessarily chosen for my life, but it's the path God made for me, and the one I'm supposed to be on. So the only thing I can do is just continue on and have faith that I'm heading towards something better.
Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. And to everyone else. I just can't thank any of you enough.
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Jennifer Rocks by: Connie
Jennifer,
You are AWESOME. That was so nice of you to donate to Laura's cause. It was also very nice of you to say all those very nice things to both me and Laura. You are a SUPER STAR!
Laura has been great through this whole thing. I enjoy communicating with her. She is one of those types of people that when life gives you lemons, she makes lemonade. I don't think she's checked in since you left your note but she visits often and I'm sure she will be thrilled.
Thanks Again Jennifer!
Connie
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Keep up hope by: Jennifer in Mpls.
Hi, Laura, I'm glad to be able to send $25 your way. I just found this site today after browsing through the forums of the website company that Connie uses to build and maintain this site. Her generous advice to all of us website builders got me here in curiousity, and now I am able to pay it forward. I hope all turns out well for you. You have a beautiful son and he's worth all the hard times. (and so are YOU!) :D
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thanks =) by: Laura
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I have tried getting some temp positions. I'm registered with nearly every staffing agency here, and so far, only one has given me an assignment. It was just for two days, but I was more than happy to take it! I have been calling every place I've put an application in at to check the status, and I'm probably driving them all crazy. I do have an interview tomorrow for a receptionist position so I am really hoping and praying I will get it! But just in case I don't, I'm still putting more applications in, checking back with everyone, and asking the staffing agencies if they've had anything come up. =)
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Hang in there by: Anonymous
Hey Laura every thing happens for a reason. Hang in there every thing will come togather. I was a single mom once and yes it is very hard. I did not recv'd any help from the state either. I had 2 children when I left my ex. I keep my head up and every thing turned out for the best. Have u tryed to get a Temp. job any thing is better then none. Keep your head up for your baby your children will always be there for you.
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Thank you! by: Laura
Thank you so much for the advice!! I never thought about adding anything to the Ramen noodles and that is such a great idea! My son loves them, but I have a hard time getting him to eat most vegetables, so maybe if I combine the two, he'll eat them. =)
I haven't gone to any thrift stores yet for clothes. I had found a ton of clothes for my son at Wal-Mart that had been marked down to a dollar a few months ago (before I got laid off). Since they were so cheap, I bought sizes that he still doesn't fit into yet. But at that price.. it was worth buying them and sticking them in his closet until he grows into them. I also had gone to the local health department. They have a program there that assists when possible with basic needs. They gave me clothes , diapers, socks, training underwear (although it will be a while on that), a blanket, and even a stuffed monkey for my son. And for me, a tooth brush, shampoo, and other basics. They work completely off of donated items, so I plan on giving some toys and clothes to them once my son grows out of the ones he has now. It was such a big help to get those things from them, so I definitely want to give back in some way.
I currently use baking soda now when cleaning. I have carpet in my apartment, and that was the only thing I've ever felt was safe enough to use to clean it. I don't want my son walking around on chemicals!!
I was told that I am not eligible for unemployment because I didn't have enough wage credits in 2007, but that this month they will be changing the yearly quarter that they look at, so I will be eligible this month. So I'm still trying to get that. I've been looking for work like crazy. In the past week, there have been so many places completely close down, file bankruptcy, etc that I'm having a hard time finding work. One of the staffing agencies I registered with had a two day assignment for me, so I worked that the 25th and 26th of June. I know it was only two days, but it gave me almost enough to pay my electric bill so I was very thankful for that.
I did get approved for food stamps that I should start getting this month. I plan on getting plenty of non-perishable items, just in case anything else happens, I know that I'll have plenty of food stored up for us. I also will get plenty of fresh fruit (my son's favorite) and other non-canned, nutritious foods for daily breakfasts/lunches/dinners.
Thank you so much for your advice!!! I do appreciate it! =) It's nice to know that there are people out there who care enough just to take the time to give some helpful tips!!! I really do appreciate it!!!
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More advice by: Anonymous
For things like clothes and towels, check out thrift stores; I've gotten some like-new tshirts for $1 each, the worst blemish was a tag ripped partway!
For cleaning supplies, you can use things like baking soda, salt, and vinegar instead of commercially sold cleaners, and buy concentrates (measure carefully whe diluting) when you do buy those. There can be health benefits too; while some brands, like Seventh Generation, make sure to use non-toxic ingredients, many cleaners are pretty dangerous. Avoid carcinogens like triclosan (marketed under names like Microban, triclosan is in many items these days, from soap and kitchen spongs to baby toys, and completely unnecessary unless you're immunocompromised in a high-risk environment like a hospital). Buy a washable fabric shower curtain liner, or at least a non-PVC plastic one; PVC liners continue to give off VOCs and other bad stuff, and when you first open them, that strong smell is basically a bunch of toxic things going out in the air. After a family member died of cancer, we've been looking into ways to reduce health risks, and while there's a lot of alarmist hype out there, there's also some significant risk proven with scientific studies. And cancer is expensive to deal with :(
I could go on and on but I need to get going. Good luck to you and everyone else in need.
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Just advice by: Anonymous
Hi to Laura. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, people usually don't like being told what to do in any way about anything.
It's obvious you're trying very hard and trying to think of everything you can do, and maybe you've thought about these already. However, I thought I might as well point out that it might be cheaper to use reusable diapers and towels (and use early toilet teaching, it's a new concept to the West but many Americans are using it successfully on even infants, and it's been used for many generations in other societies, involves no parent-child struggles, force, or pain, great stuff, you can look it up online); along with being healthier and more environmentally-friendly, they can be a lot cheaper then disposables. Especially if you don't have good health insurance, cutting down on health risks can be good, too.
I'm concerned about your frequent use of ramen. Whole food vegetarian diets are typically much cheaper and healthier than diets based on animal and/or processed foods, have you looked into them? There are good, cheap, vegetarian example recipes for different life stages online and in books. If you have the space and can squeeze in the time, you might be amazed at how much fresh, healthy vegetable food can be grown in even a tiny area, using continual harvest methods. Other than that, go for fresh produce that's local and in season, as best as you can afford in the area. Don't be afraid to use canned or frozen foods too, they might not be backyard-garden-fresh but they retain a lot of their nutrients with modern processing methods and they are sometimes much cheaper. Bulk whole grains and legumes are very cheap, I know you mentioned bulk shelf-stable foods so maybe you already buy these. When you do cook ramen soup, you can add in fresh/frozen/canned veggies, barley, etc to make them healthier and more filling. Buying whole-grain noodles can be fairly cheap too, and you can experiment with spices, which takes out some of the bad stuff put in ramen noodles and flavor packets.
(continued...)
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A thank you to anyone viewing my page by: Laura
I just wanted to throw on here a thank you to anyone viewing this. Even if you don't donate, just knowing you took the time to read it means a lot to me. =)
Thank you so much!!!
*Laura*
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New Update to Laura's Story by: Connie
I just received this note from Laura...
"Hi Connie. I guess I have something else you can add while putting up the page for me. I was laid off of work today. We got a new manager in May. The first thing they told all of us was that nobody was at risk of losing their jobs. I was one of several people let go today due to "downsizing" and "restructuring"
The really bad thing though is that they just put in a rule last week stating that everyone who works there is required to have 2 years experience. They JUST put that into effect. And because I didn't have two years of experience, they said I didn't qualify for any of the open positions! I don't know what to do. I am so completely lost right now. I applied for cash assistance, food stamps, and unemployment today so hopefully I will get those things. I was already told that since I was laid off, that I do qualify for them, but I don't know when I'll be getting anything. They're all telling me it will take 4-8 weeks to process my applications and then a week or two after that before anything is issued to me.
I was just bawling asking how I was supposed to raise my son or keep a roof over our heads. I know that God has a reason for everything, and maybe this is a blessing in disguise, but it's so hard to see that when I'm just so completely devastated. I've asked all of my friends if there is anything I can do for them that they'd be willing to pay me for (cleaning house, washing cars, mowing lawns, etc) just for some kind of help and money flow. I am sorry for venting, I just don't have many people in my life, and the ones I do, don't understand the severity of this situation because they don't have kids.
My mom plans on getting extra shifts at the hospital to try to help me, but said she doesn't know how much she would be able to help or how many extra hours she can get. I just want to be able to be back on my feet. "
Hang in there Laura! Have hope.
Connie
Editor
Power of Giving
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Welcome to The Power of Giving by: Connie
Hi Laura,
Welcome to the power-of-giving.com. I am sorry for your troubles but I look forward to getting you a much needed financial break.
