Blog #7

Reading about the struggles of Julia and Jacqueline was sad to say the least. Julia wanted to better her situation and despite her efforts ran into some large hurdles. Julia started her college career with the idea that her husband would be able to support her with child care. The initial agreement was that the children’s father would watch the two daughters while Julia finished school. By the end of the first semester Julia’s husband was gone leaving her with no one to watch the children. Izzy, Julia’s sister, moved in during the fall semester to help out with the situation. Izzy soon ran into her own problems with work which prevented her from helping out Julia any further. From that point Julia had to quit school and provide primary care for her children. After about a month and half she started a work experience program. Other ups and downs were encountered until Julia’s cousin Sonia began to provide care for her children. Jacqueline and Julia both felt Sophia was a perfect fit. She fed the children healthy foods, provided an education, and helped out with the upkeep around the house. Julia kept her children with Sonia as long as possible, but eventually the cost was overwhelming. Julia had to have her 73 year old ill mother eventually care for her children.

There is a vicious cycle in which minimum wage jobs add to the poor working women’s ability to find and maintain stable and safe childcare while also trying to make a better living. It is almost a catch 22. If one makes slightly more money than required to get welfare assistance they end up losing in the end. The small increase in pay actually hurts them. This small pay grade increase takes away any government support that one may have once had and in return they actually bring home less given the child care costs that one may have saved on initially. The course work points to different stories and situations that Molly and Delores have gone through. They never seem to get ahead. Thousands and thousands of others are in the same situations trying to better their lives while struggling with issues of childcare and work. My heart is with them all.