Help

Finally, a topic arises that I am passionate enough about that I need to write about it.

I am not good at asking for help. That has become abundantly clear to me since having Miles. There are a number of reasons why I’m not good at asking for help.
1. I’m not good at asking for anything. I’m a fairly self-sufficient individual.
2. My help-asking timing generally sucks.
3. Once I get the courage to ask for help, I often get let down.
There’s much more to it than just those three points, but that’s the basics.

Now, before I go any further, allow me to do this.

Mom and Dad – Thank you for everything, every day of my life. I would be more than lost without you.

Krista and Bob – Thank you for your unfailing love and support.

Glenn and Sherri – You guys have made life so much easier for me over the last couple of years. Thank you both so much. Sherri, you’ve become a real sister to me. An EXTRA thank you to you.

Now, without going into lengthy detail, I need child care for Miles starting at the end of August. I called today to find out if I am eligible for Child Care Subsidy. As a single, working mother, I thought I might have a chance.

I don’t. I am not eligible. Why am I not eligible? Because I’m too freakin’ smart, responsible and caring, and have a loving, supporting family. I have too much money in savings to be eligible for child care support. Yes, because I moved in with my parents because I couldn’t afford the rent charges in this area, and instead started saving up money for a down-payment on a house, because I don’t want to go into debt paying rent and become a social assistance case and yet another burden to my province and country, there is no help available to me. By all means, there are thousands of people out there who need the assistance far more than me, and please, PLEASE, assist them first! But where is the assistance for people like me? Why do I get shafted because I have a good job that I’ve stayed at for a long time, and because I have family who ensures I don’t end up on the street? I don’t need to have the fees completely covered. I don’t even need to have half of the fees covered. But a little bit of something would be better than nothing!

To quote a friend, “Oh you told the truth? It's terrible how you get punished for being a
responsible person. If you had pissed away all your money recklessly they would reward you by subsidizing you.” Yeah. No kidding.

My mom asked me a good question. If I went out now and bought myself a house, and basically over-extended myself monetarily, then would I be eligible for child care custody? My guess is yes. What is yours? Isn’t that a ridiculous scenario?

As a society, we definitely need to help those who are less fortunate. But shouldn’t we also help the “Average Jane” to keep her from joining the less fortunate?

Just my thoughts. I’m done.