My full time job has started in the public schools. First off, I love this job, truly I do. The perfect mix of students, parents, college kids, and the community. And it's more hours than last year so yay for me!
But since we're so strapped financially I've also taken on two part time jobs. They are both fun and interesting, but working 50 or more hours per week is crazy! Especially when I have three busy kids to raise.
Why you ask? Well one is we really need a 3rd car. The truck takes Johnny C to work, out of town, 10-12 hours days. The van is all we have left to get me to work 9-5, 3 kids to school 8-3, two teens to work 4-9, me to part time gigs, and all our other activities. Did you notice the time overlaps in there? Yeah bikes work but not past October. We have a "bus" of sorts but it doesn't run like you'd expect.
And although we need a 3rd car, financially it will about kill us. Ever tried to get even basic insurance for a junker that will have TWO teen drivers? And there's something illogical about getting a 3rd job to pay for a car you need to get to your 3rd job.
A clean tidy house is very important for my sanity, but evidently not so much for Johnny C and the kids. Actually what I should be saying is: it really hasn't dawned on them that I'm not around to pick up after anyone and that clutter won't put itself away.
And while juggling all this, I think about the AIG cretins and others who failed miserably at their jobs but are stuffing multi million dollar taxpayer bonuses into their pockets. They haven't a financial care in the world. They can eat in restaurants, they can hire cleaning staff, they have multiple cars and drivers at their disposal. And I'll bet they don't worry about the oil pump going out or the insurance costs.
My husband and I were doing our jobs with flying colors, putting 150% effort into our end of the social bargain, and were content with our middle class placement. In return we get slapped around and thrown out with the trash. On top of that we get GOP politicians telling us we're lazy, spoiled, and otherwise negligent.
As I write this, a friend that I admire greatly is dying of breast cancer. She may not even last through the month. She is leaving three beautiful children including a 7-year-old. So I feel guilty complaining about my jobs and money when I know her family would all run to Texas and back if it meant she'd live. I can't stand the thought of her leaving.
Somedays it's really damn hard not to be bitter. Really damn hard.
