My husband and I lost our jobs in July and August, back to back. We only made $8.75 and $9/hr, so we have no savings. Weve been applying for jobs and waiting on TANF for 2.months now. I'm getting so stressed over where the rent and bills are coming from I'm having little panic attacks where I have to make myself catch my breath, I break down sobbing thinking abou Halloween and Christmas. My kids won't have presents and I'm praying to get them halloween oufits this year. I haven't slept in two nights and I've dropped 10 lbs. I can't pay attention to my kids or my husband I'm just spaced trying to think straight and I'm back on my drug of choice for some stress relief. IOW Ive ****ing lost it. If my kids have to komove one more time, or go without one more ****ing time because I dont have a family and there are no jobs to be found I'm just going to lose all 2.2 grams of sanity I have left in me.
Why do I always have to be the strong one? Always.My dad runs off, my moms passed out drunk each.night, I have to care for my younger siblings, Thrown into foster care where I'm beaten and raped and everyone acts like nothing happened, now here I am married and having to be the sole problem solver, the one to sit here and deal with it all... I'm only one person and I just can't do it all.
Trust me, your kids care a lot more about you and your husband than they for gifts for themselves. Keep that perspective in mind.
Don't worry about the effect on your kids if you have to move to some place with jobs. Your kids will deal with it, and they can use the internet to keep up with any friends they may have formed already. So if you need to move to provide for them, then move.
In fact, you may want to search for states that are hiring. Right now we're in an uneven economic recovery, so different areas are recovering faster than other areas. So look at what states, or areas of states, are having that faster recovery and see if you and your husbands can line up jobs there.
I just found this page from eHow.com on how to apply for government benefits you may be eligible for. This way you can research the benefits that you may be able to get and apply to them.
How to Apply Online for Government Benefits | eHow.com
If I were in your shoes, I would also try to get grants to go to some kind of technical school. That way, you, your husband, or both will be better able to qualify for employment.
You may even want to consider getting a student loan to pay for your schooling. After all, the unemployment rate among college graduates is only 4%. And your field of study doesn't necessarily have to be high paying - just make sure it's in high demand. That way you'll know you'll stay hired.
Stop worrying about your parents. They are at an age where they should be able to take care of themselves, and they certainly are old enough to where they can make their own decisions. Instead, you need to focus on yourself, your husband, and your children, since your children are not at such an age. So let your parents go and focus on your husband and kids.
Contact the office of your representatives in government. That includes federal, state, and local levels. They may be able to help you, especially since that's their job and they'd certainly want your vote.
I did a google search for finding local charities. The following is a website to something called the Local Independent Charities of America. You can do a search for local charities in your state, go to the websites of local charities in your area, and get information on some local charities that may be able to help you and your family.
Local Independent Charities of America