Tim and Vicky are old blogging friends of mine … “old” as in we’ve been blogging friends for several years, and we’ve had opportunity to talk on the phone a few times - GREAT conversations. They’ve both faced their share of rocky roads, and Vicky’s ex is worse than mine. Tim and Vicky have walked through some really tough times with me, encouraged me, strengthened me, and prayed for me … still do.
I just read Vicky’s recent post, and I think her words about her single-mom-daughter, Toni, and their granddaughter, Paige, are worth taking the time to repeat:
Toni called me Monday afternoon. She was taking Paige to the urgent care clinic. Sure enough, pink eye again. Daycare, so many kids with moms who have to make the decision to take their kids, even though they shouldn’t. Germs, viruses, they get passed around. But times are tough, it takes two incomes and sometimes the moms are doing it alone. Bosses aren’t very understanding sometimes when your child is sick, so you take them to daycare and hope for the best. Toni couldn’t take Paige to daycare with pinkeye. She needed to work, I couldn’t take another day off. Luckily, Toni has a good friend who came to stay with Paige. Germs, viruses, they get passed around. It’s hard.
I am SO thankful I can keep kids in my home as my work to provide what I can for my girls and myself. I am SO thankful I am flexible enough to keep my friend’s kids even when they are sick so she doesn’t have to miss anymore work than necessary. The baby has not been feeling well this week … congested, yucky. It’s hard on a baby to be congested because they can’t blow their nose yet, so their little noses need to be suctioned out - not fun. Mom can give me medicine to administer to her baby. Mom can give me permission to take her baby to the doctor. And I can pick up my baby from school when she’s sick, as she was today, and not miss work … and not worry about a boss who isn’t understanding … and not worry about imposing on co-workers to carry my load when I’m not there.
Toni is blessed to have her mom and step-dad so close and caring and helpful. The mom whose kids I keep also has a mom close who helps a whole lot, which is such a blessing for them as dad is a police officer who works the night-shift in another town.
There is much to be pulled from here that relates to much of what we discuss out here, and I’m tired, so I’ll let you do that if you choose. It’s a tough world. We have to make really hard choices everyday … choices that will always affect children.
~Ame~
Home School Alert!
Ame sent me this. Any active homeschoolers wish to comment?