givehope2005 wrote:
Thank you Bev, for seeing that I am not just out to try and make a
killing off of other people. That is not my intention at all. If that
were the case I would simply take others money and never speak to them
again. This is what I am talking about. No one trusts anyone anymore.

Is your name Hope by any chance ? This is what I will call you
unless you say differently.
I am glad you took my invitation to introduce yourself a bit. Trust is
not something many people have these days, it is hard to trust, my own
sister took me for a bad ride recently.

One person said something about how her neighbors were good and she
would hook us up with them, well I am glad she has people around her
that help her and she can turn to them when she needs them. I, on the
other hand, have not had that benefit. I have 3 small children and
have no one but myself to look to. No matter how hard I try, that is,
sometimes, just not enough.

Don't you have any family at all or close friends ? It is hard to
manage without any support.

Up until about three months ago I was in
college studying education. Life was good. I was working toward a
dream I'd had since high school. Then suddenly everything changed.
The man I had been with for 9 years and the father of my children never
came home one night. I wish I could say he left me for another woman
or he just didn't love me anymore but that was not the case. He went
to jail. And now he is in prision and won't be home for over a year.
I'm not even sure if I am going to let him come home after leaving me
this way.

Wow ! That really sucks to say it bluntly....... don't give up on your
dreams, this situation is only a stepping stone, throughout life we get
hit with many foreseen and unforeseen challenges and dissapointments. I
have had many myself and I understand. I am so sorry you ended up in
this situation because of your partners poor judgement.

Bear with me because there is a lot to say. My oldest son
has been diagnosed with several mental health problems including
bipolar disorder.

Does he see a doctor, take medication? I am in tune to what you may be
going through, I am on an "up" right now with my own child that was
diagnosed bipolar almost 5 years ago.

He goes to a school trained to deal with children
with behavior issues but they can't seem to control him. He has been
suspended more times than I can count already this school year. So I
had to quit school because I too was spending more time out than in.

This I do not quite understand? My daughter's behavior in school most
definately interfered with my ability to keep a job, she remained in
public school in the emotional support classes and partial hospital
classes available in our school district. At least when she did go to
school, she is 18 now and finally went back to school just recently, to
graduate H.S. So what I am saying is if he is going to a special school
that is trained, he is where he should be and how can they suspend him
when they specialise and are supposed to understand the illness?

I am now looking at having to home school him. Finding a job is almost
impossible at this time. I have to be here for him and my other two
babies. I was at a loss as to what to do.

What were you doing to accomidate your son and other children prior to
your partners arrest? I know you said you went to school, aparently was
not working, so was he working and have you looked into public
assistance for the time being for you and the children?

Then I thought how
beneficial it would be if I could help others find the help I need so
badly. I can't be the only one in this situation. You are right that
this isn't the best way to market my service, but I have no money to
invest in that right now and all the legit ways I have found to
advertise cost money.

Yes advertising does cost money and yes something you really can't
spend money on right now. Maybe what you could do is make up some
flyers , print them out and post them in nearby stores. Focus on some
local people that may see a use in forming a local group of single
parents that can help eachother out.Heck you may even find couples that
are willing to join the group, and this may be something to help you
right now, not looking at it to make money but to help you in your own
situation!

I am deeply hurt that people would think I was
just out to make money. I just want to help others. I don't have to
charge for the service, but that is how I am helping me at this time
and what I would be undertaking would be huge. There would be a lot of
time involved. I would in a sense be working and doing something for
others at the same time.

Don't be hurt so much, just take it as a learning experience. My advice
to you would be to focus on using the available help in your area that
is there to help you when such a situation happens. I was not too proud
to take the available help when I needed it , sometimes you have to do
this, take it a day at a time and focus on getting things stable for
yourself before venturing outside of your own neighborhood.

If you have any suggestions as to how I can
market this without offending people or come across as a money seeker I
would appreciate it. I just don't have the money to invest in it.
Thank you again for seeing me for what I am. The other posts kind of
shocked me.

It is a small fee that maybe people could afford, you have to remember
that most people needing help don't have 5 bucks either! My advice
really truthfully is that you focus on your own situation first and
seek out a community within your neighborhood that could band together
to establish this idea to help eachother get on their feet. By
networking yourself within your home area this way, you will meet many
people that know others that may be able to point you in a direction
that will help make your ability to help yourself and your children get
through this hard time.

Communicating the hardships you are going through and allowing people
to give suggestions is your best resource right now, this group has a
wide variety of folks, from different situations, although blunt and to
the point , if it is advice you want ask for it. I had to learn how to
digest and realise some of the advice I have gotten , although harsh at
times helped me see outside of the box!
Bev