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Parenting after 35
jigglyjelloo
member
Excited and stressed (a bit long)
jigglyjelloo
member
I am new to this board, but want to try to start posting a bit more, so here it goes!!
I am very excited that my parents are coming from Canada tomorrow for a 10 day visit. They will be here to celebrate DD's 1st bd. They haven't seen her since early July so I am happy they are going to get to see how much she has grown and all the things she can do. She is on the verge of taking her first steps too, so I really hope this happens when they are here. All of their other grandchildren live within a 10min drive of their house, so they have really been there to see them grow up, but it is totally different with DD.
Now for the stress part 
My DH was laid off from his job almost 2 months ago and still hasn't been able to find anything. He applies to several jobs a day, is registered with several temp agencies and nothing. I am only a temp at my job and don't make that much money. We have no health insurance and I just used the last of our emergency fund to pay this months rent and bills, so it is going to be a pretty bleak Christmas. I have never been financially unstable in my life before, so this is absoluetly killing me. We have just submitted the paperwork to see if we can qualify for WIC or foodstamps to help out a bit, but I think that I make just enough that we won't qualify. But I don't make enough to cover all our bills. We have already cancelled our cable, gym membership, and cell phones, so everything that we have is a necessity. We live in a relatively cheap apartment so we can't even really downsize that. I think I have aged 5 years in the last 2 months.
Can I still write to Santa and ask him for a full time job with benefits for me and any job for my DH?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Excited and stressed (a bit long)
Stupid internet just crapped all over my post....
Welcome to the board.. we're all very nice, non-snarky and to-the-point. I suppose we're all too old for drama!
Sorry to hear about your situation... I'm sure it totally sux. But remember, your LO won't understand all the financial stuff... she'll just remember the fun, excitement and joy of the holiday. Keep that in mind.
And one suggestion for the financial stuff.... I used to have an insurance client who donated plasma a couple times a month. I think she got somewhere between $50 and $200 a month for it. Went a long way toward helping her pay her small bills.
Also, contact your church and your local utility company to see if there are any assistance programs for which you can qualify. There are programs out there designed to help!
GL
also see if there's a focus group type company in your area - I am part of evening focus groups that pays anywhere from $50-$500 for your opinion!! (they usually advertise on CL in the JOBS/ETC section)
You might also put ads on CL for little things like you'll come wrap their presents for a fee or something holiday oriented for a little extra cash? Just to keep busy as well as bring in some income.
Good luck, this is a lousy time of year and I'm sorry
Thank you for all your suggestions they are very much appreciated and I will look into them.
One draw back is that since I just immigrated here, I do not qualify for any means tested benefits, so when applying we can only apply for 2 (and it may affect our ability to get HUD benefits, but I have to look into it).
I am trying to stay positive for the holidays and I remind myself that the holiday is not about the gifts, and having my parents here for the lead up to Christmas will help keep us in the festive spirit!!
I am soooooo excited to see them tonight!
My Blog
Yep...they are just a wee bit outside of Edmonton. We are planning on moving back this coming year. My DH made a very poor decision that led to a run in with the law earlier this year (a big part of the reason he is having trouble finding a job). His record will be expunged in April and at that point we will start the immigration process for him.
We will have a lot more support there. My sister and her DH bought a 2nd home this past year so they will let us live in the other one rent free until we get on our feet there. My Mom has offered to babysit for us as well. We really want to have a 2nd LO and the thought of only having 6-12 weeks of unpaid mat leave here saddens me. Once I get working I will be able to requalify for mat leave in Canada.
It is so nice having my parents here and DD totally warmed up to them already. I love watching her play with them. I am so lucky to have such a loving family. We went out shopping for DD's bd and Christmas presents yesterday. She will be fully outfitted for her next growth spurt and has a new collection of new toys as well!!
Thanks for all of your responses, suggestions and toughts....it really means a lot to have the support!!
And yay being close to Edmonton. Sure, it's not Calgary, but hey! Oilers are better than Flames any day. And me, I'm a small town type of gal anyway, being close to either city is good enough for me.
I actually don't like coffee at all, so haven't even really got into the whole Timmies thing. I do like their BLT sandwiches tho. Currently I work for the company who makes the K-cups for the Keurig coffee makers, so I have a pretty much never ending supply of free coffee.....should I ever want it!!
I grew up in Edmonton in the 80's so I was a big Oilers fan. When I moved to Ottawa when I was 19 I gradually switched allegences though!! Living in the south I miss being able to talk to pretty much anyone about hockey.
Oh no!!! Not like coffee!?! Ack, that's just so sad. I kid. Well, I guess if you also like tea or hot chocolate, then you're might be in the right place. I have no idea if you can get those for the Keurig though, I still do things the "old fashioned" way.
Blue and gold, hmmm, so you got to watch the best years of the Oilers, and with Wayne the whiner (he really was a nice guy though). I lived north of Edmonton in the 80's in VV just before GP. I hope you didn't defect to the Sens. I am a Habs fan since I was in diapers, and the Sens, well, that's almost as bad as cheering for the Leafs.
Well, I bet you'll be missing the snow. We just got a dump of it today, beautiful powder, perfect for skiing. It's thick and fluffy and light. Everything is covered, and all the neighbors have their Christmas lights on. And it's only -5, so perfect! The girls went and rolled in it all afternoon, made snow angels and a fort. It's all covered now, but at least it's stopped and the plows will have done the highway before I head for work in the morning.
You can hot chocolate, tea, chai latte, and apple cider for the Keurigs, so there is quite a non-coffee selection.
Yes I am a Sens fan, and I am sorry that you feel the need to cheer for the lowly Habs...lol. But that being said I still cheer for the Oilers as well. It used to be all good when I game could end in a tie because I was happy for both teams, but now there has to be a winner!! And nothing in this world could be as bad as cheering for the Leafs!
We do get a bit of snow here. Usually an inch will literally shut the city down for 2 days though. People think that I am insane braving the snowy streets!! I do miss being able to ski, snowshoe and play hockey. I have played hockey since I was about 4 and it has been over 2 years now since I have played
There is an adult league here that I was going to join, but it doesn't work out with my shift at work. I can't wait to get back playing!!
I can't say that I have missed the -30 and -40 weather tho...it is actually the one thing that I really like about living here!!