money and work
Happy Memorial Day everyone.
Been thinking about money and work a lot.
So we have a friend who has no income. She was a massage therapist who was earning a nice living here in DC, but moved away to attend some kind of grad school in FL (which she didn't finish). Now, she's a stay-at-home mom. Her husband wants to be a cop, but never finished his college degree in criminology. He plans to finish it one day. But he also has a criminal record and is in AA as a recovering alcoholic. So he's tough to employ; most nights he's in AA meetings and lots of folks won't hire him because of his record.
He has tried to find a job but who knows how hard he's really trying (you'll see why below).
They're both really wonderful people. Really. Good, loving, honest folks who've just had some rough times and trying to do the best they can with what they have. They're not snobs, they can both work hard when it's time to.
But neither of them are employed. Her parents are rather wealthy and are supporting both of them. They pay for her husband's tuition when he does go to school, pay for all their living expenses, not to mention that they have a 4 year-old boy.
That whole "being supported by family" situation doesn't really annoy us. What annoys us is that she frequently posts on FB about things such as:
- how she's buying a brand-new tempur-pedic king size bed for the 3 of them since their queen just isn't big enough. Note: the son sleeps in his own bed in his own room.
- advice on which smartphone to get - iphone or android? When her friends asked if she uses Mac or PC, she said she needs a new computer too....which one should she get?
- how, after careful consideration, they've decided (as a family) that their boy will go to private school "the whole way".
These aren't really annoying questions in and of themselves, but we know that they are both unemployed and are 100% supported by her parents. In my opinion, these questions should not be asked....because these situations should not be happening.
Maybe I'm just jealous? But we sleep on a queen that we've had >10 years which fits our family of FOUR just fine (especially since the kids have their own room (which they share). And maybe the public school system is really bad there but I'm okay with our kids doing public school for awhile (until maybe 6th or 7th, when the kids start to get really mean). In Montgomery County, the public school system is excellent so I'd even be okay with them doing public all the way to college.
Private school is definitely everyone's right...but if you're not making any money?? And why are you getting a smartphone as a stay-at-home mom? Hell, does anyone really need a smartphone? Do I really need my iPhone? No, but I really like mine, and I use my own money to pay for it. So it's my right.
Anyway, I feel bad being annoyed by this. But I just think they're dooming themselves....and being 100% supported sure doesn't help anyone get motivated to get employed. Plus, when and if they both finally get jobs, THAT kind of lifestyle is pretty hard to support, you know?
I've had so much I want to post about lately. I'll try and be better. I'm just so busy these days.
Been thinking about money and work a lot.
So we have a friend who has no income. She was a massage therapist who was earning a nice living here in DC, but moved away to attend some kind of grad school in FL (which she didn't finish). Now, she's a stay-at-home mom. Her husband wants to be a cop, but never finished his college degree in criminology. He plans to finish it one day. But he also has a criminal record and is in AA as a recovering alcoholic. So he's tough to employ; most nights he's in AA meetings and lots of folks won't hire him because of his record.
He has tried to find a job but who knows how hard he's really trying (you'll see why below).
They're both really wonderful people. Really. Good, loving, honest folks who've just had some rough times and trying to do the best they can with what they have. They're not snobs, they can both work hard when it's time to.
But neither of them are employed. Her parents are rather wealthy and are supporting both of them. They pay for her husband's tuition when he does go to school, pay for all their living expenses, not to mention that they have a 4 year-old boy.
That whole "being supported by family" situation doesn't really annoy us. What annoys us is that she frequently posts on FB about things such as:
- how she's buying a brand-new tempur-pedic king size bed for the 3 of them since their queen just isn't big enough. Note: the son sleeps in his own bed in his own room.
- advice on which smartphone to get - iphone or android? When her friends asked if she uses Mac or PC, she said she needs a new computer too....which one should she get?
- how, after careful consideration, they've decided (as a family) that their boy will go to private school "the whole way".
These aren't really annoying questions in and of themselves, but we know that they are both unemployed and are 100% supported by her parents. In my opinion, these questions should not be asked....because these situations should not be happening.
Maybe I'm just jealous? But we sleep on a queen that we've had >10 years which fits our family of FOUR just fine (especially since the kids have their own room (which they share). And maybe the public school system is really bad there but I'm okay with our kids doing public school for awhile (until maybe 6th or 7th, when the kids start to get really mean). In Montgomery County, the public school system is excellent so I'd even be okay with them doing public all the way to college.
Private school is definitely everyone's right...but if you're not making any money?? And why are you getting a smartphone as a stay-at-home mom? Hell, does anyone really need a smartphone? Do I really need my iPhone? No, but I really like mine, and I use my own money to pay for it. So it's my right.
Anyway, I feel bad being annoyed by this. But I just think they're dooming themselves....and being 100% supported sure doesn't help anyone get motivated to get employed. Plus, when and if they both finally get jobs, THAT kind of lifestyle is pretty hard to support, you know?
I've had so much I want to post about lately. I'll try and be better. I'm just so busy these days.