tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927652976660901418.post1266853712418154623..comments2023-09-16T07:40:01.698-07:00Comments on In The Trenches - Budgeting for Financial Survival and Recovery: On the streets interviewCarol Schultzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02277120447454788570noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927652976660901418.post-69309333554448159282010-11-11T20:41:41.565-08:002010-11-11T20:41:41.565-08:00I think people are motivated by many different thi...I think people are motivated by many different things: example, encouragement, fear, crisis, necessity, a vision. Whatever the method it has to come from within and be a personal choice. Peer influence is indeed difficult to overcome and even at times dangerous. <br /><br />Education in Life 101 opens the doors to a person knowing their options and seeing new ideas. For some this will be enough to get them moving in a new direction. For others it may be filed away for future use and still others may reject it all together but at least they have seen the choices.<br /><br />This is one of the reasons I believe in limited assistance coupled with education. It gives a hand in the stirup to those who want to ride but doesn't not indefinately support those who don't with taxpayer funds. <br /><br />The difficult challenge is of course the children who are without power to make their own decisions. Careful attention is needed not to neglect them regardless of the parents failure to strive and thrive.Carolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927652976660901418.post-52730184185986606492010-11-11T07:53:29.152-08:002010-11-11T07:53:29.152-08:00Our family lived in the projects for a couple year...Our family lived in the projects for a couple years. It housed a mix of new immigrants, generational welfare recipients, and educated people who fell on hard times. Those that knew there was more, fought to get out. Those that thought the effort was too much trouble brought others down with them. They didn't pound it into their kids to excell in school, stay chaste, avoid drugs and bad company. It's not easy to buck the "ghetto" mentality, to be thought of as proud, uppity. To lose friends, to break free from all that's familiar. The vision for better has to be more powerful than what you see around you, and worth the sacrifices. <br /><br />A friend is a community college research librarian. She taught an "academic success" class for challenged students. One was a young, single mom. This lady wanted to become a nurse, but baby sitting was a problem. Her family and friends didn't come to bat, they discouraged her from the effort needed to plow through. They wanted her to stay with them. "It's so much easier being on welfare, why beat yourself up over this?" My friend offered to watch the baby and tried to encourage her to continue. But she dropped out.<br /><br />How do you give people a vision for better, so they want to master the life skills they'll need?Olivianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927652976660901418.post-26619083279538181602010-11-10T19:27:48.570-08:002010-11-10T19:27:48.570-08:00Michael, sorry to hear that. It can be extremely ...Michael, sorry to hear that. It can be extremely tough to accept the choices made by those we love but as long as there is breath there is hope.<br /><br />Practical Parsimony, your experience always adds value insight to the conversation. Appreciate the perspective!Carolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927652976660901418.post-77787962968335473442010-11-10T07:27:50.974-08:002010-11-10T07:27:50.974-08:00Life 101. Good term.
My son will be getting out o...Life 101. Good term.<br /><br />My son will be getting out of prison in a few months. He's 27. He's been in prison since 15. Off and on that is. I call it a life sentence under the installment plan.<br /><br />I would give my life for him to learn basic concepts about practical living, but it proves too difficult.Michael Crosbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18268340117689769650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927652976660901418.post-57533434287879481722010-11-09T22:35:22.915-08:002010-11-09T22:35:22.915-08:00I worked as a GED teacher in the community room of...I worked as a GED teacher in the community room of an apartment complex comprised of mostly welfare occupants--Section 8. A grant of $1 million was obtained to figure out how to get people off welfare. Some of the occupants were in their 70s and 80s, had children in mid 50 to 60s, grandchildren in 30s and 40s and great grandchildren in teens to 20s, then a generation of babies. We had catered, mandatory luncheon meetings where a PhD psychologist making $200 and hour talked to us, brainstorming about getting all generations involved, coming to computer room (state of the art), and generally he pondered why the occupants would not come to the door when he or his female companion went alone or together.<br /><br />I ventured to remark that maybe it was too late to change the older groups, that maybe we should concentrate our efforts and resources on the ones in the children. He sort of waved me off and went to the next scheme. After six months of abject failure, he found the solution--don't waste effort on the older ones who were entrenched in welfare and learned helplessness; concentrate on the youth. <br /><br />This welfare apartment complex was immaculate, quiet, the grounds were tended to regularly with shrubs and trees. All apartments were repainted every year, whether you like it or not. Garbage in the streets was not allowed. The laundry room was immaculate. The owners were millionares and really cared about their occupants. <br /><br />Only the young, twenty and under showed up for the activities were they could receive any Life 101 encouragement. Strangely, these were the people who needed help the least. But, they learned more about how to navigate the world to their benefit.<br /><br />Lovely surroundings, well kept apartments, caring owners, lots of green on the grounds, and computers at their disposal had no impact on those entrenched in the welfare system. <br /><br />I considered GED a mission and opposed racism and intolerance of any kind in my classroom. So, I too am concerned with the well-being and nurturing of people who may not have had a chance.<br /><br />I must say that even the poor "deserve" pop and chips. But, we should all eat junk food in moderation. However, I saw a food stamp recipient last week who filled two grocery carts. Everything was mac and cheese, cookies, lunch meat with sodium, Lunchables, potted meat, cases of coke, dips, Little Debbie's--just a nutritional mess. Only a gallon of milk and a cut of steak could be considered nutritious and not detrimental to health. There were no fresh fruits and vegetables. I actually became queasy looking at all that food.Practical Parsimonyhttp://www.practical-parsimony.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com