A 35 year-old mother caring for her three children with special needs.

[The author’s household includes herself and her three children ages 12, 10 and eight. The author’s husband is living temporarily out-of-state.]

1. HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT

We get some food stamps and SSI—some work source assistance, a grant—but it stopped in January of 2002! Yeah, my husband got a job and is currently in boot camp out of state. It’s AIT [Advanced Individual Training] training for a few more months.

I have to supervise my children all the time. They are special needs. One child is suicidal and has eating disorders. I need a break! They need constant supervision and when I am done I just want to sleep!

No other resources. Most parents do not understand the disabilities and there is no respite.

I receive some housing assistance through HUD [Housing and Urban Development]—partial rent. We don’t have childcare assistance.

All three kids need different types of food for medication [i.e., compatibility] and medical reasons and for [a] family of five, $45.00 to $35.00 a month [in food stamps] isn’t enough to cover their basics.

Compared to two years ago, supporting my household today is in some ways worse, in other ways better. I wrote easier because if you people didn’t help out I wouldn’t know where to turn for help supporting my family in medical care and food care.

Compared to two years ago, supporting my household today easier.

Two children are ADHD and one has seizures plus ODD [Oppositional Defiance Disorder]/ADHD. We’re unable to receive medication because sometimes it makes it worse—and one has a[n] eating disorder.

The kids are in three different schools. One in 7^th grade is on [an] individual education plan ’cause of her learning disability; daughter #2 has a learning disability but she received an award from Young American’s Digest for poetry!! I didn’t even know she did that, but she has behavioral problems. My son is eight years-old. He has seizure disorders and ADHD/ODD ’cause he was kicked in the head by a horse as a two year-old. He suffered brain damage and is in special education classes.

Mostly, they are mostly physically healthy. Sean has bad tooth decay and one daughter has a[n] eating disorder.

Compared to two years ago, the general well-being of my children is worse.

I’m not able to return to school because of [the] children’s needs. Sometimes there’s a shortage of the proper kinds of foods for the kid’s diets, not enough money to go around, so we substitute where we can. But all of our medications are paid for so that’s a good thing.

I have trouble with transportation because I depend on the bus service and you can spend forever on the bus here. My kids go to three different schools!

I get child support and SSI to help with basic needs, but the father is not dependable. Our medical coverage is helpful—three of us get Medicaid and two get Columbia United Providers—it’s a local coverage or insurance.

Compared to two years ago, my family’s ability to meet its basic needs is better.

Our housing is not really a problem. The housing is in good condition. The neighborhood is safe and close to transportation. The only thing is the bedrooms’ sizes is too small. They are shared and they’re just too small.

Compared to two years ago, my housing is better.

I’d say it’s worse than two years ago. I feel exhausted and frustrated. The way I feel really affects my parenting because if I don’t get enough rest, I take things out on the kids and I just don’t want to do that. I wish they’d cooperate! I’m going to counseling and all the kids are in counseling. I’d like to attend an ADHD [class] with my husband but he’s gone. We need to go to see what the ADHD child goes through—try to understand them, figure out why they are doing what they are doing. Children should come with instructions!

Compared to two years ago, my emotional well-being is worse.

The last time I worked was in 1993. I tried working with a baby and a two year-old and thought, ‘this isn’t working!’ My husband had to work graveyard and I was sometimes too tired to properly supervise the two year-old. Then I’d drink coffee to stay awake and get too wired to sleep!

Right now, I’m unemployed. My current husband is employed, but out of state in training. I’m on SSI and so are two of my kids.

I don’t think the scale of better or worse applies to me. I’m currently unemployed.

Compared to two years ago, the salaries and benefits of the job I have now are: scale does not apply.

Your community or neighborhood of residence: Orchards, WA

Gender: Female

Last year of school completed: 10^th grade

GED:

Race:

Ethnicity:

Does your partner, spouse or co-parent live in the household? Yes

Do you currently receive any cash public assistance (TANF)? No

Manner in which story was originally given: Dictated and Written by author