A 27-year-old mother working for a bank, living with her spouse and two children in Norwalk, CT.

Job Training
It was a very good experience. I think it prepared me much better for an interview. It taught me how to act, and what questions to ask and answer during an interview. It also help[ed] me better prepare myself for the future. I think that this job training was great and truly hope it continues to help other people prepare for their future.

Have you received job training recently? Yes

Employment
I saw the ad in the newspaper for Summit Bank. I thought it would be a great opportunity for me. I called the next day. I was called for an interview the following day. I was told I had a job during my interview. I asked all the important questions as far as medical plans, benefits, salary, etc. When I realized the great benefits they had (including 401K and retirement), I said to myself this is great. Another thing was the fact that they explained how they knew that it was hard having children, but that they understood, which is why after just three month[s] of employment they offer what they call P.T.O., which is paid-time-off, and it is for in case the kids get sick or etc.

Have you gotten a new job, increased work hours or earnings in the recent past? Yes

Child Care
At this time, I don’t have any problems as far as child care. My fiancée works nights so he is home during the day to watch my son and my daughter when she gets home from school.

Have you received child care assistance to help you get to work? No

Transportation
Even though I just financed a new car, it is very hard to own a car. I mean you can make $1600 a month, but after the government charges you for stuff you don’t really know about, you can pretty much say that your income is $1000. It only takes me about fifteen minutes to get to work on good days, but on bad days it can take me up to ½ hr to forty minutes. And this is just taking Route 135 from Norwalk to Darien.

Do you have adequate transportation to get to and from work? Yes

Health
My health and my children’s health are okay.

Do you and your family have a regular doctor who normally provides care? Yes

Health Care
My health is okay, the same as my children. But one thing I dislike is the fact that your insurance company gets to choose what medications you should take. You pay so much money a month for insurance and when your doctor prescribes a medication your insurance company denies to pay for it. What gives them the right? Should we just call them instead of our doctor?

Do you now have health insurance of any kind (including Medicaid)? Yes

Additional information?
I want the government to realize that some people don’t choose to be on welfare, they just have to and it’s not fair that they give people only twenty-one month[s] of help. I understand that people should work, but then the government should help with child care. What’s the sense of me making $1600 a month (before taxes), if I have to spend $500-600 per child a month on just daycare? Welfare is not free money. It’s money, that sometime in the past when we did [work], they took the money out of our paychecks. I’m not saying that it’s okay for people to stay home and live on welfare, but when it comes down to it, what does welfare give you? Nothing. Before I went to work, I had two children and was only getting $600, and $116 for food stamps. I mean come on. Do you really expect people to get by on this? What are you complaining about? You say that welfare this and welfare that, and that we mothers do nothing well, ‘Hello Mr. President, being a mother is the biggest job in the world.’ We are everything from teacher, to cook, to beautician, to doctor. We don’t just stay home and watch soap operas. We clean. We cook. We take our children to the doctors. You complain about this ‘welfare’ money. What about the real stupid things you spend money on, like the President and Monica thing. You had this air on TV [and] on [the] newspaper, that there [is] personal life, and we had to pay for it out of our own pocket. Do you really think this is fair? Besides out of all the money you take out of checks, how much of it really goes to welfare-1%? Where [is] the rest-on guns to kill other people?

Last question: I expect things for myself and my family to [No response].

Demographics:
Author’s community or neighborhood of residence: Norwalk, CT
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Last year of school completed: 1994, 12 grade
Race: Hispanic
Number of own children at home: 2
Household size: 2 Children; 2 Adults
Does Author’s partner or spouse live in the household? Yes
Author’s gross cash earnings for previous calendar month: $1,600
Does Author currently receive any cash public assistance or welfare? No
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