I actually had the perfect movie for this blog but unfortunetly is not a women but a men, The pursuit of Happiness, however as I reflected a bit more I realized that North Country is the perfect match to the discussion of poverty and urban poverty. The main character which is played by Charlize Theron plays a working mother that strives to survive in a "man" job and is willing to do anything to stick to her job due to the fact that is the only means of support she has. Everyone takes advantage of her due to her not wanting to refuse the only income she has. Through her struggles she is constantly accused of being "white trash" and is a dilema of what to get her kids even if she does not have as much money as she wishes she had.Throughout the movie there are seen that you just wish to be there and comfort her but there is nothing to do. The main character also deals with issues of not getting out of being poor regardless of the money she earns/saves. It seems as if there is no way change the situation she is in.
It is important to emphasize in the cycle that is discussed in Chaundry and in the videos. Trying to live paycheck by paycheck is another issue in the film. Not havings support from co-workers not only makes it harder but it also makes it imposible to at least try to accept all the difficulties there are. This film is an example that although you work it really does not mean that you can have the necessities as the “hole in the pocket” video stated you will end up in more debt trying to get out of poverty. Which is why that all movies related to issues of women and work relate to either being abused or harassed or being sought to be women that end up marrying rich and there goes a happy ending for example Maid in Manhattan by Jennifer Lopez, she is in a way forced to become a maid at a hotel in order to support her daughter and mother, but one day she meets prince charming and everything changes. The reality is quite the opposite. Women need the support of others and society. There is a need to depict the social responsibility we have to help the poor and especially the poor children.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
blog 10
One of the most significant pieces of legislation that affected working low income or poor mothers was passed in 1996 by President Bill Clinton, which was the Welfare Reform, known as well as the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 . The program no longer consisted in just getting help those that inquire the help had work or start working after the two years of help.There was a set of limit put as well of 5 years for federally paid benefits. Although the intentions were in a way good there was not a looking telescope to see beyond the struggles that would bring these recipients. The lack of planning in my opinion from the government put a larger strain in the poverty percentage in the United States.
Chanudry's book states that mothers had to adapt to the new "rules".Women had to accept these rules and not only accept these rules but also find ways to adapt to them. Chaundry discusses that “mother spend and inordinate amount of time locating affordable and accessible child care..” Mothers also spend time trying to manage the home, and finding ways of transportation. Chaundry says that the way mother that were in welfare,their image, has changed. “Mothers adapted their changing strategies to the changing context of their work” (Chaundry,179) Al l of the cases explored had a relation with child care and the struggles that work came with. Many mother had struggles to either give more importance to something such as child care or work.
I often have to do the same. I have to choose the days that I can work because I know my husband can take care of my son. If I had no one then it would really difficult. The Reform Act seems as if is a legislation to see how the strongest fish in the water is. When it is suppose to provide more support and assistance. I understand the cost must be high of having a welfare program with out reformation, but then another issue arises. What really is causing poverty? There are greater issues to worry about than the cost to help women or men that are raising children in poverty. It seems as we are giving more value to the economic interests than to the humanitarian causes and interest. It is why is so important to reflect on the recommendations that Chaundry critiques and recommends that the Government should increase funding for children's programs and some sort of change in policy which takes into account single mothers in today's working world. Chaundry insistently makes a calling to society to help break barrier and the cycle of poverty which make cycles by making an easier way to cut these cycles by making things a less bit complicated not just for those receiving assistance but for those passing policy by coordinating ways in which anyone can come across programs that will help children. President Clinton tried but now after years have passed by and poverty increasing it is wise to say that there is a need not for a reform but for more programs that are to benefit not only working poor women but the community. It is necessary to also teach the community of these issues because if no one talks about them there might be lost. Someone in the community might be helpful and beneficial towards the betterment of society and the poor.
There is doubt that in order for mothers to work and be independent they need help not just financially but the major role being child care. “all eligible income families should be served equally without the added complications…”There really no need to complicate the lifes of those that need help in the first place. It is hard enough for some of them to ask for assistance but there are other that this reform has been a wakeup call to change their ways and become more responsible. Either way there is a need of a more sustainable type of care for the working poor. Chaundry in a way challenges the norm of just looking at the defects of the poor but actually making a call to do something about it because we are all responsible
Chanudry's book states that mothers had to adapt to the new "rules".Women had to accept these rules and not only accept these rules but also find ways to adapt to them. Chaundry discusses that “mother spend and inordinate amount of time locating affordable and accessible child care..” Mothers also spend time trying to manage the home, and finding ways of transportation. Chaundry says that the way mother that were in welfare,their image, has changed. “Mothers adapted their changing strategies to the changing context of their work” (Chaundry,179) Al l of the cases explored had a relation with child care and the struggles that work came with. Many mother had struggles to either give more importance to something such as child care or work.
I often have to do the same. I have to choose the days that I can work because I know my husband can take care of my son. If I had no one then it would really difficult. The Reform Act seems as if is a legislation to see how the strongest fish in the water is. When it is suppose to provide more support and assistance. I understand the cost must be high of having a welfare program with out reformation, but then another issue arises. What really is causing poverty? There are greater issues to worry about than the cost to help women or men that are raising children in poverty. It seems as we are giving more value to the economic interests than to the humanitarian causes and interest. It is why is so important to reflect on the recommendations that Chaundry critiques and recommends that the Government should increase funding for children's programs and some sort of change in policy which takes into account single mothers in today's working world. Chaundry insistently makes a calling to society to help break barrier and the cycle of poverty which make cycles by making an easier way to cut these cycles by making things a less bit complicated not just for those receiving assistance but for those passing policy by coordinating ways in which anyone can come across programs that will help children. President Clinton tried but now after years have passed by and poverty increasing it is wise to say that there is a need not for a reform but for more programs that are to benefit not only working poor women but the community. It is necessary to also teach the community of these issues because if no one talks about them there might be lost. Someone in the community might be helpful and beneficial towards the betterment of society and the poor.
There is doubt that in order for mothers to work and be independent they need help not just financially but the major role being child care. “all eligible income families should be served equally without the added complications…”There really no need to complicate the lifes of those that need help in the first place. It is hard enough for some of them to ask for assistance but there are other that this reform has been a wakeup call to change their ways and become more responsible. Either way there is a need of a more sustainable type of care for the working poor. Chaundry in a way challenges the norm of just looking at the defects of the poor but actually making a call to do something about it because we are all responsible
blog 9
In this blog I will try to discuss the relationship between the working poor womens condition and children in poverty. It is fairly easy to understand in my opinion. Those children that are born into a family that is poor tend to live in adversity and poverty. The lack of help or reform due by the government has not helped but put a strain in the working mothers of America. Instead of asking for aid or help in order to get any mother are now struggling to get little and maybe not the necessary to provide for their children.
The charts from the National Center for Children in Poverty demonstrated that children in America are the same as working poor women, a majority are black, Latino and American Indian and Asian; they are minorities. I was courious to know about children in poverty in Arizona and it was about the same characteristics except that native Americans being the highest then Hispanics, blacks, Asians and at the lastly whites making only 10 %. It was interesting to know some of the facts about children with immigrant parents whether they are documented or undocumented. Children are at a higher risk of being and continuing being poor. I guess some factors would be instability to keep a job due to language, legal status, or resource. I find this very interesting because this is another factor government should take a look at next time an immigration reform or anything of the sort is looked at these numbers should resonate 47% of our state and 26% nationally are poor children of immigrant parents.
Inadequacy in measurement is causing a huge impact on poor families. Due to the 1950s, families spend about a third of their income on food. This measure has become the grounds for measurement which frankly is past due date.
The solutions is to give tax credits to parents , raise minimum wage, and give parents sick days off as well as more benefits. The article states that “Policies such as earned income tax credits and regular increases in the minimum wage are critical to supporting income growth for low-wage workers. These workers also need access to benefits that higher-wage earners take for granted, such as health insurance and paid sick leave”. It is important that parents do not feel that they can not get sick or be with there sick children they should have some security at least in their jobs. The article also suggests to “Support parents and their young children”
The article goes on to say that“… children need nurturing families and quality early learning experiences. Investments in preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds are just as critical. High-quality early childhood experiences can go a long way toward closing the achievement gap between poor children and their more well-off peers”
Chaundry also suggest the same. There is a need of more support “We could replace welfare with more supports and opportunities for children…”. We just need to give importance to this issue and do something about it not just give help but ask more in return.
The charts from the National Center for Children in Poverty demonstrated that children in America are the same as working poor women, a majority are black, Latino and American Indian and Asian; they are minorities. I was courious to know about children in poverty in Arizona and it was about the same characteristics except that native Americans being the highest then Hispanics, blacks, Asians and at the lastly whites making only 10 %. It was interesting to know some of the facts about children with immigrant parents whether they are documented or undocumented. Children are at a higher risk of being and continuing being poor. I guess some factors would be instability to keep a job due to language, legal status, or resource. I find this very interesting because this is another factor government should take a look at next time an immigration reform or anything of the sort is looked at these numbers should resonate 47% of our state and 26% nationally are poor children of immigrant parents.
Inadequacy in measurement is causing a huge impact on poor families. Due to the 1950s, families spend about a third of their income on food. This measure has become the grounds for measurement which frankly is past due date.
The solutions is to give tax credits to parents , raise minimum wage, and give parents sick days off as well as more benefits. The article states that “Policies such as earned income tax credits and regular increases in the minimum wage are critical to supporting income growth for low-wage workers. These workers also need access to benefits that higher-wage earners take for granted, such as health insurance and paid sick leave”. It is important that parents do not feel that they can not get sick or be with there sick children they should have some security at least in their jobs. The article also suggests to “Support parents and their young children”
The article goes on to say that“… children need nurturing families and quality early learning experiences. Investments in preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds are just as critical. High-quality early childhood experiences can go a long way toward closing the achievement gap between poor children and their more well-off peers”
Chaundry also suggest the same. There is a need of more support “We could replace welfare with more supports and opportunities for children…”. We just need to give importance to this issue and do something about it not just give help but ask more in return.
blog 8
Urban poverty creates more depressing outcomes for children and their family living there. Urban poverty leads to joblessness that leads in particulary single mothers that will have to deal with all the obstacles of not having a desecent support partner and being in an environment that does not help them toward achieving any ideals. Urban poverty leads to a lesser quality of life and in some way no hope to make it better. It is not the fact that they (mothers,fathers) are not working had enough to provide good health care,education, etc to their children it is just they environment that does not help out either. Job flexibility is also a huge issue. A balance is somewhat drawn upon families. Father or mothers are ask to choose their job or going to pick up their sick children from school. If there sick (parents or children) they have to pay out of their pockets and lose days of work. There is really no security or ways of advancing towards a better future.
This issue hits home a bit more. I was raised in the bay area. In particulary Oakland,California. My parents were making good enough money to give me all that I needed. However the environment was not a very suitable place to grow up. I was fortunate I had the resources to actually go to schools that were a bit more competing than the ones in my neighboorhod. However I saw many of my friends from my neighboorhod struggle with everyday things. It was hard for me to see that. I sort of saw this when I could not go outside and play because I didn’t know if I could get shot by gangsters, I saw the drug use, prostitution and kids getting jumped close by home as well as being. My mother worried a lot. Although my father was making enough money for us to live with everything we needed, he still worried for our safety and it did become an issue at some point. I can really relate to the urban poverty. I really don’t think I had a childhood where I could go outside and play in order for my siblings to feel like we were somewhere pleasant to play my parents took my siblings and I out to San Francisco pier or to close by towns where it was “safer” to play with my siblings. One of the reasons we moved to Arizona was precisely the issue of safety and education. Transportation does get costly in the Bay Area as well as everything else. In order to go to good and safe schools I had to travel and I got home late. This was a bit nerve wrecking for my mother. Being a women and walking by myself it was just not something my mother wanted to deal with. My mother wanted the for us (all her kids) to get the best of my education as well of my other siblings which is why we moved. It was hard adapting but I know it was for the best. When I moved to Arizona on that week I found out that more than 85 teens from my neighborhood got killed due to being mistaken by other gang members or because they were selling drugs. Not to long ago this past Wednesday I just heard one of my friends from middle school got killed.Stories like these can go on. It is not that these people are bad. It is simple the environment that they live in. I tend to stop and think every time I hear someone that was once so close to me dies or gets killed. I can not imagine the future generations that are now growing up in urban poverty It seems as an issue of inequality and injustice that as a society we allow this to happen. That many children are living in poverty and we turn our heads away from them and from the lack of help these young individuals need as well as the support their parents need.
It is unjust to not offer any help. I think I have experienced wealth as well as poverty. My parents tried everything to keep me away from the suffering of poverty even though they had to live through it. My father an immigrant farm worker and later shifted to so many job positions juggling family and trying to learn a new language to bring more food to the table. My mother a hard working a woman that has battled to give her children a genuine encouragement to have aspirations and goals in life. As an adult however I have experienced in some way poverty. Trying to juggle school, and intern, and a part time job, and being a mother and wife. The only thing that keeps me going is that my child will not hopefully live through this poverty that I might be going through instead be in mixed income neighborhood due to my near graduation and hopefully more stable and dependable job.
Although I don’t worry as much any more this class has made me realize my moral obligation to change the way some are living. Especially those that are still living in urban poverty. My personal situation plays an exceptional role in my motivation to not just help myself get out of this cycle but I am now thinking of doing something with other women I personally know in order to break this sort of glass ceiling called urban poverty by setting up a day to help each other with basic needs or give each other information realted to family,education,job opportunities, and nutritional help, it is still in the making but hopefully it will hopefully prosper into something beneficial to some.
This issue hits home a bit more. I was raised in the bay area. In particulary Oakland,California. My parents were making good enough money to give me all that I needed. However the environment was not a very suitable place to grow up. I was fortunate I had the resources to actually go to schools that were a bit more competing than the ones in my neighboorhod. However I saw many of my friends from my neighboorhod struggle with everyday things. It was hard for me to see that. I sort of saw this when I could not go outside and play because I didn’t know if I could get shot by gangsters, I saw the drug use, prostitution and kids getting jumped close by home as well as being. My mother worried a lot. Although my father was making enough money for us to live with everything we needed, he still worried for our safety and it did become an issue at some point. I can really relate to the urban poverty. I really don’t think I had a childhood where I could go outside and play in order for my siblings to feel like we were somewhere pleasant to play my parents took my siblings and I out to San Francisco pier or to close by towns where it was “safer” to play with my siblings. One of the reasons we moved to Arizona was precisely the issue of safety and education. Transportation does get costly in the Bay Area as well as everything else. In order to go to good and safe schools I had to travel and I got home late. This was a bit nerve wrecking for my mother. Being a women and walking by myself it was just not something my mother wanted to deal with. My mother wanted the for us (all her kids) to get the best of my education as well of my other siblings which is why we moved. It was hard adapting but I know it was for the best. When I moved to Arizona on that week I found out that more than 85 teens from my neighborhood got killed due to being mistaken by other gang members or because they were selling drugs. Not to long ago this past Wednesday I just heard one of my friends from middle school got killed.Stories like these can go on. It is not that these people are bad. It is simple the environment that they live in. I tend to stop and think every time I hear someone that was once so close to me dies or gets killed. I can not imagine the future generations that are now growing up in urban poverty It seems as an issue of inequality and injustice that as a society we allow this to happen. That many children are living in poverty and we turn our heads away from them and from the lack of help these young individuals need as well as the support their parents need.
It is unjust to not offer any help. I think I have experienced wealth as well as poverty. My parents tried everything to keep me away from the suffering of poverty even though they had to live through it. My father an immigrant farm worker and later shifted to so many job positions juggling family and trying to learn a new language to bring more food to the table. My mother a hard working a woman that has battled to give her children a genuine encouragement to have aspirations and goals in life. As an adult however I have experienced in some way poverty. Trying to juggle school, and intern, and a part time job, and being a mother and wife. The only thing that keeps me going is that my child will not hopefully live through this poverty that I might be going through instead be in mixed income neighborhood due to my near graduation and hopefully more stable and dependable job.
Although I don’t worry as much any more this class has made me realize my moral obligation to change the way some are living. Especially those that are still living in urban poverty. My personal situation plays an exceptional role in my motivation to not just help myself get out of this cycle but I am now thinking of doing something with other women I personally know in order to break this sort of glass ceiling called urban poverty by setting up a day to help each other with basic needs or give each other information realted to family,education,job opportunities, and nutritional help, it is still in the making but hopefully it will hopefully prosper into something beneficial to some.
Blog 7
The story of Julia and and Jaqueline starts by letting the reader know their living experience. Jaqueline a mother of 3 and her new born baby girl Julia. She had been constantly changing from place to place from one shelter home to another. Always relaying on some type of assistance from food to shelter. She mentions that due to lack of information she did not do finger printing and lost her food assistance and went starving for almost months. Jaqueline stated that when she and her children were starving reality hit her and she wanted to do something with her life. So she went back to college. However time got tough after breaking up with her husband and she needed another job plus the internship she was doing. She had to drop out for a while form college to get to work and at the same time quit her job at a local burger joint or else she would loose her PA benefits. Trying to succeed she continued with her new internship but the help or for better words the lack of help she was getting from public assistance made her pay more that what she was suppose to in order for the provider to keep her in mind. The public assistant or how was in charge kept “messing up” She says. They would kept messing up the payments to the provider and pay them late or not at all.She then had to put some of her money into the child care assistance that was intentionally made to help her not give the little she made. She was later cut off all benefits because they found out she was working a bit more.
It is essential to understand that just because someone is getting paid minimum wage does not precisely mean they can make it above the mean. It simple means they can only have some resources available for them . Minimum wage jobs add to the poor working women ability to find and maintain stable child care and make a better living only deceitfulness. It is not just a salary to make it through the day but a salary to barely have the essentials. It only brings instability and not stability. It seems as if one works at minimum wage nothing really changes at least financially better yet it strains and incapacitates. If there was a salary increase it might work but as long as minimum wage exist it seems that we will all go about thinking that if one earns a little bit more than what minimum wage is someone might think that person can survive. Why would the government set a minimum wage if they have not research what is above poverty line and what type of wage would be the ideal wage to go above the poverty line..
The video “7 Days at the Minimum Wage” those being interviewed talked about having to work long hours or multiple jobs and feeling like they could never get ahead . The tone of their voce was just simple sad and depressing to hear that they were saying they really do not really on ever advancing. It is difficult to see these videos because one way or another I know someone in the same case and it just makes me realize that they will never overcome this glass ceiling and go beyond it. There really is a need for a typr of minimum wage reform or assistance to low income mothers other than imposing programs to go and work but also help them with everyday things they need.
It is essential to understand that just because someone is getting paid minimum wage does not precisely mean they can make it above the mean. It simple means they can only have some resources available for them . Minimum wage jobs add to the poor working women ability to find and maintain stable child care and make a better living only deceitfulness. It is not just a salary to make it through the day but a salary to barely have the essentials. It only brings instability and not stability. It seems as if one works at minimum wage nothing really changes at least financially better yet it strains and incapacitates. If there was a salary increase it might work but as long as minimum wage exist it seems that we will all go about thinking that if one earns a little bit more than what minimum wage is someone might think that person can survive. Why would the government set a minimum wage if they have not research what is above poverty line and what type of wage would be the ideal wage to go above the poverty line..
The video “7 Days at the Minimum Wage” those being interviewed talked about having to work long hours or multiple jobs and feeling like they could never get ahead . The tone of their voce was just simple sad and depressing to hear that they were saying they really do not really on ever advancing. It is difficult to see these videos because one way or another I know someone in the same case and it just makes me realize that they will never overcome this glass ceiling and go beyond it. There really is a need for a typr of minimum wage reform or assistance to low income mothers other than imposing programs to go and work but also help them with everyday things they need.
Blog 6
Chaundy presents various type child care choices working low income mothers use. Among the most popular are kin, household or center based, and family based care (pg45,34).In the second chapter of the book we are presented with the story of Brittany and Bethany. Chaundry states the she used a type of patch work care which is simply using a type of care at the time and then changing it when another resource is presented.Brittany first used Bethany’s uncle then his father. In order to save money or time to be with her daughter.
Some of the care options “were not ideal, however, in terms of these relatives’ commitment to being care providers, the location, or their long-term availability.” (Chaudry,35) I think however, that is more than just saving money or the hassle is more of need. These women work with what they have not because they are being picky. Although it may seem like it at first because of the many changes in child care but I know first hand that these mothers are trying their best to have some peace of mind when working for their children.
As a working mother and student it has been really helpful all the support that my parents have given me from the start. I did not have the resources to look for a child care facility to take care of my son. Growing up in a household in which my mother was a housewife I personally never experience the child care atmosphere. In the beginging I did think of getting assistance with child care but my mother insisted in helping me out. Being close from school but far from work she has made my life a bit easier. She has taken care of my son as if he is her own. She provides all the care he needs and helps out a great deal. My siblings have helped as well. Having a background in education I know the importance of a child development. I have provided my mother with educational videos,books, and activities to help my son cognitive development. However it is all in Spanish. It worries me at times because knowing and working for a brief time as a research assistant in the speech and hearing department at ASU I noticed that children with bilingual backgrounds tend to be slower in speech. Not in understanding it but in verbally expressing it. It has occurred with my son. He has delayed in speech but is really advancing in sign language which I tend to be ok with but like any mother I worry if he is getting all he needs. I still do not complain about the help I get from my mother and father. I really don’t run into personal conflicts with her, I don’t worry about how much to give her, I am always certain that he is taken good care of maybe even better care than I give him and more attention being the first grandson. Chaudry presents a very interesting table 2.2 “The Grounded Model of Child Care Choices” where supply factors such as; costs and demand factors such as; child, mother, household care, all contribute,to the choices mothers make when choosing a type of care. (Chaundry 41,42).
Another important factor that I look at is babysitting vs. nurturing. I think this is of great importance to me. I personally as discussed in the begiging I was thinking of putting my son in a child care facility however after speaking with my mother I realized that it was not going to be the same. I wanted my son to be nurtured and taken care of as if he did not have to feel I was leaving him for long periods of hours. I wanted him to grow in an environment that he felt loved. I am not saying other centers will no provide the help but I know the focus of attention would not be him. This is why I decide on my mother, I never really knew that she was going to be of soo much help as she has become.
From previous child development classes that I took as a sophomore in college I saw the effects of child care in children and also the lack of quality child care. I examined the numbers of the cost of a good child care facility and even observed some of the children of a good standing child care facility. I never realized that two years later I had to think deeper and beyond child care options. I have not explored child care and the research on what the government is doing to help low income mothers/child care providers as I have for these blogs and assignments with sincerity. It was truly shocking to see how the ARC (Applied Research Center) there is a large increase in the number of caregivers who are unlicensed. For the begingin of my college career I wanted to become a teacher due to my family history in teaching; my dad, my uncles, and my grandpa. However I never really paid attention to the needs of mothers as of now. I worked a number of years for the Mesa Public School Community Center for an after school program. This program was on site of the school and once children got out of class they could go to the center which was located in one of the schools classroom where they would have some time to be taken care of, have time to do homework, play and then have a snack. The time for pick up was 6 p.m sharp. This was convenient for parents. Most of them worked it was just the rite time. They did not have to worry about homework because their kids had done it or maybe snacks. However the pay was pretty expensive however there were some scholarships and grants the district gave out which was convenient for those parents that needed it. Well after rambling off I wanted to get out of this that this is needed a national help to assist working mothers beyond the help that they are already getting.
There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child, it is certainly true. There is a need for being preoccupied for mothers that are struggling to make ends meet. The answer is not just giving them partial help and let them figure it out however they can. It is a necessarily to go beyond and help mothers become supportive and independent individuals. We have to stop bird feeding mothers. Giving them only a little and making them figure out a way to get the next bite. If the government really wants to help the working poor mothers they should really help them by providing everything at once not little by little because precious time is at risk. The enough time it takes for our children to grow in poverty and difficulty.
Some of the care options “were not ideal, however, in terms of these relatives’ commitment to being care providers, the location, or their long-term availability.” (Chaudry,35) I think however, that is more than just saving money or the hassle is more of need. These women work with what they have not because they are being picky. Although it may seem like it at first because of the many changes in child care but I know first hand that these mothers are trying their best to have some peace of mind when working for their children.
As a working mother and student it has been really helpful all the support that my parents have given me from the start. I did not have the resources to look for a child care facility to take care of my son. Growing up in a household in which my mother was a housewife I personally never experience the child care atmosphere. In the beginging I did think of getting assistance with child care but my mother insisted in helping me out. Being close from school but far from work she has made my life a bit easier. She has taken care of my son as if he is her own. She provides all the care he needs and helps out a great deal. My siblings have helped as well. Having a background in education I know the importance of a child development. I have provided my mother with educational videos,books, and activities to help my son cognitive development. However it is all in Spanish. It worries me at times because knowing and working for a brief time as a research assistant in the speech and hearing department at ASU I noticed that children with bilingual backgrounds tend to be slower in speech. Not in understanding it but in verbally expressing it. It has occurred with my son. He has delayed in speech but is really advancing in sign language which I tend to be ok with but like any mother I worry if he is getting all he needs. I still do not complain about the help I get from my mother and father. I really don’t run into personal conflicts with her, I don’t worry about how much to give her, I am always certain that he is taken good care of maybe even better care than I give him and more attention being the first grandson. Chaudry presents a very interesting table 2.2 “The Grounded Model of Child Care Choices” where supply factors such as; costs and demand factors such as; child, mother, household care, all contribute,to the choices mothers make when choosing a type of care. (Chaundry 41,42).
Another important factor that I look at is babysitting vs. nurturing. I think this is of great importance to me. I personally as discussed in the begiging I was thinking of putting my son in a child care facility however after speaking with my mother I realized that it was not going to be the same. I wanted my son to be nurtured and taken care of as if he did not have to feel I was leaving him for long periods of hours. I wanted him to grow in an environment that he felt loved. I am not saying other centers will no provide the help but I know the focus of attention would not be him. This is why I decide on my mother, I never really knew that she was going to be of soo much help as she has become.
From previous child development classes that I took as a sophomore in college I saw the effects of child care in children and also the lack of quality child care. I examined the numbers of the cost of a good child care facility and even observed some of the children of a good standing child care facility. I never realized that two years later I had to think deeper and beyond child care options. I have not explored child care and the research on what the government is doing to help low income mothers/child care providers as I have for these blogs and assignments with sincerity. It was truly shocking to see how the ARC (Applied Research Center) there is a large increase in the number of caregivers who are unlicensed. For the begingin of my college career I wanted to become a teacher due to my family history in teaching; my dad, my uncles, and my grandpa. However I never really paid attention to the needs of mothers as of now. I worked a number of years for the Mesa Public School Community Center for an after school program. This program was on site of the school and once children got out of class they could go to the center which was located in one of the schools classroom where they would have some time to be taken care of, have time to do homework, play and then have a snack. The time for pick up was 6 p.m sharp. This was convenient for parents. Most of them worked it was just the rite time. They did not have to worry about homework because their kids had done it or maybe snacks. However the pay was pretty expensive however there were some scholarships and grants the district gave out which was convenient for those parents that needed it. Well after rambling off I wanted to get out of this that this is needed a national help to assist working mothers beyond the help that they are already getting.
There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child, it is certainly true. There is a need for being preoccupied for mothers that are struggling to make ends meet. The answer is not just giving them partial help and let them figure it out however they can. It is a necessarily to go beyond and help mothers become supportive and independent individuals. We have to stop bird feeding mothers. Giving them only a little and making them figure out a way to get the next bite. If the government really wants to help the working poor mothers they should really help them by providing everything at once not little by little because precious time is at risk. The enough time it takes for our children to grow in poverty and difficulty.
Blog 5
Chandry book “Putting Children First” states that “we are asking the least fortunate to strive work harder, we are deeply discounting our public responsibility for the children born into poor families and disadvantaged communities”due to welfare reform laws that not only encourage needy mothers to work but cut down on public assistance by in some way giving something but cutting back on some other assistance. It was truly shocking to hear the responses of people that were interviewed regarding what was their definition of the working poor. The most bizarre answer that I found in a way even insulting to those that are the working poor was a comment done by a young lady. She said that the working poor are simply those people that did not think ahead in having a family and got married to young and did not know exactly what they were doing and now they have to in someway live through the consequences or choices they made. I find this answer changed by different types of words but given the same meaning in the actions that the government does in trying to “fix” the this problem of poverty. Chaundry seems to point out to the reader that the government thinks that by making mothers work they will eventually crawl up from the gutter and be well off without their help. The women interviewed in the book seem that all have had the same problem lack of support from not just the government but by those imposed by the government to help. If some of the videos if not some stated a inclination of awareness to all that everyone is responsible for the well being of mothers that are poor that raising children. Chaundry presents a revolutionary ideal to the help of poor mothers raising children “ We could …replace welfare with more support and opportunities for children in addition to strong requirements..” Mothers like s Annette in Chaundry’s book is a perfect example of how these women are given in some way goals to achieve in order to receive help but end up loosing more help by the closed doors they get with the little help they get but at the moment it is increasingly huge and necessary. Annette had to work extra hard to get the assistance she needed but it became rather difficult in the area of child care. Throughout the book the constant theme of child care being now more available to working low income mothers is a have but it seems that this same theme is related to obstacles and the child care which is suppose to be beneficial to the mother turn into a nightmare. Providers are not getting paid as told so by voucher, grants,etc and the quality Chaundry states is rather “dubious”.
“Living with a Hole in your Pocket” has a very interesting theme that at times I can relate to. It is not a theme but a cycle which is called the “viscous cycle”. It is living paycheck by paycheck.Treating the most necessary things in life as a luxury. The video “Poverty in America” was shocking to know that 37 million people are living below the poverty line this poverty line is composed by a family of four earning less than $20,614.00. After watching the costs broken down to the everyday necessities such as healthcare,transportation,food,living and utilities it was sad to see that almost all of those in the poverty line go above their earnings around 2,000 dollars. This video really focuses in the viewer ti see that there is no way a family can survive without help. The last video was and interview done by Professor Katherine Newman draws attention to the fact that the close to poverty poor people are often not even considered in policy making agendas. I personally feel some sort of attachment to this particular video. My family in particularly my mother has worked realy hard to come out of the poverty line and managed to have her own business however it was not easy for her to do so but with the joy and expenses she has in some way or another acquired more debt and still does not afford health care which is at times I think ridiculous neither the government can help you if you are poor but also if you are coming out of the poverty line I simply think policy should be changed and reflected on because it is not only affecting families that are poor but those that are not even in the margin of being poor.
“Living with a Hole in your Pocket” has a very interesting theme that at times I can relate to. It is not a theme but a cycle which is called the “viscous cycle”. It is living paycheck by paycheck.Treating the most necessary things in life as a luxury. The video “Poverty in America” was shocking to know that 37 million people are living below the poverty line this poverty line is composed by a family of four earning less than $20,614.00. After watching the costs broken down to the everyday necessities such as healthcare,transportation,food,living and utilities it was sad to see that almost all of those in the poverty line go above their earnings around 2,000 dollars. This video really focuses in the viewer ti see that there is no way a family can survive without help. The last video was and interview done by Professor Katherine Newman draws attention to the fact that the close to poverty poor people are often not even considered in policy making agendas. I personally feel some sort of attachment to this particular video. My family in particularly my mother has worked realy hard to come out of the poverty line and managed to have her own business however it was not easy for her to do so but with the joy and expenses she has in some way or another acquired more debt and still does not afford health care which is at times I think ridiculous neither the government can help you if you are poor but also if you are coming out of the poverty line I simply think policy should be changed and reflected on because it is not only affecting families that are poor but those that are not even in the margin of being poor.
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