Occupy , homeschooling and the 1%

I am the 1%.  The 1% of American moms who can "afford to homeschool."

Yes, I actually do hear that all the time.  "I admire you for homeschooling. I think that would be great, but we can't afford it, "  that is,  "for me to stay home with the kids."  Am I really that less capable of earning a living than my female counterparts?  Because one of the reasons I homeschool is because I have never been able to afford to work outside the home.  I was working when I got married- a workstudy job that had me doing social support for a group of 7 disabled adults in an independent living situation. That semester was soon over and I didn't work again until my first baby was nearly a year old; we nannied a preschooler together for $3/hour for about a year.  Then the next baby was 6 weeks old and I tried waiting tables at the Johnny Carino's flagship, which lasted all of 4 weeks. My babysitter was taking home more money than I was.  That was when I realized: I can't afford to work.  I certified as a childbirth prep teacher and doula, but again childcare cost put an end to that. I became a breastfeeding educator (it was natural since I had to get that much educated, myself, to manage to successfully breastfeed my own) and ended working one day a week as a WIC peer counselor. Well, one morning a week. It was all my man could afford to stay home with the kids.

I am the 1%, though.  When we moved we couldn't sell our house and were somehow eagerly given a mortgage we can't really afford- yes in the midst of the housing bubble burst.  For about six months last year we used our 401k to pay both mortgages; this month we have to do it again or choose which loan to default on.  A stuck place to be since in 19 years we have never once been late- much less missed- a rent or mortgage payment. Our credit score is nearly perfect due to years of diligence. But now we have to choose.  We've never been completely without income, as my man has cleaned houses and churches when he was "between jobs."  He has worked two jobs simultaneously for our entire marriage.  Our kids started finding ways to earn their own money-  one even started his own company at age 8, worked it for 5 years before selling it to his own 8 year old brother (who lost it when we moved). Even my 7 year old was out raking leaves this week and earned a dollar of her own.

I am the 1%.  Actually when you compare what I have to the world... then you see, I am rolling.

I'm the 51,651,878 richest person on earth! Discover how rich you are!

I am the 1%.  I can "afford" to homeschool because our family chooses to do without a lot of things.  I take my kids shopping for new clothes at the Goodwill or other peoples' pass-along bags.  I don't buy fancy curricula, but scour thrift stores for books and materials. We don't go out to movies, we don't have cable, we rarely go out to eat.  We pay cash for our used vehicles and then drive them until we have to sell them to a junkyard. Our kids share rooms so we can squeeze in a boarder. We don't know if we can pay our mortgage this month or next. We run out of money between paychecks.  We eat meals based on what was given away at the Food Pantry. We barter services with others.  We apply for grants to get home repairs. We work a garden for produce. And my kids rake leaves and do odd jobs for neighbors to earn spending money.

I thought maybe I could find a job to help bring in just a little more, to give us a little more margin. I found almost nothing I was qualified for.  There are some cool jobs out there, for sure.  For someone who can afford the cost:  Must be willing to work nights and weekends. Job is outdoors in all weather including extreme weather. Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. Must be able to stand on feet all day.  Must be able to dress professionally/have a professional appearance. Must be available for paid training- 4 weeks on the other side of the country.  Must be available for unpaid training. Must keep your own cellphone to take work calls.  Must be available within one hour of being called in for work.  Must have CDL. Must have bachelor's degree.  Must be a veteran.  Must be over 18. Job is part-time, 64-80 hours per pay period.  Job is temporary. Job is PRN.  

Yet I am the 1%. I'm posting this from a laptop (picked up used) using WIFI at home. With WIFI and the library,  careful budgeting, and making choices to do without A so we can have B, we can afford to homeschool.  We have choices.  We have options.  We have that freedom.  *But we're still totally annoyed with what we see here.*