[Cohey_Kisses]

I am supposed to be starting school on Monday and thought I had everything ready to go when the school let me know they ran into a problem and wouldn't have any work-study available until well after school starts, so I am 5 hours short and thus do not qualify for Child Care Assistance so I have NO idea how I'm going to pay for daycare while I'm in classes. I'm about to throw up. I've been on the phone all day calling places to see if I could pick up one shift/week, because I could work a split on Fridays or maybe do a Saturday (which I'm not thrilled about because my time with my kids is going to be at a premium and more precious than ever now that we're all going to be so busy ALL the time...and further more, the only sitter I have for evenings and weekends is my dad - who hates babysitting, is not at all happy about the prospect, and refused to not smoke around my kids...all-in-all a miserable no-win situation...) and all I need is to pick up something for 5 hours/week to bump me up to the 20/week I need to qualify...but no one seems even REMOTELY interested in hiring someone for less than ten hours/week!!!! I have already spent over $1000 out of my own pocket to get myself into school and now I'm facing the prospect of not being able to go because there's no way in hell I can afford the cost of daycare!!! I got the kids to bed and have just been bawling off and on all night and my head hurts so bad and I have been eating almonds but they aren't touching this headache and now I feel like I'm going to throw up. Anybody have any advice??? I'm desperate!!!

- Dawn

 

[AmyY]

First off hugs to you. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.

Second, do you have an admissions counselor or advisor assigned to you yet? If so, that person needs to hear from you, first thing tomorrow morning, in enormous and very emotional detail (sparing not a tear or a child's scream in the background

) EXACTLY what you have posted here.

Third, if you do NOT have such a person assigned to you, get on the phone tomorrow FIRST THING, get as comfy as possible, take notes as you're talking, and get on the wild goose chase of getting someone to listen to you. Start with the financial aid office. If they are reluctant to help, admissions is next. After that, the advising office. Then the women's center (most campuses have one to advocate for women's issues). The counseling center. The Student Affairs office. Any office that's set up to assist nontraditional students. Etc. You get the idea.

You're five hours a week short - if you were 18 and living in a dorm that might be an "inconvenience" to be overcome and discussed over beers and pizza in November. But you're a mama with children and you're in a different situation. You need that five hours. You know that of course, and they need to hear it from you.

Good luck. Please please please do NOT give up, keep at it until someone listens. More hugs to you.

 

[Jilian]

I agree with Amy, call around and let them know your situation. Let them know this 5 hours is the difference between you attending their school and not attending their school (and losing out on a lot of $$). Let them know you are a single mother and it is very important that you go back to school in order to be able to better provide for your family. Maybe they can make some sort of exception for you.

I hope someone can help you

 

[Cohey_Kisses]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm feeling a little better this morning so I'm going to make all those calls I need to make. I spoke to my advisor yesterday and she was just like "Sorry...I don't have any way to help you without shorting you on class hours next semester...", the Financial Aid office just said "Well you are aware that work study is not guaraunteed, aren't you? You do have to apply and get hired first..." like I shouldn't even bother or something...!!! I am just frustrated as all hell right now. :0(

 

[AmyY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cohey_Kisses Thanks for the advice guys. I'm feeling a little better this morning so I'm going to make all those calls I need to make. I spoke to my advisor yesterday and she was just like "Sorry...I don't have any way to help you without shorting you on class hours next semester...", the Financial Aid office just said "Well you are aware that work study is not guaraunteed, aren't you? You do have to apply and get hired first..." like I shouldn't even bother or something...!!! I am just frustrated as all hell right now. :0(

How did it go with the phone calling? Please keep at it. As a fomer college instructor and advisor, I am shocked that your advisor would dismiss you in that way. Please please please keep at it. Insist on speaking to the advisor's superior if needed, just keep at it. The women's center might be a really good next stop if you are feeling you've exhausted all other options. Or if you know any of the instructors for your upcoming classes, and know they might be willing to advocate for you, go see them. I would sure as heck advocate for you.

More hugs going your way...

 

[Bad Mama Jama]

I hope this gets resolve for you. I really do. I can just about imagine how far you've pressed to get here. It will all fall into alignment.

 

[mama40]

I agree, try the women's center. If it's anything like the one at my uni, people there will be well-connected, maybe even at the dean/provost level, and not afraid to pick up the phone. My women's center has been shockingly supportive.