It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life."
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I feel great. Yes, I feel fine. Yes!
Each morning for the past couple of days, I wake up and instinctively check for how I am feeling. January has arrived with Covid racing through our family. First, it was the grandkids, who we had just babysat for two days straight. Then, everyone else has been getting sick, one-by-one, in rapid procession, testing positive for Covid. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven of us, so far? Knock on wood, I have escaped. Nevertheless, all plans have been canceled. Tony (not so lucky, enduring his second bout of this virus) and I have been having a very low-key time, taking it easy – working on a puzzle, watching television, and reading books. I’ve made a couple different homemade soups.
I just finished reading the memoir Class by Stephanie Land, a holiday gift from my son. Ms. Land shares the story of her struggles to get a writing degree as a poor and single mother. Throughout the book, I was on edge for her young daughter, growing up in such challenging circumstances. I have been stewing over this quote –
“Resilience as a virtue is assigned, especially to marginalized groups, when systemic structures have created countless barriers to living what the privileged consider a normal life.”
Stephanie Land , Class, pgs. 67-68
It is unusually cold here today, and expected to get colder. We have snow for the first time in a couple of years. My biggest challenge is willing myself to leave the proximity of my quilt and space heater in order to get another cup of hot tea. I am struck by the ease of Covid for me, for our family – and what an absolute crisis this virus or any health issue becomes for the poor.
If I were a single mom right now, with young children, without family around to help, with only hourly-wage work that offers no benefits, struggling to pay bills, unable to take time off, already in debt… holy smoke, this would be insufferable.
On our car trip to Georgia over winter break, we dashed into a fast food restaurant to use the bathroom. I noticed a young child, maybe three or four years old, in a booth by herself in the back corner, with coloring books and crayons; the child had a deep cough. “Mom” was an employee behind the counter; she rushed over to check on her child when there were no customers in the queue.
It is beyond appalling that our great country has no safety net in place (or only a very broken, torn, ripped safety net) for those who need it. The child poverty rate is nearly 15% in America. This is outrageous. This is appalling. This is criminal.
Did you read that many states are turning down food assistance for poor children during the summer months? As the Center for American Progress writes – Poverty is a policy choice. Here are their 12 solutions to eradicate poverty in America.
The world now has the means to end extreme poverty,
we pray we will have the will.
(Source: Rev. Barbara Crafton,
“The Counting Prayer”)
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Maureen, this is a wonderfully reflective slice. This time you’ve had to contemplate how a situation that’s not-a-big-deal for you and what it would be like if you were in a different financial or familial situation shows a lot of empathy. I haven’t read that book, but I’ll check it out. It sounds like “Maid” by Stephanie Land. I hope you stay healthy and everyone else recovers soon.
Yes, it is very much like her book Maid, though it focuses more on the accomplishment of her college writing degree and how unbelievably challenging this was. Thank you, Leah.
Ms. Ingram,
Let me begin with – wow! I was drawn to your teaser because of my empathy for those who are poor, even more so because I’m not far removed from having the childhood label of “socioeconomically challenged.”
Your swift transition into the ever-present ills left my head spinning. I was somewhere between experiencing a familiar angst and enchanted with the poignance of your lyrical depiction of such heart wrenching circumstances.
I said that to say, you wrote this beautifully. It is laden with charm and candor that compel a deeper look from within. Such a powerful post to start the morning. Thank you for writing from your heart. I won’t forget it, and I will look for that book.
Wishing you all a speedy recovery. I’ve had COVID twice. It is a force with which to be reckoned.
With Warmest Regards,
~Dr. Brown
Thank you so much! Yes Covid is a force with which to be reckoned, and I know it was the catalyst for today’s reflections. I have it so easy – despite the illness – compared to so many; it simply should not be this way. Everyone should have the access to healthcare and time off during such a time.
Two things:
1) That puzzle… oof! Isabelle likes doing complicated puzzles like that. She has the mind for it. Not me! Anything more than 36 pieces gets me flustered.
2) We have to get to the point where there’s a better safety net. The situation you witnessed is unfair to both the child and the parent. It isn’t sustainable.
Thank you, Stacey! You are absolutely right – these situations (no childcare for a sick child/juggling one’s work with childcare) is absolutely unsustainable – and children are paying the price.
Oh, and we love those big puzzles during the winter, letting them ‘percolate’ on the dining room table, slowly but surely getting to completion.
“Poverty is a policy choice.” That statement says all we need to know about the evil, glutinous Tate Reeves and all others who decline assistance for children. They’re so power hungry and hope their constituents are too uninformed to know who is starving them. I just can’t w/ these people. And I’m so sorry your family is sick w/ Covid, that insidious disease. Poor Bird and Frog and Tony. Hugs and healing to you all.
Thank you, Glenda. I feel a bit of hope at the pushback these governors are receiving for their refusal to accept assistance. It is all so depressing. We truly do have the means to solve this – with just a wee bit of imagination and collective thought.
Oh, Maureen, you are speaking directly to my heart. Our school system has been working with Donna Beegle and more recently Elia Moreno of Communication Across Barriers. Poverty is real, and it’s near and dear to us here in our system. I’m writing down the book recommendation.
Thanks, Kim – I’m going to check out the two people you mentioned; so glad that your schools are working hard to meet the needs of our children.
Maureen, your words are so powerful and echo a aching concern that has been also gnawing at me for some time. I recently read Poverty , by America by Matthew Desmond. If you haven’t read this, I highly recommend it. Sadly, Iowa’s governor Reynolds is also one who has cancelled the summer food program for kids. Lots of kids used to come to our high school cafeteria throughout the summer months to eat these meals. It’s a travesty. Thank you for sharing the link to solutions.
Thank you, Barb. I will look the Matthew Desmond book, for sure. It is a travesty that we are making the decision to not nourish our children; it makes no sense for our future.