Humbled

We went to Walmart this morning, and at check out found our total to be $140. 'Whoa!' I thought. Ah well; I had bought a bit of makeup, new swimsuits for the kids, some diapers and wipes, socks, tights, and new sippy cups. I also bought a mix I could pan fry for dinner, and 2 lbs. strawberries as we were passing the grocery area.

After we had lunch at Subway, eating some of the new strawberries along with the foot long we split, we got packed into the car and were on our way.

Then we passed some beggars or 'panhandlers.'

I'm somewhat embarrassed to say, I almost never stop for them. In fact, I've done almost the opposite many times, avoiding eye contact and even locking the doors a couple times.

I hear about all sorts of stories of people that actually make quite a lot of money doing what they're doing, and how they're made out to be villains because they're begging. Here is an article about panhandling in Utah, and you can see in the comments how most people feel about it...

...but this time, it wasn't just a single man or a man and woman, it was a man, his (very) pregnant wife and two small children. The daughter looked to be about Jori's age, and the son about a year younger. They were at a van, with Calfornia license plates on it. Their sign said "Please help, need food and gas." Or something like that. The man was holding the sign, and truly looked ashamed. He was staring at the ground. I would guess they were of Indian descent. (Not Native American, India Indian.)

I drove past them at first...then had a feeling that I was missing out on a teaching opportunity. So I turned back, told Jori what was happening and ran the strawberries (minus the ones we had eaten) over to them.

It was truly humbling. The kids started talking at once, excitedly, as soon as they saw the strawberries. And as I drove past, afterward, I saw the wife already eating some. I just felt...just floored. I had just spent all this money, on things that are worthwhile but...I mean how far could $140 go to someone in a truly desperate situation?

I still felt like I hadn't done enough though. I'd told Jori we were going to give some food to people in need, but she hadn't really seen it from where I'd parked.

So I flipped around AGAIN, and this time got Atticus and Jori out, each with a $5 bill in their hands. We walked over together, and gave the money to the wife and one of the kids. Each of the little ones were also eating strawberries, and looked like they'd eaten a fair number in the three minutes it took me to get back to them again.

I know there are a lot of dishonest people who ask for money out there, and that there are a lot that have addictions and even criminal histories. I know a lot of people lie. But I didn't ask this family their story; there was no need. I really don't need to know what exactly they do with that ten dollars.

Really, I just felt profoundly grateful to do something that felt really right, and with my children. It made me hope to continue to give. Even if the money is used for drugs. I read in a YA Fiction book one time, of this young man giving money to a younger man, and the girl he was with said "Why did you do that? He's only going to use it for drugs." And he said "That means he's one step closer to hitting rock bottom, which is necessary before he can start climbing up."

Also, even if the people do have criminal histories. Must be hard to get a job with a criminal history, don't you think?

And ESPECIALLY if they do have kids there with them. I do know it's manipulative to have children there, I know some people really hate that. But whether you agree with the parents, the children are real. The situation must be pretty desperate if they are being used to ask for money.

Grateful to be able to give, today.

How many jobs have you had?

In some ways...it's a good thing I'm a stay-at-home mama. Employment wise. I think I have a current resume, but I never include ALL the jobs I've had on there. I know employers don't like seeing that. But I always found it easier to find two part time jobs than one full time, when I only had 6 months I could work anyway. And I liked variety. If I was going to have a super low-paying job anyway, why not do a different one than I did last time, right?

Would you like to hear? I'd like to reminisce, so I'll share regardless. I'll start with my first:

• May 2006: Library Page for Provo City (Book sorter and shelver)
• Office Clerk at a Student Housing Property Management Company
• Waldenbooks Bookstore employee (met a boyfriend at this one)*
• Library Page (2nd time)*

• Allen's Grocery Store: Non-foods Department Employee*

• *= I worked these three at the same time. For about five months before I left for college and after I had just graduated high school, I worked 50-60 hour work weeks. Busy bee! It was made easier because I genuinely loved everyone I worked with, at all three jobs. That was crazy lucky.

• Subway Sandwich Artist (Rexburg)
• Subway Sandwich Artist (Provo, I had to get re-hired and it wasn't a transfer thing, so I think they count separate)
  
• DownEast Basics clothing store employee (Two days. SO. BORING. They'd have cameras around to make sure their employees were doing something at all times, but if there was nothing to do you had to pretend you were doing something of value. If I'm at work, I'd rather do something!)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Library Page (3rd time)
• Daycare/Preschool Teacher
  
• Call Center Tech (Two days again, got a more preferable job)
• Gas station/movie rental place employee (liked the job, the women who worked here hated me though for some reason. Awful)
• Rock Climbing Gym employee (No pay. Ha. But I got to climb whenever I wanted, and since I wanted to learn how to climb this was nice. I don't tell most people about this job though cause I hadn't climbed before and haven't really since...it was just a fun college thang)
  
  
  
  
• Gift wrapper, during the holiday season at BYU
• BYU-Idaho Library employee
• Office Clerk at same place (so, 2nd time)
  
• Evening childcare provider for the Provo School District's ESOL program. (Best paying job I ever had...it was $11.79/hr, in June of 2011.)

Bam! 17 jobs (or 14, depending how you count it) in 5 years. Which I know isn't really something I should be proud of. But it sure gave me a nice variety! 

I also interned with the Division of Child and Family Services the summer Jori turned 1, for my BYU major requirements. That was hard, but informative. I just shadowed folks though so I didn't get paid. 

You know the only thing that I've ever really loved doing that would probably count as work, though? Thinking of career potential? Organizing. I used to have a real...pep, for it. Particularly making everything fit (well, practically) in small spaces. (Note: cleaning is a totally different thing. Cleaning involves scrubbing, wiping, etc. And Picking Up is putting things where they go. Organizing is DECIDING where they go.)  I always thought it a shame I couldn't really pursue this in the way I wanted to. Not like they offer it as a major in college, or it pays all that well. And I don't think I'd enjoy organizing for super wealthy people, with tons of space. There's no satisfaction there. 

I also have a real passion for adoption as an alternative to an abortion, and really enjoy helping people figure out where they belong (employment wise or otherwise), so I am slightly curious if any of these things ever yield an actual paycheck. I guess we'll see.

What does your work history tell about you?

Moving

One of my favorite people is moving six hours away. I'm really excited for her, I mean they have four kids and her husband is finally graduating and they got a job and even just bought a house in their soon-to-be new area...I'm just bummed to be losing a close friend. And bummed Jori's losing a couple, too. (She gets along well with their oldest and their second oldest, who is only three days younger than she is.) I wish it wasn't so hard to find friends like these ones. I was reading some Austen-y material and it says "bosom friends" frequently. I'm definitely losing that. BAH. Life. 

It was kind of funny though, in chatting she said something like "I just wish in all these moves, we could just take our favorite people from each move with us, and then all live in the same spot." And I've totally fantasized about something similar. Having all of my favorite and Sam's favorite people in one cul-de-sac or block or something, with no children being without a playmate and everyone getting along awesome. 

Sometimes being shy by nature makes making close friends particularly difficult, so when one has been found and then lost...oh bother. 

Maybe someday we'll be millionaires and can buy up a whole chunk of land somewhere beautiful and green, where jobs of all sorts of varieties are plentiful and then we can build a ton of houses after consulting with friends on what is their dream home, and then they can live in them. Perfect. 

Or maybe I'll finally learn that "Bloom where you're planted" idea. I guess we'll have to wait and see. 

Ouchie!

Atticus wins as the first Hatchling to have to visit Urgent Care. Give the kid a trophy!

He was outside, playing in the sandbox after he'd finished his breakfast, and Jori was eating her breakfast. Sam had just left for work. I thought this the perfect time to sneak away upstairs, to brush my teeth and put in contacts for the day. Then I heard him crying downstairs. So I hopped back downstairs, and he was crying, somewhat under the table and next to Jori's chair, just sitting. It really wasn't an alarming cry, any more than usual bumps and scrapes that are typical of his 20-month-old days. But then I noticed blood all over his neck...

and then where the blood originated, on his scalp...

...and promptly fainted. 

Just kidding. I handled it like a boss, I thought. I'm grateful it wasn't worse, because then I really would have been a nervous wreck. I've got one queasy stomach, lemme tell ya. But I wetted a washcloth with cold water, held it to his head and the bleeding stopped pretty quickly. His tears dried up with a mama-Atticus-blankie sandwich, as they often do. But after examining it briefly, I once again dashed upstairs to snag my phone and call mom. 

TO THE RESCUE! 

Thank goodness my mom lives 8 minutes away. She arrived soon, evaluated it, and stayed with Jori when I took my little man to the Springville Urgent Care. 

Poor lad received four staples, but it's only for a week so I think he will live. I got him and Jori sodas on the ride home, and he was delighted enough with his Root Beer I think he thought the injury worth it.

It's like when I was a teenager, my mom would always take me to Arby's after orthodontist appointments. Sometimes, for some sweet curly fries, sacrifices have to be made.