Going back...

My parents were working in Ohio when I was born, then we moved here when I was 2 yrs old.  

I married at 23, had 2 children, lived a miserable 4 yr marriage, then got out when I was 27.  I raised my son & daughter, now 28 and 26, alone.  Looking back I don't know how I did it financially.  There was no child support (not because I didn't challenge the legal system!), no welfare/food stamps (supposedly I earned too much for a family of 3, I think I used to earn about $800/month), and I had a $200/month mobile home pmt and $220/month child care.  I remember going to the grocery store weekly and only being able to spend $15.!! Of course, things were cheaper then, but still...  I tell eveyone who asks that GOD helped provide, because we never went without.

In spite of my ex cursing me and telling eveyone who would listen that I was going to lose everything, I managed to pay 11 yrs on the mobile home until it was paid for, then I took out an $8K loan and added a room and made some repairs, paid that off, and in the meantime I would scrimp by and save every penny I could. 

Six yrs ago I asked my parents to co-sign a $30K loan and my beloved BIL was my contractor and he built a 3 bedroom brick for me.  I am proud to say I paid $500/month and I just gave the final payment 2 wks ago!! YEAH ME!!!! How's THAT for Women Power?!?!???!!!  I always say, where there's a will, there's a way.

Don't want this to get too long, so I'm going to cut it here for now.  Will reminisce more as I have time.

Tags: divorce, single parent