Thursday, July 01, 2010

Ten Bullet Points

  1. Angel Food Ministries: check. There's one 30 miles from here - I am so all over that for July.
  2. Kitteh. No, we are not getting a kitten. Although I am very good friends with a veterinarian and would have access to fabulous care, now is not the time.
  3. No, build-a-bear clothes are not a necessity. Far from it, in fact. But those behind the 'dress the bear' movement, made my daughter's life brighter yesterday.
  4. Yoga for a clinically depressed child with PTSD and behavior issues IS actually a necessity and she starts Tuesday. $6.50 per class.
  5. My power will not be shut off.
  6. I am on the phone with KitchenAid. UPDATE: If you are not calling within the ONE YEAR warranty (hahahahaha) then you are on your own. Who knew 30 pound kitchen appliances were disposable?
  7. Thank you to those of you who sent WORK my way. Any reviews or writing opportunities are welcome and I work for product and/or actual payment.
  8. I do this in addition to working 8-6.
  9. Yes, block o government cheese IS poor people food, and I am poor right now.
  10. I know I am a great mom. Thank you.

25 comments:

Anna Marie said...

You ARE a great mom. I sent a little bit your way and I hope it goes for something that leans more towards being a "want" than a "need". I wish I could have sent more.

jay said...

You are, by far, one of the greatest moms I've ever seen. Your kids will be proud of that.

And, just as a side note, I think many of us are still waiting for an address/PO box number to send some goodies too. ;)

Love and prayers.

Katy said...

I got paid today (YEAH!!) so I just put my little bit in your pocket. Use it however you want.

On the build a bear thing.. as the single mother of an 11 year old girl, I would catagorized that as a need. Its not about the clothes, its about your daughter feeling included in her brownie troup.

I don't get much child support, we are on a shoe string budget, but I will move mountains for my daughter to have those little things. A suggestion for birthday gift.. pipe cleaners. I know it sounds weird, but those things are supper cheap. I gave my daugther a bunch of them for Christmas and I am still getting new pipe cleaner works of art all the time. Home made playdough is another cheap gift that was a huge hit when my daughter was younger.

Anonymous said...

Just made a small donation. Never let anyone tell you that you are not a good Mother. I am so glad I found your blog through another and will follow it faithfully. I hope that things improve greatly soon, and that SOB gets what's coming to him.

Postcard Cindy

MommyLovesStilettos said...

I'm a single mom (well kind of, not as much anymore) and I spent a few years poor as hell and scraping by. It was miserable, depressing, and very hard on me and my kids. Just know that there is hope and you will pull out of this! I'm sending you what I can and I hope it helps :)

Tigger said...

Gwendo, would it be ok with you if I posted something about your situation on my FB page, and my blog? It doesn't get many hits, but it does get some. I can't contribute right now, I don't think...but in this way I might be able to help.

gwendomama said...

Tigger, yes! LINK AWAY!!!
Thank you everyone everyone everyone!

gwendomama said...

Oh - and I am working on a PO box...

MFA Mama said...

Angel Food Ministries is the shizznit! We buy from them every month and have always been pleased with the quality of what we've gotten. If you Google around you can usually find coupon codes good for 10% off of online orders; there's generally a $2 "convenience fee" to order online and you can't use EBT online, but depending on how much you get in EBT each month you may want to do what we do and buy the AFM out of pocket at the coupon-discounted price online and save the EBT for store purchases (of course, if you have more in EBT than your family can eat without getting fancy, it might be worth your while to pay in person with EBT, just sayin').

Dana said...

I am a Child Support Officer in MN, and I wanted to let you know that you don't have to receive public assistance in order to receive Child Support services. I just checked CA's Child Support Web site, and their services are FREE. All you have to do is apply. They will enforce your child support order for you, starting with income withholding, and they have access to much more information regarding where Xman is working, his bank accounts, et cetera than you do. If he doesn't pay, they have many enforcement tools such as license suspension, tax intercept, and bank account seizure. The best part is that you no longer have to deal with him. They will do it for you. Best of luck to you!

Libby said...

I have so many build a bear animals and clothes, that my (spoiled rotten by grandparents) soon to be 13 year old hardly glances at anymore. If you do end up getting a PO Box, please let us know somehow and I will send you some.

Adelene said...

I was clicking around today and came across this $40 computer. It's not a great computer by any means, but it might be worth keeping in mind if your existing one dies on you and would be more than $40 to fix - it'll keep you connected to the 'net, at least.

chris said...

They are tears of joy now,lady.

Elly said...

Love your attitude hey, I think you are brilliant. And totally worth all the love and support that the internet has to offer. :)

Desi said...

My mum was on her own with the three of us from the time we were babies. There was never enough money, we moved often, our car was always a junker, and we had fabulous meals made of ground beef, processed cheese, and food-bank staples. We're all adults now, all married parents now, and our mother remains our best friend and our clearest example of strength and humility in the face of adversity. You remind me of her.
I can't help you out financially right now, but I have linked to your blog on my own blog and my facebook page. Your children are so lucky to have you!

Anonymous said...

I have sent you money again. Mostly because I look at what I spend as a single mother and I know I am lucky and my daughter is lucky and I want to share that fortune in any small way with you. There were times before the bad when I really thought I wanted to be you, going back to my California roots and gardening, eating well, yoga and the like so if I can help you in a small way do those things I am happy. My story, three years later I am almost able to support us both and I may actually make some money at last but it takes time, and it is hard. You will get there. Until then let all of us help you.

Anonymous said...

YAY to bullet number 10! Yes, you are truly a wonderful mom. I know it's hard right now but you're such a strong women and great mom... I'm in awe.

I would love to send one of my homemade treasure-boxes for your daughter's birthday, so bring on the PO adress! :)

Hang in there! xx

Anonymous said...

Perhaps you can purchase an inexpensive hand mixer to replace the kitchen aid with some of the donation money. Most of the time the do the job very well.

grumpywookie said...

Hand mixers are only useful if you do very little cooking. Stand mixers do everything from bread to whipped cream, and they do it in bulk!

But that could also be my arthritis talking. Are there any repair options for the mixer?

Unknown said...

I am such a wimp.. I don't know if I would have survived what you have gone through over the past year. I am proud of you and your tenacity to survive and listen to your heart.

I remember eating government cheese at my granny's house when I was a pre-teen. It was the best cheese I had EVER had! I asked for it again and again over the years and never understood why nobody else wanted it!!!

Love you, love your blog!

Anonymous said...

I do not even know you but my heart breaks for you. I contacted Kitchen aid...I am a food stylist and use their products all the time...I told them I would stop if they would not do the right thing...and send you a new one! So here's the deal I need your model and serial # from your mixer and I have someone from Kitchen Aid who is waiting on this so they can help. No guarantees but she sounded like she just might help!
Is there another way we can talk?

Kate Giovinco Photography said...

How you spent the money people sent your way is no ones business. It was a gift and a gift is not something that comes with Rules.

Glad you were able to figure out somethings to help during this time!

Good luck to you and your beautiful family.

gwendomama said...

I have a serial and model number for kitchenaid....email me!
gwendomama (at) gmail (dot) com

Life in Rehab said...

If you weren't on the other side of the country your daughter would be welcome to one of the abandoned kittehs I take in and adopt as family. My heart is just breaking for you.

vevice said...

Bless your heart, you sweet woman. Hang in there. <3