The Struggle To Survive

With gas prices that are high and the cost of all foods still on the rise, it is becoming harder and harder to feed and support a family. I go grocery shopping every other week. Two years ago I spent about $80 every grocery shopping trip, now every other week I find myself spending $120 to $130 on groceries. I haven't add more items to my shopping cart, and I still by the cheapest of brands that are available. If anything I cut items out of my shopping list and by cheaper cuts of meat. I realize that my monthly gocery bill may not seem much compared to others, but the raise in prices has definitly effected us.
I also try to have my kids eat nutritously, which isn't and easy task in itself. But with prices being so high I find it hard to. I would love to be able to buy only organic foods and the best of the best quality of foods, unfortunately I can't though. However, here are some things I do and buy for them:
I buy whole wheat. In my grocery store whole wheat is only 20 cents more.
I always have celery and peanut butter on hand for snacks.
I buy whatever fruits and vegetables that are on sale that week.
I buy soy milk when it is on sale or when I have coupons for it.
I buy low-fat or less-fat with everything I can.
I buy dried fruit instead of "fruit" candy snacks since they are almost the smae in price.
I buy a box of plain regular oatmeal and add honey and cinnamon to it, instead of buying flavored and individual sized packets of oatmeal.
And this year we grew our own garden in the backyard. So we didn't have to buy tomatoes, peppers, squash, spincah, watermelon, and a couple of other things. My husband even canned salsa, so we shouldnt have to buy any for a year.

Even though it has become a struggle to feed a family sometimes, it is still manageable. You just have to get creative.

Mom and a Job

So I have recieved my Associate degree in Medical officce administration, now it is time to get a job. I have been having mixed feelings about working a regular 9 - 5 job though. I have stayed home during the days and working nights for so long now. I also feel that by working during the day, I might miss out on some event that happens in my childrens' lives. I'm not going to be there everyday to make lunches and put them down for there naps. In away I feel that I am abandoning them in some way. I realize that I am not the first nor last mother to feel this.

The past few years...

Okay, so since I had my kids I have been very busy. Even though I stay at home with my kids during the day, 5 nights a week I work as a waitress at a local restraruant. I also have been going to college.... it took me almost six years, but I will get my two year associate's degree diploma this week!!!! I plan on taking a semester off, just so I can have a little break and breathe for a bit. Then i will start again in january so I can get a four year degree. So between cooking, cleaning, shuffleing my kids places, work, and school it has been a hectic couple of years.

When It started

I was 18 years old, in my first year of college, and still living with my parents when I got pregnant. Telling them I was pregnant was horrifying, but they handled it better than expected. Me and my boyfriend decided the best thing to do was to get married. So we did and I was 7 1/2 months pregnant when we did get married. It was a beautiful wedding, but it wasnt the wedding of my dreams. I was huge and had to settle for a dress I wouldnt have picked out if the situation was different.
Two months after getting married, along came my first child. So I was 19 years old, married for two months, and now had a new born. I had lived with my parent my entire life. Now I had to not only take care of myself, I had a husband and a newborn to take of too!

Young and a Mother

Being a young mother, you face many challenges. I know first hand about being a mother at a young age. I had my first child when I was only 19 and I had my second child at 21. Now, at 24 years old, I still face many challenges and have a lot of learning to do.