I have heard the term thrown around as if someone should be applauded for it, like it was still the 1970's and a strange thing to hear. Half of the dang country are single parents now - get over it already!
When my Mom was a single parent in the 60's she didn't get help, or even child support. From what I heard, once she got blamed for being a single parent because my Brother misbehaved at school. Now that was a time when a single parent should have gotten some help or support. Now days people throw it around like it is a help me, feel sorry label.
I was a single parent for 8 yrs during the 80's and 90's, then for 3 yrs in the 2000's. I did not go around touting my single parenthood as a right to get things or sympathy. Maybe I never did because I was a "single teen parent" and never knew any other way, so I didn't understand that I should miss what I never had.
This neighbor has a mini van that needs a new battery. Everyday single day that we see her, for at least a month she needs a jump. She gets in her van backs out of the driveway, her van manages to roll back into a driveway across the street before dying out. So every time we watch her wait for someone to show up and jump her van. I guess they all finally decided to stop running to her beckon call because she is usually gone before we all leave the bus stop.
She asked the 3 of us walking down the street from the bus stop to give her a jump. One of us doesn't have a car, I can't afford to ruin my battery, so I said "sorry I can't". The next neighbor has a new-to-her car and didn't really want to jump her either. . So The woman with the new-to-her car didn't answer clearly.
As we walked away, needs-a-jump woman starts.. "Wow, I can't believe none of you will give a jump". So the new-to-her lady says " Wow, I was thinking about it but now I am not". Well now needs-a-jump screams, " OMG, I can't believe you people! I am a single parent of four kids trying to get to work." Really lady, you did not just play tht card on me LOL. I just kept walking and then the new-to-me chick calls her a bitch. Then needs-a-jump calls her a fat whore, several times. What a mess. I am not good in situations like that at all , I just kept walking LOL. So now new-to-me-fat-whore decides she is going to drive around the block in her new-to-me car over and over just to piss off needs -a-jump more. I think that is rude and adding salt to a wound and would never act that way , but she is not me and I am certainly not her.
After I left all this chaos my brain started like it always does. Why do people act this way? I ask myself. But what really pinched my nerve was the, 4 kid-single parent bullshit. Really , how long will we hear this crap? What does being a single parent have to do with her having a battery issue. Clearly she has enough to buy crap for the four kids that I don't buy for mine. Yet she can not buy a new battery that can be had at Walmart for probably a reasonable cost.
If this woman was not out there every day needing a jump, I may have felt bad for her and tried a little harder to get her one, but she needs to get a handle on her crap.
