I swore I would speak honestly in this blog. So today. The taboo subject. Illustrated of course.
In case you are wondering. This is what food stamps buy. Flour, salt, yeast and homemade bread everday. Because it’s cheaper. Better.
Homemade cookies. Because I can.
Heres what children who eat food purchased with food stamps look like.
Yes, I know. It’s called SNAP now. And it’s a fancy little credit card. But come on. It’s still food stamps. We all know it.
This what kid who gets WIC looks like. Don’t know what that is? You should.
It helps us with our gallon a milk a day habit. Our addiction to cheerios. Our dependency on eggs.
That is welfare. Go ahead play with words. Say welfare is only cash ( which we don’t get, although I would take it if they offered) But come on . It’s welfare. Yes, we have jobs. Yes we work. We work and work and work.
These are kids on Hoosier Healthwise. That’s a fancy word for medicad
This is what the uninsured look like.
Here’s what we are. A family who has fun. We cook . and cook and cook. We garden. We Laugh. We started camping as the only way we could afford a family vacation. Discovered it rocked.
We have one car. No creditcards. A small house. A good life.
This is a man who will build anything. Fix anything. Work his fingers to the bone to help his family.
This is a woman who lets the babies cuddle in bed with her. Who invents meals out of nothing. Who would work her fingers to the bone to help her family.
These are reasons she smiles. And the reasons she cries when she thinks she's failing them.
Yeah. That’s me. I’m the one who cried in the car after I couldn't pick up my son’s medicine because of glitch in insurance.
The one who will sit in FSSA all afternoon today with three small children because that glitch.
So maybe you’ll think less of us. And well, that’s too bad for you. Maybe you are just like us. Know others like us. . I know what we are—a family who doesn’t plan on being like this forever. But is grateful for the help. A family who loves. Works. Plays. Laughs. Doesn’t give up.
Before you assume to comment on "welfare"-- think about who is getting the benefits.
4 comments:
Dear Emily, It really frustrates me that families such as yours are judged! You and Chris work hard and pay taxes, so you deserve a little help to make your family comfortable and keep them healthy. Society labels medicaid and food card holders as worthless and druggies etc because too many abuse the system, but then many need help to make ends meet. You, my dear have "NOTHING" to be ashamed of and if narrow minded people have any opinions, you know why and that's all that matters. Do what you must do and feel proud of all of the accomplishments you have made in the lives of your children, family and society. Respectfully,Julia Jones<3
I LOVE this post! It is raw and real and honest. This is life and this is living... this is what life is about.
I LOVE this! I grew up in a very well-to-do family, and some shit happened...followed by some more shit, and at the moment we are pretty darn poor. I got pregnant last summer and now have a gorgeous baby girl who is approaching 6 months. I was so embarrassed the first time I went to the FSSA office, and also when I went to apply for Wic. There is a stigma about "those people" who receive welfare or government programs, but actually they are very normal and hard working people, like you said, who have just had a few unfortunate hiccups along the way. I am so grateful for the help we get from WIC and that, although I can no longer be insured with Medicaid, my daughter can.
Thank you for sharing!
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