Everywhere we gather, the conversation turns, among all the parents I know, to how are we possibly going to make it? Of course, the same question is being asked by those without kids, those with grown kids, those living alone or in couples.
The extent of the recession/depression is only slowly taking hold in our imaginations. As we pay the bills, watch our checking account balances shrink, and find no relevant job listings, it is starting to feel like this is the way it is going to be for a long time.
Around here, the parents of 14-year-olds worry about where our 8th graders will go to high school this fall. This, like many big cities, has lots of public high schools still, but most of them suck, big-time.
They are mired in constant budget cuts, layoffs, and trying to serve students, most of whom speak English, if at all, as a second language, and who have had few of the advantages middle-class bestow on their kids -- especially when it comes to education.
There are excellent private schools here, but they charge tuition that is greater than the maximum unemployment benefit offered by the state.
The other day, one parent of school-aged kids I know had his first doctor's appointment in over three years. He's been employed about three-quarters of that time, but in jobs where to take time to visit a doctor required him to file a PTO (Paid Time Off) forms.
This, of course, drew down on his already miniscule vacation balance (new employees always get the minimum benefits, even if like him, he's in his 60s and deeply experienced in his field.) And he really wanted to save those few vacation days to spend with his kids over summer vacation.
During the unemployed periods, he couldn't go to the doctor because of the loss of affordable health insurance benefits. This guy has just gotten laid off again, but this time, he got so sick he really had to go the doctor.
"Shame on you!" the doctor's assistant told him when he showed up for his appointment.
"What did you find out," I asked him.
"The doc says I have high blood pressure -- very high."
I cannot begin to imagine why...
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