We were both single moms, struggling through the financial challenges of raising kids and balancing their needs, our needs, work, and such. It was early December, which is a stressful time, with holidays, gift expectations, and extra demands on our limited time and resources.
“I am just beat, “ said Maggie one day on the phone, “from the running around.”
I agreed. I had two part-time jobs and my teen-age daughter constantly needed a ride to basketball practice or games or friends’ houses. I loved her sociability and athletic skills, but it was a daily challenge to juggle her rides with my work schedule.
“And the money is too tight, “ said Maggie. “I’ve had my third notice from the gas company and I just don’t know where the money will come from.”
We hung up and the image of Maggie and her two girls stayed in my mind. I didn’t make much money, but I am very frugal, a good ‘swamp Yankee.’ I have savings for my daughter’s college, savings for my old age, savings for house payments, and monthly emergency accounts. I inherit my clothes from generous friends who have outgrown their things and from an industrious 85 year old aunt who sews. I think very hard about what I do with my money and can talk myself out of almost any purchase because ‘I don’t really need it.’ So it was a major step for me to consider that maybe I could send Maggie some money to help with her heating crisis.
CONTACT ME FOR COMPLETE PUBLICATION
BACK TO PUBLICATIONS
Beth Lapin 
Leave a Reply