Managing a Crisis

It’s been a while since my last blog. Life has been pretty hectic lately. I promised raw and honest stories, and today I want to share some hardships we have faced recently and how we are overcoming them as a family.

For the past seven years, I've been the one working while my husband stayed home. I had a great job in retail and worked my way up to a supervisory position, but as our family grew, our financial situation tightened. Fast forward to today: I’ve been in school and haven’t been able to work, leaving us with my student loans and EI payments while my husband still wasn’t working. As a result, bills piled up, leading to immense stress.

However, about two weeks ago, my husband got a job! It felt like a blessing and brought a wave of excitement and relief. We were all thrilled, believing that we could finally breathe. Yet, as his first paycheque arrived, I realized the bills were still racking up. I decided to purchase some much-needed items for the family, while still being prudent with our budget.

Then, midweek, everything changed. A postal service strike meant I hadn’t received any notifications about overdue bills, and suddenly, our power went out. After a stressful call to my provider, I discovered we had been put on limited usage due to lack of payment. I scrambled to keep the household running, and in my desperation, I managed to put what little funds we had towards restoring our power. It left me feeling broken, wondering why we couldn’t catch a break.

In the midst of this struggle, I had to let my boys know they couldn’t take their Taekwondo test. When I told them the news, they surprised me with their understanding and compassion. They hugged me and said, “Mom, it’s okay. We understand.” My heart swelled with pride; they displayed such maturity in the face of disappointment.

Our family has endured so much over the years, and through every challenge, we find a way to emerge stronger. We’ve held onto each other when many might have drifted apart. Despite the struggles and what others may say, I believed in my husband and knew he would find a job he loves. He cares deeply for us, and together, we continue to hold on, proving that love and unity can prevail even in tough times.