I found some of the posts in this thread interesting. This has nothing to do with what happened to me or justifying anything, just sharing some of the different reasons people do what they do.
I grew up on Welfare, with a single Mom. I saw what it did to her. There becomes a poverty consciousness that is very difficult to get out of. I have been on welfare myself. It reinforced that poverty consciousness. I hated growing up not knowing if there would be enough food to last until the end of the month, scrounging pennies, the constant stress of debt and uncertainty that weighs on your shoulders. It's been proven that can cause depression and physical illness. I've lived on minimum wage, as well. I still have to have a cupboard full of food or I panic.
I don't live extravagently. I live in a slightly dumpy apartment from the 70's. I drive a sensible, economical car. I haven't boughten new clothes or shoes in 6 months. I'm currently wearing a sweater I bought 5 years ago. I don't own designer clothes and run around wearing $800 sunglasses. The only thing I really spend a lot of money on is books. The only person who gets spoiled around here is my daughter
So, I've just left a 5 year marriage with nothing to show for it. No child support, no fair division of assets. The career I had trained for before I had my child was not an option, as it involves 15-20 hour days for weeks or months.
So, I sat down and thought about what I wanted to do with my life. My goals were: To own my own home, to get my degree in the career I decided on, and to be able to provide well for my daughter and not have her grow up with the same poverty consciousness I did. So, I can either work my ass off for a year and start off in a good position, or I can take 10 years to accomplish the same things. I chose the former option.
When I start school in September, I'll be able to see maybe 8 people a month. Not a lot. Again, I'd like to make it through those 2 years of school and really be able to CONCENTRATE on it, without worrying about whether I can pay my rent at the same time. So I'll be saving my ass off for that as well.
When I finish school, will I be making anywhere close to what I could make doing this for years? Nope. But I will be comfortable, and I will be doing something I love, and I will be happy. And that's a comfortable decision for me.
Oh and BTW, I don't make 10k every month. I think that's happened twice. Sometimes I make 2 or 3. You can refer to Cosmo's post "Things about Nadia that make you go hmmmm" for the reasons for that.
And just to be a brat (it's 6 AM and I haven't slept yet, I'm allowed to be)
If a woman is irresponsible for being an SP if she has a child, are pooners not irresponsible for seeing SP's if they have a child? After all, your spending your family's money on casual sex. Or what if your daughter's best friend becomes an SP and you go and see her without realizing who it is? Talk about traumatizing a child!
