Intergenerational Poverty Final 1

Summary

Julie Cheever, a single stay-at-home mom, shares her struggles with poverty, raising seven children, and caring for her youngest son with disabilities. She emphasizes the different perspectives and challenges faced by those in poverty, including the 'cliff effect' and the importance of education. Despite hardships, she has a plan to return to school and become an interpreter, highlighting the resilience and problem-solving nature of those living in crisis.

Takeaways

• 🏡 Julie Cheever is a stay-at-home mom who has lived in her current home since the end of August, almost a year.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 She is the oldest of seven children and had to start taking on adult responsibilities at a young age due to her mother's hearing impairment and subsequent illness.
• 🕊️ After her mother's passing at age 16, Julie took on the role of a mother figure for her siblings, managing household chores and ensuring their well-being.
• 📚 She struggled with school due to the lack of time for homework and other activities, highlighting the challenges faced by those in poverty.
• 👶 Her youngest child, Drew, has disabilities requiring significant care and attention, including daily physical therapy and catheterization.
• 💔 Julie became a single mom in September, which added to her struggles of maintaining a clean home without help from a spouse.
• 🏘️ She discusses the issue of situational poverty, often caused by events like divorce, which can lead to a lack of resources and financial stability.
• 🔄 Generational poverty is hard to break, but change is possible if one person in a family can make a difference for future generations.
• 🎓 Education is seen as a key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and Julie emphasizes its importance to her children despite her own regrets.
• 💼 Julie was laid off from her job at Walmart and Sam's Club, and the reduced work hours offered were insufficient for her needs as a single mom.
• 🧩 Poverty is multifaceted, involving a lack of various resources, not just financial. The 'cliff effect' is a barrier where increased income can lead to a loss of public assistance.
• 👩‍🏫 She aspires to go back to school to become an interpreter, a part-time job that can provide a good income while allowing her to care for her son Drew.
• 🤔 There is a societal judgment towards those in poverty, with misconceptions about their character and abilities.
• 🛠️ Living in poverty requires constant problem-solving and a crisis mentality, which can be difficult for those in more stable economic situations to understand.
• 👩‍👧‍👦 The importance of support for single moms, especially those with children with disabilities, is emphasized, as it is challenging to meet all needs while working full time.

Q & A

How long has Julie Cheever been living in her current home?

Julie Cheever has been living in her current home since the end of August, which is less than a year.

What role did Julie take on in her family at a young age?

Julie became the voice and ears for her hearing-impaired mother at the age of three, making phone calls and conveying messages. When her mother got sick at age 12, she started making meals for her family, and after her mother passed away at age 16, she took on the role of a mother, ensuring her siblings were ready for school and their homework was done.

What challenges does Julie face as a stay-at-home mom with a child with disabilities?

Julie faces the challenge of managing her time between her responsibilities as a stay-at-home mom and caring for her youngest child, Drew, who has disabilities. She has to perform daily physical therapy with him and catheterize his bladder every three hours.

How has Julie's life changed since becoming a single mom?

Becoming a single mom in September has made Julie's life significantly harder. She struggles daily to keep her house clean without any help from a spouse and has to manage all responsibilities on her own.

What does Julie believe about the perspective of people in poverty?

Julie believes that people in poverty have a different perspective and learning environment compared to those from middle or higher classes. She mentions that when people from higher classes try to help, they often don't understand the unique challenges faced by those in poverty.

What does Julie think about the impact of divorce on poverty levels?

Julie observes a lot of situational poverty due to divorce. She explains that when a father goes to school and the mother doesn't because she was relying on him, and then they divorce, the mother can end up in poverty without a job or education.

What is Julie's view on the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty?

Julie believes that education is crucial in breaking the cycle of poverty. She regrets not getting a college education herself but has instilled in her children the necessity of higher education.

How does Julie describe the experience of being in poverty?

Julie describes poverty as not just a lack of money but also a lack of various resources. She talks about the 'cliff effect,' where individuals may not take a job that pays slightly more because it could result in losing significant public assistance, making it harder to get out of poverty.

What is Julie's plan for her future career?

Julie plans to go back to school to become an interpreter. She believes that working as an interpreter would allow her to earn enough money while working part-time, which would enable her to support her family and take care of her son Drew.

How does Julie feel about the judgment people may pass on those in poverty?

Julie feels that people often judge those in poverty, assuming they are lazy or have personal issues like drug or alcohol problems. She emphasizes that being on state assistance does not mean one is a bad person and that anyone can face hardships.

What does Julie think about the mentality of people living in poverty?

Julie believes that people in poverty often have a crisis mentality, where they are constantly problem-solving and living in the immediate future, focusing on the next steps rather than long-term planning.