My name is Ruth. I have four children. My two children, ages 3 and 5, have a very serious life-threatening disease called Charcot Marie Tooth Disease that requires them to have lots of physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. My kids are also ill very often because they are more susceptible to other illnesses due to complications of their disease. Three of my kids also suffer from asthma.

I have tried so many times to meet the work requirement for TANF. Even though I could never work full-time, I tried to work at least half time. But none of my jobs had sick leave, so my kids' illnesses really got in the way. First I worked at fast food places, but my kids would get sick very often and the day care would call me to come and get them. This resulted in missing a lot of work and I was let go. Plus, my doctor wanted me there at my kids' appointments.

Despite the fact that I was always let go because my kids' needs got in the way of my work, I kept on trying. Last year I worked as a road flagger, but they fired me because they needed me to travel and I couldn't because of the kids. Then I got a job as a housecleaner at a hotel. One day while I was working at the hotel, daycare called to say that my son had a temperature of 104° and was having an asthma attack. I was fired for leaving to care for him. A few months ago I tried housecleaning at a different hotel. I kept having to leave when school or daycare would call me because my kids were sick. Eventually they told me that I shouldn't have taken the job in the first place if my kids had so many problems.

I know that my kids will always need my help, and without a basic education, I'll never be able to get the kind of job that allows me to support them.

Despite the fact that I was always let go because my kids' needs got in the way of my work, I kept on trying. Last year I worked as a road flagger, but they fired me because they needed me to travel and I couldn't because of the kids. Then I got a job as a housecleaner at a hotel. One day while I was working at the hotel, daycare called to say that my son had a temperature of 104° and was having an asthma attack. I was fired for leaving to care for him. A few months ago I tried housecleaning at a different hotel. I kept having to leave when school or daycare would call me because my kids were sick. Eventually they told me that I shouldn't have taken the job in the first place if my kids had so many problems.

How am I supposed to work 30 to 40 hours a week when my children have special needs that require my constant attention? And I don't blame employers who need reliable employees. The situation has been so difficult that I had to seek professional counseling for insomnia and depression. I am now taking medication and seeing a counselor.

I used to rely on my mother to help me, but her own health has gone downhill a lot recently. She has asthma and emphysema. I try to help her and I always tell her that the kids are fine because I don't want her to worry more.

My TANF caseworker has had me working with an agency that helps families with lots of problems to try to overcome them. Now I am enrolled in an adult education program, and my teachers understand my children's needs and are flexible. I am trying hard to get my high school diploma. I know that my kids will always needs my help, and without a basic education, I'll never be able to get the kind of job that allows me to support them.

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