Balancing The Scales Of Justice

Welfare, Work and Raising Children

Conversations with Twenty-One Maine Families

Sally
BANGOR, MAINE

"There are no 40 hour jobs in my area that will allow me to keep my son in his day care, which is only open from 7 am until 5:30 pm, and also be flexible enough to accommodate my counseling, which I attend to help me get over the effects of the domestic violence I suffered. I am looking forward to being able to work full-time again."

I am a survivor of domestic violence. I am the divorced mother of an eighteen-month-old son named Ruben. When I met my ex-husband in 1999, I was working full time at a convenience store, but he didn't want me to work. Three months later I found myself pregnant and my husband's controlling manner turned violent.

I escaped in November of 2001 with my baby. I lived at my local domestic violence shelter for a few months and then moved into my own apartment with my son. Ten days after I escaped from my ex-husband, I found a job.

But I continue to suffer ramifications from the domestic violence. I have been seeing a counselor, which helps me greatly. I want to make sure that I am able to recover fully so I can be the best parent I can to my son, whose father no longer sees him.

I now work 20 to 26 hours a week at a local sandwich shop, and although I would like more hours, they don't have the business. I have tried to find full-time work that will accommodate my counseling schedule and my son's day care hours, but haven't had success.

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