I see references to “kids” but no reference to “father” or “husband”.
“And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!”
From Kipling’s “The Gods of the Copybook Headings”.
The old morals may not have been bad after all.
Then suddenly I had two kids, a divorce, a single, crappy job, and all of the expenses of a household on my head.
...in item No. 2 in the list she made.
For those whose lives have been smooth sailing, I am happy for you. You may blame it on planning, sound judgement, being a good judge of character, whatever, and you'd be half right.
Marriage takes two, and if one stops, it's over. Divorce has hardships well beyond emotional/spiritual, and is only part of or the instigating moment in some serious life changes.
Going to school takes time and money, and with two kids, that gets tough.
Note she works one or more jobs, and mentions no time where she doesn't work at all.
This is 'food stamps' (equivalent), not full blown welfare.
If you took the costs written into all she purchases and what her employer pays to have her on the payroll for the actions of the Government, and gave that money to her in increased wages, she'd likely be getting by much better.
The living wage thingy was sad (probably the only reason the piece was published). Those jobs were never meant to feed a family, and I notice there is no mention of tips.
Kids can complicate life to the point where it can be difficult to raise them and hold down a job, especially when shifts are not predictable. It is a different world than the steady world of 9 to 5 so many live in. If you are one who works from 9 to 5, remember everyone else you see working when you are off work doesn't--and there are a lot of people who don't.
There is this part in paragraph 1): "...our rent had just gone up and there were two adults but only one of us had a job." Sounds like married and divorced.
Then suddenly I had two kids, a divorce, a single, crappy job, and all of the expenses of a household on my head.
Divorce implies there was a husband and father.
Does not sound like there is any child support though.
There was a reference to a divorce, FWIW.
She does mention a divorce