by Bethany, Families Flourish participant
The Columbus Dispatch
Thinking back over the last few years, it is hard for me to believe just how much has changed in my life and the lives of my family.
Prior to August 2018, we had been living on the east side of Columbus. At that time, I felt as though we were just trying to survive day by day.
Occasionally, I would think about looking for a better job or going back to school at night but each time, the reality of our situation would make clear the boundaries of our possibilities.
Each family member’s stress level was off the charts.
My daughter came home regularly with bruises and received threatening calls from other kids. My eldest son witnessed a student stab the school’s principal. My youngest son was labeled a behavioral problem and a remedial learner.
At home, we had the tires on our car punctured, the windshield wipers stolen off of the car, and our apartment was broken into. I continually felt depressed that I couldn’t find a way to change our circumstances to create a better life for myself and my family.
