How to cope up being the sole financial provider in the family?

@edorms36 (275)
United Arab Emirates
June 18, 2010 12:54am CST
Fellow mylotters! I want to ask for your honest points of views and opinions. As you may know, I am currently faced with a very difficult life situation, I am the eldest in the family of five children, we are already orphaned of our father, my mother suffered from mild stroke 3 months ago, my 2 brothers have their own family and living in a province far from our place, my sister, the second eldest, also have her own family and they are here in UAE just like me, though we live in different areas here, now my mother and my nephew(who was left on our care by my brother when he was only 14 mos old)is left to the care of my youngest sister(who doesn't have a full time job, just doing some part time). Due to financial constraints of providing for my family back home, for their needs and my mothers medication, my own financial needs I am really tight on budget even if I'm earning a decent amount of money, still it's not enough when family emergencies arises, just like now that I received news from home that my mother is ill again and so with my nephew and my sister doesn't know what to do with them, I am getting all stressed up with everything in my life now, my work; which is also so stressful, my families condition back home and my own personal life. I just wanted to pack my things and go home so I can oversee things and care for them but I am concerned about our financial condition, I am the sole provider and if I decide to go home I doubt if I will be able to find a job that will have me earn the same amount I am earning right now, job is scarce back home in the Philippines, I don't know how to cope anymore and I am already so stressed up. Can somebody clear the cobwebs on my mind?
2 responses
• Philippines
18 Jun 10
I so very much understand your predicaments. For I am also the bread and butter in my family of 6; myself, my parents, 2 younger brothers and my nephew from a cousin. I'm working in a call center in the Philippines and we all know that the pay in that kind of job is way higher than those of most 8-to-5 jobs. However, most of my earnings are for bills, food and other necessities around our house. Sometimes, It's sad to realize that even after years of working, nothing have been changed. What's worse is, as my salary goes up, the need for money also goes up. So it's like I didn't get any raise at all. However, I'm still strong. I am an agnostic theist and the way I believe in God is different from most of the people. But that doesn't make me any weaker. My family is my strength. And my better half is the one keeping me sane. There are so many points in my life that I thought everything is still the same. It's like SSDD (same sh1t, different day). It's kind of tiring and it makes me want to quit already. It's like "I've spent my whole life for you guys, what about myself?" But by the end of the day, I realized that if I will think of my self first and leave my family behind, what satisfaction will it give me? Good thing that I'm still single, otherwise, I will be torn in between and will be in much harder situation. About yours, I know you really want to go back home to be close to your family. But you are worried that you might not be able to find an equal or better paying job. My suggestion is that if you have stable job there, stay. Your financial assistance is already enough of help for your family. If you really want to see them and if you have the luxury of extra money then pay them a visit but not go back for good, unless you have a very good reason to. Don't think too much of your family, it will really stress you out. I know it's not easy. But you need to be strong and not thinking them is a sign of strength not weakness or cowardice because you're running away. Go out with your friends there. Do the things that you enjoy doing. Make the best of what's left with you. Filipinos are known to have so much sympathy that when others are in distress, they restrict themselves of doing something cheerful as a sign of respect and sympathy. I know many people who are like this. This is old school already. If you are like this, try to change yourself first, then you will realize that it's much easier to handle the problems of others that became your problems as well.
@edorms36 (275)
• United Arab Emirates
18 Jun 10
Thanks for sharing and elaborating about the subject/topic of discussion. It's somehow good to know that I am not alone on this kind of situation and there are people like you with whom I can identify with and who also emphatise with me, I just hope that God will grant us all our hearts desire and see us through to this, thanks again and God bless us both.
@med889 (5941)
18 Jun 10
I think the best way is to stay in the current job and ask your sister and nephew to be more responsible toward your mother, it is time that they grow up too and they should realized that it is very difficult for you to look after everything and they should be helping out too if not financially then maybe morally.