I hope things work out for you, but with that many bills & kids to feed, I'd be looking for at least a part time job to bring in some steady money. Then work on growing your business & putting at least 3 months living expenses in the bank.

In any small business, shit happens. Processors go tits up, sponsors fold & you need to be prepared to handle the blows. Whether you love the industry or not is irrelevant. I would suck it up & get a job ASAP to make sure my kids were taken care of.

:2 cents:

Here's the problem. 5 kids = at least $200 a week in child care even in federally subsidized programs (the subsidized programs around here are all $40+ per week per child.) Regular daycare centers want $60-$100 a week PER CHILD.

If I was lucky and managed to find a job at $8.00 per hour, 40 hours a week would only be $320. Minus taxes would leave maybe $250 a week. So I work 40 hours for $50? :(

My mother has no job. She is on social security and doesn't have to work. But she won't help me by watching my kids because she want to go to college, even if I pay her a little. I have no other family to turn to for help with babysitting.

I make more than $8 per hour doing graphics design. The problems is, with my husband working and no babysitter, I don't have nearly as many hours to work as I need to, plus, when I have a client that takes longer than normal because of changes and such, it puts my whole client list behind which means I can't take new jobs until I get caught up, meaning no income during that time.

My oldest is 8 and he does help watch the others, but he can't cook, and he can't clean alot (although he does take out the trash, clean up some, vacuum and such.) But the bulk of it has to be done by myself and my husband.

It will all work out eventually. I have faith in my own ability and my motivation. I am just having a rough time right now, but I know I can pull out of this if I work hard. :)

Sounds like a counrty western song:1orglaugh

Hehe. Sadly, you're right. Maybe I should sell it to Garth Brooks or Toby Keith. I might make enough money to get out of this mess. :Graucho :(

wow what a man - abuse the woman a bit more why dont ya hero

you need a

good aussie beating aaronm you fat fuck

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

I am Fat, ugly and can't do anything productive. I am a TOOL!!!
I am Fat, ugly and can't do anything productive. I am a TOOL!!!
I am Fat, ugly and can't do anything productive. I am a TOOL!!!
I am Fat, ugly and can't do anything productive. I am TOOL!!!
I am Fat, ugly and can't do anything productive. I am TOOL!!!

I have no doubt you'll get caught up, Tootie. You are deffinetly a talented designer. :thumbsup

8? sweet jesus! and maybe you're pregant again? and 10 years more, i can't imagine how many kids you have! :(

Hey girl, hang in there and I am hopeful that you are "only" physically sick from sitting at the computer for endless hours and the biopsy will not have negative results, hon :thumbsup

No, I'm not pregnant. Where did you hear that? My youngest is 14 months. And not that it really matters, but I was using birth control when I got pregnant with three of them. Condom didn't work, condom with spermacide didn't work and using the pill and the Depo Provera injection at the same time didn't work. And yes, I will absolutely be getting a tubal ligation when I can afford it. :)

Hope everything turns around for you.

Have you thought of being a substitute at your kid's school? You'd get out by the time they did so you'd only pay daycare for the kids that aren't in school.

Or ask around and see if there's a neighbor that will take them for a few dollars an hour.

Heck, if worse comes to worse, start a daycare. I have several friends bringing in $50-60K a year plus they don't have to pay for daycare! :)

Jesus Christ. I almost pissed myself. That's a classic.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hypocrisy

I ordered some graphics updates from Tootie yesterday. They were delivered on time and exceeded my expectations.

Tootie, you are a true professional. Thanks a bunch!

Tootie, here's an idea for you...

Find a neighbor kid with a little time on his/her hands and the desire to earn some cash. Maybe in the age range of 12-14, a girl would probably be best. Have them come over after school every day for 2-4 hours to help out around the house and watch the kids. You're still around for any emergencies that may happen, but other than that I see no reason a 12-14 year old girl couldn't handle your kids unless they're complete hellions.

Have her keep the kids occupied, get them started on their homework, start dinner, tidy up the living room a little bit, and any other odd jobs you may need done around the house. Give her $20 a day. Even to a 12-14 year old, $20 for a couple hours work is great money. That's $100 extra a week in her pocket.

Now before you freak out about the $100 a week, think about it for a minute. It's MUCH cheaper than any day care. The kids are close so you know they're safe. Homework is started. The living area is moderately clean. And the basics of dinner have been started, all while you're at your computer completing orders.

Above you stated that your time is worth more than $8 per hour, which it is. So get somebody else in there helping while you make your $20 or whatever it is an hour.

Think about it.

Peaches, I've looked into the idea of running a daycare before but they county allows a maximum of 6 children per caretaker including your own, so I'd only been able to keep one. :(

Thanks, Sly. I don't know if I can find anyone around here or not. I don't know any of my neighbors except that two of them are incredibly rude and hateful to everyone else in the neighborhood and no one else will even say hi to you. I really hate this neighboorhood, but at least it seems safe. I'll see what I can do, though. That sounds like a great idea. I might even have to put an ad in the paper if I can't find someone nearby. :)

Tooties is a genius marketer. If any sponsors are looking for an affiliate rep, hit her up.


Think about it.
Starting a Drama thread with ArronM's name in the title.
Then here with this sob story about having 5kids;llate on every payment: Car, rent, every other bill (but her internet bill).


And look what happends. Eight or Ten of you jump on the bandwagaon and post that you will be hitting Tootie up with a job for her or some overdue payments to give her.


Tootie just made a bunch of money of this thread.

Im not doubting tootie isnt in the position she describes, and keep your head up if that is the case tootie.

hire an asian woman (stay-in servant), give her $400-500 a month and she will do all the domestic work, baby-sitting your kids 12/7.

Tootie, I wish you all the best and I hope the medical issue is just a scare.

From the work I seen of yours, you are a good graphic designer and with five children, you must love children.

It appears that times are tough right now but you and your family will manage. I see your reasoning for not taking a low paying job, but did you ever think about teaching? Peaches suggested substituting or starting a daycare (which is a great idea but doesn?t cover health insurance). I know teaching is not an immediate fix but the hours are great and you would have insurance for you and your family.

With your graphic and computer skills if you went as a vo-tech teacher, in most states, you do not need a teaching credential and there is a lot of funding available.

Once again, I hope everything works out for you.

100

All the work I have sent to Tootie has been way beyond my expectations! :thumbsup :thumbsup

Tootie, You mentioned that you were working on a site that your client didn't like, I don't suppose you have a number of designs that clients have turned down for whatever reason that you could do a fire sale with?

awesome idea sly

everyday I gain more and more respect for you. True Class:thumbsup

I just sent a couple of my customers your way, I'll send anybody else that I can't take care of, I've been turning down a lot of business being too busy, I hope this helps, keep your chin up, things will turn around :thumbsup

tootie's situation is real, i have done business with her for a few months and we've talked about this before.

she is not a begger, she is not trying to cause drama to get work.

she is one of the best designers in this business.

SHE IS THE ONLY DESIGNER I KNOW THAT CAN TURN AROUND A PROJECT THAT IS FAST, AFFORDABLE, AND ALWAYS ON TIME.

her personal situation is her own, but even amongst all the problems she has, she still turns out work better then any designer i know.


tootie, hang in there girl:) we've talked before on icq, and i am always there to talk again if you need me:winkwink:

Man, quit with the ass-kissing already, wtf..

you know what, i agree mostly with AaronM.


we all got problems. what the fuck makes you think YOUR problems are bigger than mine or someone elses?

the people I respect don't bring them to the board looking for sympathy. And it has nothing to do with income.


tootie may say she's not feeling sorry for herself - but reading between the lines that's exactly what she's saying. The world doesn't give a shitt about feelings or about you - sure people may say oh oh oh - or throw a few dollars at someone's problem to make themself look good or feel better, but in the end you make your own bed.

my advise - tootie - if you can't handle AaronM's comments on a board called 'go fuck yourself' then maybe - just maybe you shouldn't be here.

Tootie,best wishes to you.

Airing your problems in a public arena is a method often used to exercise control over others. The same applies to a board such as this.

Many of you as a result feel that if you are in any way negative to the person airing their problems, you will be lynch mobbed or attacked by everyone.

Think to that one person in every social setting who complains about how life is hard, and how ackward it makes you feel. That is their way of exercising control over you.

I never said my problems were bigger than someone else's. And I never said I'm NOT feeling sorry for myself. Who, in my position, wouldn't feel sorry for themselves? I'll bet not one person in this world would be able to TRUTHFULLY say that they didn't feel sorry for themselves if they were in my position. But I'm not letting it control me, that's the point.

And it's just silly to say I can't handle his comments. I just asked for them, didn't I? And I'm still here. And I read every word of his post. :Hollering

I'm here to do business and maybe have a little fun in the process. I find it completely irresponsible of people to go around calling people idiots and such for simply talking a little business. I mean, that is rather unprofessional no matter how you look at it, is it not? I don't know why people think that just because this is the adult entertainment industry they can behave like 12 year olds and it's fine.

As for my reasons for posting this thread, it was not for sympathy. I personally don't care if anyone believes otherwise. I truly hoped Aaron was get his contempt for me, a person he hardly knows, out of his system. I don't think I have anyone on ignore, and I'd rather not put anyone there. Aaron has had some valuable things to say in the past and I'd rather not lose the value of his posts, but if it interferes with my business, I guess I'll have to.

Obviously I know he doesn't care whether I have him on ignore or not, and that's fine, but I would prefer it never get that far. I would rather not censor someone, even when they disagree with me. I have no problem with a little friendly disagreement, but calling names is just ridiculous.

The reason I told my story was not to gain sympathy from anyone. I put it out there because I figured if everyone already knew everything, there was nothing left Aaron could say. And I was right. At this point, I can't see any way Aaron could damage me any further. I already know he thinks I'm an idiot, and that's fine. Whatever. He's not the first person to call me that on this board. :winkwink:

Seriously, I just want to conduct business and network with a great bunch of people, and I'd prefer it if people could allow me to do that without resorting to juvenile behavior. If not, I guess I'll live with it. But I can't let it get to me, and I won't. :)

Jesus H. Christ.

You're still crying about this?

Go ahead baby...Milk it or all it's worth. :glugglug

:tongue:

look up near the top of your computer screen. there's a URL there, just after the htpp://www. read it SLOWLY with me... come on, you can do it....


now after reading that OUTLOUD and slowly, tell me seriously - is this a board for "I just want to conduct business and network with a great bunch of people, and I'd prefer it if people could allow me to do that without resorting to juvenile behavior" or is this - now work with me here - look up and READ the URL outloud again.



now read it one more time outloud.


now come on, admit it - you feel just a WEEEEE bit stupid right now don't you?

:1orglaugh :glugglug

hello there AaronM :Graucho :Graucho :Graucho

No, Sleazy, honestly I don't. I guess I was brought up with better manners than that. *shrug*

But obviously I can take it. I'm STILL here.

Hello there ignorant bitch who is quoting MaskedMan and suggesting he is me.

How's life on whatever planet you are from?

Maybe you should be working so you can keep your ass out of hock instead of lurking here to see what kind of attention you can bring to yourself. :2 cents:

i'd say her exposure her is advertising and work but there's no sig with how to contact her for business reasons in her posts......