I read your article with much complimentary to you. I cannot understand how this state has gone to the dogs sort to speak, yet, I look around and see money going here and there in the building industries, yet, no jobs are out there any longer to be found. I am a single mother with a disabled son of 26 yrs old.who was born 3 months prematurely and stayed in Children’s Hospital for 2 1/2 yrs from birth. I brought my son home, to begin the next 6 yrs. of helping and nurturing him to the best of my ability to help him become the “guy” who everyone likes and loves in our community. I have worked all my life since I was 19 yrs. old, my last job I worked for the school district. in the special education department as a SECA. I had and still do hold a wealth of information as to the “what,why,where,when and how” to give back some of myself to students who perhaps were foster children, state awarded , to offer them the “nurture” and closeness to help give them a higher sense of pride,contentment, desires, to be all they could be. I have and had paid my dues, taxes, and then some. I’am now approaching 59 very quickly, and,due to the “state budget” in the realm of employment to stay gainful, the hours were cut back, which then resulted to less income, fighting tooth and nail with my son’s dad to do his ” duty ” as a parent, and pay child support,( which is minimal )…. I know I am not the “only” single mom who have gone thru any of this, but… my issue is, the balance and rationalization to add more insult to injury, and, allow for us mother’s who truly are there for the welfare and benefit of thier child. There are so much to say here, yet, I know you cannot read a book, but, I wanted you to know, to be heard, that to cut anything in anyway, is detrimental to the children…..
Please , please life is hard enough as it is, to much less ” worry ” with sick that our livilihood could be put in jeopardy then what about the ” children “…..

Thank you for reading, if you could and I had to say my piece as I feel sooo afraid, if not enough people do not step up to the plate, we too, then will become even more destitute. Please lets not have our children end back up in institions, metnal hospitals, etc…. If you feel like you would like to talk to me at any point and time… I would love to be able to show and share my life with and about my beautiful son,our tribulations. Please lets get off the band wagon of keeping “fear” going, that, one under these circumstances, could not digest all this, and .

Thank you again…
Prayerfully,
Linda Sorenson