Job Loss or Hard Times Historically and Now ~ Lending a Helping Hand

Our neighbor called us last night and we were introduced to another "sign of the times"...this time, close to home where she will be lending a helping hand to family members who have lost their jobs.

We have a wonderful neighborly relationship.

She knows that we watch her house for her while she is at work or on vacation.

During Hurricane Ike, we looked out for one another and shared what we each had to contribute.

We helped rake her yard of fallen debris; she loaned us a land line phone and we ate meals together.

It was an uncommon time for more bonding between people who live close to one another but still lead separate lives.

It was a short time that we suffered electricity and telephone outages following the hurricane, but it helped forge a stronger relationship between us.

It is good to know that others care and are willing to share during times of crisis.

Living here just two years after having moved from our old subdivision about 3 miles away where we lived for 28 years, we feel fortunate to have met some friendly and helpful new neighbors.

Our next door neighbor is a very like-able lady.

She took in some foster kids shortly after we moved next to her and nurtured them for about a year. She did a great job and the kids are now living back with their mother. An ongoing saga there... Last we heard, the kids are now in a homeless shelter. That biological mother seems to be making continually bad choices which impact her children. Sad! Our neighbor would have happily taken the children back, but they have now moved out of this area.

The reason she called us last night was to notify us that we will be seeing new people moving into her house.

These people are family members.......her brother and sister-in-law along with their dog and cat.

They have joined the ranks of many people in this day and age who are without jobs. Obviously hopeful that the job market is better here in Houston than where they have been living, they have been invited to live with our neighbor until their situation improves.

Being jobless, they are truly fortunate to have a family member invite them into her home. They will not have to live in their car or join the ranks of those living in tent cities that are springing up in other parts of the country where people have no better options.

My mother and I were talking about this situation at the kitchen table this morning.

Mother was born in 1925 and when the Great Depression came along and the Stock Market crashed in 1929, she was a little tyke.

Growing up in the City of Milwaukee, she remembered the fact of it being commonplace that many generations lived under the same roof.

In fact, extended families were the norm back then. Parents and children typically shared housing with grandparents and sometimes aunts, uncles or cousins.

In my mother's case, her widowed maternal grandfather lived with them full time until his death.

My mother's fraternal grandparents had a bedroom in the family home that was used seasonally.

Living in California for most of the year after they had retired, they would come back to Wisconsin in the Spring and live with them in Milwaukee until it was warm enough to move out to their cottage on the lake.

Then, in the Fall, prior to moving back to California, they would once again join the household in Milwaukee.

The hard financial times following the depression necessitated some of this, but families tended to stay together back then and help one another for other reasons.

If there was an elderly maiden aunt, she was often taken in by one family member or another.

She did not have to live alone.

Aging parents were not shipped off to nursing homes, but were kept at home where they still were an intricately inter-woven part of that family's life.

Girls often remained at home until they would become married.

Not all bad!

Resources were pooled.

Chores shared.

Conversations flowed.

Family history was a living and breathing thing between several generations.......one that was experienced, not just related.

On the block where my mother grew up, most everyone had at least 3 generations living together in their apartments and homes.

We wish our neighbor and her new family members well. Whether it is a short and temporary stay or a prolonged visit, hopefully they will enjoy a new sense of togetherness and shared experiences that will leave their lives enriched and create some good memories.

Today, this is a sign of the times and we will undoubtedly be seeing more of this if our economy continues to spiral downward.

When people lose their jobs, it is not long before savings are used up and financial obligations can no longer be met.

This is happening to people from all walks of life........every educational background.

Job loss is a constant concern to many people we know. Still employed, they are seeing others let go and wonder when it might be their turn to exit the door for the last time.

Talk about stress!

Just turn on the nightly news and one can hear about more job losses. When will this end? Not soon according to "experts."

Those that are impacted with the loss of a job and have family or friends that can lend them a helping hand.......and, more importantly.......are willing to do so, are the fortunate ones.

Hopefully this sign of the times ( the poor economic indicators ) will be remedied sooner rather than later. Our neighbor is doing her part to help her family members. From what we have learned about her, we would expect no less. If the need arises, would you do the same thing and lend a helping hand?

Job losses and hard times have historically happened in the past and will undoubtedly occur again in the future. How are or would you cope with the situation? Would you lend a helping hand?