We all know how strong a mother’s love for her child is and Katrina’s determination to fight for shared custody of her daughter demonstrates that. But how does a court look at someone who is unable to find employment? If you can’t find employment and have few financial resources, how do you find stable, safe living accommodations and how do you get food? Katrina’s an educated, smart woman and yet there seems no way out. Here’s Katrina:
Right now I’m not working. I’m on disability because the bi-polar hit me hard. It’s a genetic variation, possibly of schizophrenia, which my grandmother may have had. Mine could have been triggered or accelerated by anti-depressant use for postpartum depression. I just changed, my whole personality. I’m nothing like I used to be.
I’m a research scientist. I worked for nine years in biotech. But I haven’t worked in four years. I’ve tried applying for waitressing jobs but they look at me and don’t understand why I would be applying for the job. I’ve had to dumb down my resume to virtually nothing and make it sound like all I did was answer phones instead of drug discovery. I could handle working in a lab but to be honest with you, being my own attorney right now takes six to eight hours a day.
I wish my husband would stop. I wish someone would tell him,
“Just knock it off. You’re making her sicker.”
I think it’s gone so far, even he doesn’t know how to get out of it. I honestly think even if he doesn’t want to do this, the attorneys are giving him advice to win and I’m just an easy target.
People say, “Why don’t you get a job?”
Well, I’m so depressed sometimes, I can’t work right now. And I can understand how that sounds odd because I did work for nine years full-time. I never went without working. I had perfect credit, now my credit report is just shot. I don’t have a police record, thank God. I don’t even have a speeding ticket. But if someone looked at my life in snapshot right now, they would not trust me. Even people who don’t judge me, would think, “She’s a little shady.”
I do look shady, I admit it but I know in my heart, I’m a good person. All I can do is try. I don’t even know if I can rebuild, but I tell myself I have to move on.
I’ve sold everything I have. I did work for a company called American Charities which is a non-profit agency. I was standing in front of Walmart asking for donations and I would get twenty-five percent of all donations. I did horrible because I couldn’t smile. Nobody gave me any money so I just let that go. Now I’m looking for some administrative jobs part-time.
I have to say all this has made me a lot more tolerant. I’m so amazed at how many people will throw stones at a glass house. I can say with confidence, that I might have thrown a few but my house is pretty much intact. It makes me feel better. I’d rather stand alone like this. Doing the wrong thing doesn’t define you but it will sure set a precedent in how you’re treated.
The Divorce Coach Says
Katrina needs a lucky break. She reminds me of Mardell who thought she was destined to living in a shack on a creek until a virtual stranger stepped in and got her some legal help. Katrina is also determined, like Mardell and she knows she’s intelligent. Those two qualities are a powerful combination for success. Her message to me was very clear – she wasn’t going to give up and that sort of belief and self-confidence is so crucial.
Photo Credit: heathbrandon at Flickr