Thread: I feel trapped. Please help!

Tips on time management.
Get one of those Large Desk Calendars, like this one.



They have 6 lines on them to write things in, First write in your Work Schedule, then your School Schedule, Make a Study time and a Sleep time . Make sure you have the Sleep time, written in Bold Red Letters.

Days off you can List things like " Do Laundry, Clean & Vacuum My Room, Clean Car, Pay Bills, My turn ( Day ) for Dishes . Make Dinner and Help with Housework.

Every other day of the week, Clean up after yourself, take care of Your pets , just as if you lived alone.

Post this on your outside of Bedroom Door. Sit down and tell your Parents, This is My Schedule, I am available to help out around the house on My Days off. I will of course clean up after myself, but cannot clean up after You Guys, Brother, Everyday or I will have to give up either my Job or Schooling.

To your Boss, ask to speak with him/her after work. Sit down with a List ( smaller ) of your Schedule. Explain in a calm, Mature Statement of Fact. " I am burning the Candle at both ends, and with only 4 hours sleep, I feel I am not my Best or most Productive for the Company ( Job ) at this schedule.

I do not want to leave this job, nor do I want to give up my Education. Is there a way we can work with my hours until I can get the Home schedule and School Schedule adjusted " ?




Advice on low-income housing.



Low income housing has a waiting list of up to 5 years in most states, Priority is given to Families, single mothers, displaced Homemakers, Disabled or no income families.
But you can try a Roommate situation, Search or post on Campus about others that may be in your Predicament.



Apparently, there's free counseling at my school. How do I take advantage of that?


On this, make an Appointment with your School Guidance Counselor.

Explain ( again , with copy of your Schedule, Home & Work and School ) ask them if you can Drop a class, or rearrange a class or postpone a class for the Next Quarter/ Semester. They will be able to help you in your Credits that are needed, help see if you can take harder or more intense , homework type classes , later in your Degree program.

Also see if there is any Financial Aid or grants available, including Student loans.
Tell them the same as you have told your Boss & Parents. " I do not want to Give up my Education or my Job, but without some sort of Help or restructuring of my time. I may fail at all of it ".


What should I do about my parents?



This is not as simple as I may write it, But.. Do step One, Posted in Writing Calendar. Step Two , let them know that you just cannot do the School Work and Homemaker for the Family, and hold down a full time job. There just aren't enough Hours in the Day.

With your dad having 2 jobs, Mom being a Teacher, They of all people should know how hard it it.

Your Brother needs to start doing his Share, He needs to start doing Chores around the house, an Allowance ( Earning money for the Chores ) is a great incentive and teaches him that you don't get paid if you don't work.

** I have my 21 year old Daughter that lives at home & is going to school, but on a Hiatus and no job though. With both her Brother who also lives at home (25 ) who also works full time as does myself, paying all rent, food, her clothes and so on.

She is responsible for basic chores, Kitchen clean up,her Laundry & all of our Sheets and Towels, their Bathroom, I have my own. Taking out trash, the cat boxes and her room and basic things she may see that needs to be done.

And I Pay her $20 a week for doing these things. It saves me Money and Time, saves her Brother Money & Time. He helps with Rent, he pays the Cells & buys the cat food and Litter.
I pay Rent, Electric, Cable , Car insurance on two cars, (But son pays his part of Insurance in the Rent Total ) and Internet , home phone and Cable for us all..

We are all responsible for our own Personal Rooms and Laundry and whoever runs out of Shampoo, Laundry soap, Toilet paper or garbage bags , lets me know and I buy those on my way home.

We usually eat separately, but sometimes one of us makes a " Dinner ". If we want to eat something else, we buy our own.


This is a Family, ones that help each other out when and if anyone needs help, that makes sure that none of us go without basics.


I must say I am proud of you, 19, working, continuing your Education and asking for outside help, like this Forum.
Very Proud.. You are not or said Pregnant, Homeless or Abused.

That is a Plus .. In this " Mama's " Old book..

Hi, I hope you have talked with your parents about this. I would really think with your mother being a teacher, she would understand what you are going through. Our son is a freshman, too, living at home, too. I am not saying we as his parents are perfect, but I understand his need of time to himself, plenty of time for homework, time to help around the house, and time for sleep. Maybe your parents don't realize how much they are putting on you. I don't know if you and your parents filled out the FAFSA for financial aid for college. It's almost time to fill it out again, so you can get next year paid for with student loans and grants. Then, you won't have to worry about the school bill. Please go to the financial aid office at your school and talk to them. Also, you should be eligible for work study, which means you would get a work study job on or off campus, and the government pays your salary, and you could tell your boss either he lightens up on your hours, or you will have to quit. You're way too young to be stuck like this. I hope some of this helps, kiddo. Good luck, and if you EVER feel suicidal, get help from student services if your parents won't listen.

Hey there, I know where your coming from. I had to do the same thing when I was your age. My advice, focus on school. Don't let your grades slip. It's okay if the table is dusty or you don't get around to all the chores. You don't have an eleven year old boy- your mother and father do. It's their responsibility to clean up after him. As for your boss you need to let him know that you need fewer hours. I don't know if you have communicated that.

You are only one person with two hands. Take care of the things that are priority and the rest will fall into place. Just leave a few things undone and I think your parents might figure it out- you just can't do EVERYTHING. I think is actually a benefit for you in the long run (fewer student loans etc.), so just focus on school. Perhaps you should lower your course load to full time instead of overworking yourself for your own health- you should get your full 8 hours of sleep.