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Single mom, homeschool all 4 of my children AND work. it can be done

Posted By: i raise my own kids and work on 2008-12-11
In Reply to: Sure do agree with you WORKING women set a good example for kids and - Reality check from a single mom

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I believe those were on the test for psych work because a lot of children
nowadays are watching shows such as Spongebob and using the X-Box, Playstation, etc., and they just want to make sure that you know all the new stuff out there that they will be using in their dictation. I've done psych. work before and they use a lot of modern jargon in their dictation.
A job is not an afterthought to me. I had a FT MT job before my children and CHOSE to work PT so I

can enjoy them.  I think anyone with children can understand that.  I do take my job seriously and work and am a high producer.  I enjoy my job but I also enjoy my other FT job, which is my children!


only if you want to work every single day!
I accepted a position with them a while ago. They say you can work when you want as long as you get your lines in for the pay period. then they call you and ask why you aren't working. their expectation is that you log in every day to see what work is there. Thanks, but no thanks. Every single day? I don't think so.
Run out of work every single night.

Not a single DIME. We work for them, they're -
And $300 for a license fee? How do you spell S-C-A-M? My current company uploaded the necessary software from their computers to mine for FREE.

If that charge wasn't in the contract, talk to an attorney about it. I'd be willing to bet that what they did isn't legal.

Gad - they already gyp us in pay, and now they're 'double-dipping' by gypping us when we sign up? Absolutely incredible.
You must not have children. sm
Would you actually turn down a job that paid $14 an hour and have your family starve. Some people think $14 an hour is really good. I do, however, think this is a low wage for QA; I just think one should really think about what they are saying before posting it. If someone is incapable of transcribing anymore and has a family to feed, then they may have to take $14.00; especially, where I live, there are not many jobs that pay that!!! even hard labor, factory, shift jobs The average wage in my town is about $12.00

Yes I have children that I raised alone
and the last one grew up and left in 1994. Back then people did not take junk pay for work. They refused it and back then we got what we asked. Maybe you were not a QA person then (neither was I BTW), but when I decided to go for it, I got still only half what I earned as an MT with over 25 years of acute care experience, any work type. It's not the average wage in your town. It is national and I find that no matter who you work for, you can get a decent wage...well almost...if it weren't for you who take less money. It was easier two years ago.

It's all in how you learn to negotiate.

Please rethink that $14 and not a penny less than $15 bottom cuz if you do take $14, that makes them think the wage is ok.

I am on your side, but please think hard about this.
what do you do for insurance with 3 children?
Nm
Say what you will...our children will be running
that nursing home you'll be in some day. Better to treat them well and take care of them now than to wish you did later. By the way...I'm guessing you have a dog or cat instead of kids?
If you're old, have no SO, and have no children go

for it.  If you have children, are married or hope to be one day no way.   You can probably manage for a few weeks before everything starts falling apart, your house is a mess, you're eating at your desk, you start yelling at anyone who dares speak to you because you're working.


Also, taxes will kill you.   I've worked lots of OT, 2 jobs, and taxes took a big chunk and for what I went through I didn't have much to show for it.  


You could do second job as a trial and maybe you'd like to quit job #1 or maybe you decide you don't like job #2 and you've BTDT and got it out of your system. 


I hope you don't have any children - you

certainly set a bad example for their future.


Unless you have small children SM
at home and really don't want to put them in daycare, PLEASE consider a different field. Transcription is drying up in the US. There is no future in it. Find a career that cannot be outsourced.
Are you really mother to 6 children?
nm
Go for it! Children love being with

other children if you have to put them in day care. I raised 3 boys but only 1 went to daycare. He turned out to be the most social person I have ever met. The other 2, well, they are nice kids, but don't really know how to socialize that well. I worked from home for 20 years and it was tought. It will also give you some free time from the kids that is desperately needed nowadays.


You have to think about the future, not the present. Don't listen to the naysayers in these messages.  Think about the future of your family.


It's unfair to say it's only people with children.
I think the above poster is correct that it's the perception that you can work when you want to that has caused this, not just people who have kids. I have a transcription service and some of the worst offenders don't have any children at all. Even in the real world I always saved my vacation days, etc. to use for my children's school events or whatever and took time off for my kids because they are my no. 1 priority. That has never interfered with my fulfillment of my job duties, even when I worked outside of the home.

I've hired anywhere from someone straight out of school to older people nearing retirement age and some of my best ICs were mothers. Some of my worst included one gal who wanted to party every night of the week and couldn't work the next day with a hangover, an older lady who got tired earlier in the day than she thought she would so she had to stop work early, and yet another lady who had marital problems and used an argument with her hubby as her excuse not to work on any given day. I can give more examples, none of which involve kids. Most of the women with kids did well because they knew how to organize their time, worked when kids were asleep or at school since they knew it was their only chance to get it done, and they were adept at multitasking.

What you are really seeing is a lack of work ethic in general, in all different professions. So many want to get rich right now but they don't want to have to work to do so. We live in a drive-thru, high-speed society and everyone wants everything RIGHT NOW with the least amount of effort possible.
Geez, nothing like that for me. I have employee+children
nm
I love my children but having a child does not mean
everything is honey and sunshine. I really think nothing anymore about people who say they do not want. I think they are being realistic about a job you give yourself to for 18+ years, sometimes with not the most pleasant of outcomes in a relationship when a person who wants other things strives to have what they want and what they need. I used to think people who said no children were selfish- I understand their statements now. Motherhood is very much played up as far as I am concerned. Most of these posts are speaking from having young babies, toddlers before teen years and grown- those are the really good years. No pity needed nor wanted. My children had a very priviledged upbringing.
How many foster children are living with you?
The two comments made after my initial post left me so frustrated that I debated on responding. In the real world, most consider me to be kind hearted and easy going. For that reason, I usually avoid controversial issues for the sake of arguing.

This particular subject matter just hits very close to home and I have zero tolerance when misinformed people offer unwarranted advice. I feel it's very inconsiderate. The OP just asked about companies with insurance plans that covered IVF. She didn't come here asking for opinions or the blessing of MT Stars. What she is going through is difficult enough without complete strangers (probably sitting home with their 2-3 kids)telling her that wanting to start a family with her husband is completely unnecessary. I'm still amazed at how cold people can actually be.

Now to respond to your post.
First of all, if you did any research at all on the foster care and adoption systems in this country, you would not only be saddened, but you would not have posted. I'm not trying to be mean at all, but you are truly so misinformed that I don't know where to start.

My husband and I actually looked into foster parenting and even took the classes. We have a couple of friends as well as my in-laws who are foster parents. First of all, becoming a foster parent IS NOT a permanent situation. The small percentage of adoption that does result from being a foster parent can take up to 5 or 6 years! Plus, a very high number of foster children have special needs, severe behavioral problems, or mental issues caused from abuse. I do have one daughter who was 4 at the time we were taking classes. After spending years being protective parents, researching, and taking classes,we were afraid of exposing our small child to the abuse (physical, mental, sexual, drugs), that put these unfortunate children in foster care to begin with.

Yes you are right about so many beautiful children that need homes. There are literaly 1,000s of childless couples in this country that would love nothing more than to get serious about caring for them. Have you tried to adopt in this country? Good luck if you decide to take your own advice. You are looking at a long waiting list, tons of red tape and buracracy, not to mention a few grand. Oh and there is that chance after you have brought that sweet child home and bonded with him/her, that the crack-head bio-mom will decide she wants to play house and ger her an attorney (that you are paying for with your tax dollars.) After the court hearings are finally over (1-2 years later) you can kiss that little one good-bye. I've seen it happen to people very close to me...not on Lifetime. It does happens.

Seriously, why do you think so many Americans pay obscene amounts of money for international adoptions? Think about it.

Out of curiosity, do you have children?
My children are insured by their father and I purchase my

insurance.  For vacations, I work an extra day a week for a twice a month for a couple months going into the month of my vacation.  As for holidays, I usually work them.  I look at it as being blessed enough to have a job at home where I can be with my girls and so if my usual days off happen to fall on the holiday, I usually volunteer to work 1/2 day, usually in the evening of the holiday so I can have the day with my girls and I work after they are in bed.  Hope this helps!


No worse than screaming children in the background!
When you've done this a while you can block anything out.
What kind of future do our children and grandchildren have? sm
To begin with, they will be burdened by taking care of their elderly parents and grandparents who devoted their lives to working hard to make a living, only to have that living yanked out from under them.

Unfortunately, it seems that the philosphy of our government is to run all over the globe taking care of other countries while allowing our own people to slip further and further into poverty. I wonder how far this will have to go before the powers that be open their eyes and see what is happening to our own country?

I have been in this business for 15 years and am less than 20 years away from retirement age. According to my last Social Security statement, I will have to work until age 66 years 10 months before I can draw full Social Security and, if I can keep the arthritis and the carpal tunnel away and keep my wits about me, I can even earn a couple hundred more at age 70 IF there are even funds left in SS at that point. With the pushing of the retirement accouts by the federal government, my money says there won't be any money when I get ready to draw it.
Children's Health Insurance Program
You didn't say whether you needed the insurance primarily for yourself or for your child.  If the need is primarily for your child, please look into your state's Children's Health Insurance Program or CHIP.  This is for children in families that earn too much to be eligible for Medicaid but cannot obtain or afford health insurance for their children.  In Illinois, the program is called All Kids, and the governor is actively trying to get the word out, since many people don't know about the program at all or assume it is part of Medicaid and requires you to be in dire poverty which is not true.
There are young children who have hearing issues
from babies on up. Why do you think this is age discrimination and why would you say sue?
Wow, expecting a gift. CHILDREN expect gifts. Maybe..
your gift is the fact that you have a job during this current economic crisis. If you get something, fine; if not, are you going to quit? You still have 4 days to wait by your mailbox for your gift, if you should get one.
also, the original poster asked how to stay production with small children...
not whether or not MTs are being exploited...
Stop putting up with adults who are children. It is IRRESPONSIBLE to go to a payday loan place. sm
As transcriptionists, we have options. We can take on more work with the company we are with, move to another company, get a second job, get our own accounts.

If everyone would be mature and take responsibility for themselves, there would be no problems.

By the way, for your information, I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 3 WONDERFUL CHILDREN and I have been for many years. Transcription allowed me to buy a house, pay my bills and be able to buy nice things. I knew when I was getting divorced that I either needed to cut corners or earn more. I did both. My kids and I live in a nice home but my girls share a room and my son has his own. I pay cash for cars and drive them until they cannot be driven or are not safe. We eat at home with home-cooked meals rather than eating out, except when celebrating something like a birthday or good report cards or an award one of them receives. They have nice clothese, a clean house and everything they need. I work while they are in school but make every minute of my work day count, and I have an extra job that I work on weekends in the early mornings when they are sleeping and evenings when they are asleep. We have friends, go to church and have a close family. I have never had child support and have never had to be on welfare.

I budget carefully and have a savings account. I only make 35,000 a year on average but I make it work.

Excuses are just that. People need to do for themselves. If they have medical issues or a tragedy, that's one thing, but so many of the people I have worked with just spend all their time whining and none of that time making their lives better.

I am not going to apologize. I am not a mean person, just tired of hearing people complain about EVERYTHING in this profession. Yes, it has changed, but we still have options. Many other fields do not.
Not a single one. nm
s
$500.00/single

I am not a single
mother but I empathize those who are and who are trying to raise a family on their own doing this. If not for my husband's income I wouldn't be able to survive on my own. Thats my point, a woman no matter what should be able to be self-sufficient and chosing this as a career will not give you that security.
Another single mom MT here

Yes, it can be done.  It isn't easy by any means, but it is possible if you are fortunate to be working for a good company.   


I have supported both my child and I solely on my income as a work-at-home MT.  For a little over a year I picked up some typing on the side for a few hours on the weekends for non-MT related businesses.  That at least paid for the phone bill.  I didn't and still don't owe much of anything, so that's a help.  I have one credit card that I use for groceries and gas, it gives cash back rewards and it's paid off in full every month. I almost own my home with the bank owning a mere pittance. There is no fancy car, no yearly vacations where I actually leave the town I live in, and I've had my TV for 8 years, after my grandmother owned it for 6 years.  Criminey, I don't even subscribe to any magazines.  All books come from the library, all newspapers are read online. I have automatic dedcutions taken from every pay check that are directly deposited into accounts for myself and for my son. We don't have much, but at least we have something. I keep an old ice bucket in the closet that all pocket change goes into.  When my son was little and would ask for pizza I'd tell him if there enough money in the ice bucket, we could get pizza. If there wasn't he'd have to wait.  I still use that bucket.  This year it will go towards flowers for the garden. 


My child is no longer a child, he's in his second year of college.  He workd all through his high school years, bought his own car and gives me 75% of his paycheck that go into the account mentioned above for college when he's home working summers.  He works while at college and that is what he lives on while at college.  He has never asked me for money..yet. 


I worked for a national company for almost two years when I first started out as an MT.  The pay was horrible, they were horrible, and I constantly ran out of work. I have worked for two small companies since leaving that national.  I never EVER refuse OT, I do my 8 hours/day 5 days/week and I work my fanny off.  It's not fun, and some days I hit my head against the wall thinking I can't do one more day of the tedium that is my job. 


I was always here when my son was growing up.  I attended every home sporting event, every awards night, drove him where ever he needed to be, and picked him up when it was done.. I was with him when he was sick, here when he had a problem and needed to talk (whine), and the lucky kid got to come home from school to hot choc. chip cookies out of the oven - not because I was June Cleaver, but because the hormones kicked in and I needed a sugar fix.  We both won.  Just don't tell him that. 


Looking back, the sacrifices for this job, mostly my sanity, have been worth it. Though my son grew up without a father, he had me there every single day, whether he liked it or not. We could never, and still can't keep with the Joneses, but I never liked the Joneses anyway.  I love working at home.  My car looks as new as they day it was bought 8 years ago and it has under 50,000 miles on it. Think of the savings of gas, wear and tear on the car, and your sanity if you have to commute.  I was here when my neighbor fell in the boxwood hedges and couldn't get up. I was here to see my dog scare the beheezies out of the two men from the famous door-to-door religious sect who never made it more than 10 feet up the driveway.  Really, can it get any better? 


I know I am fortunate and I try to remember that every time I type a report from the Bozo that dictates from out in the hall. If you want to be an MT, then I guess the key is to finding the right company, working your butt off, pay yourself first, don't spend what you don't have, and pray your fingers and your brain can survive the MT world.


Sorry, but $250 for single is
NOT a great deal!!  I work at KS, and thank goodness thanks to hubby's ins. I don't have to pay that.  I thought MQ was bad at $150 a month.  SHEESH!!!
If you are single mom, with this SM
economy, the feeling of being pushed out is so vague, I can't imagine you giving up a job for that.  Is there something in particular that's happening that is forcing you to leave?  Hourly jobs are really scarce nowadays and most are on production.
I'm sure that every single one of us sm
if we were to admit it, have let ourselves be taken advantage of when we first got in this profession. But, if we continue to let ourselves be taken advantage of, that is where the problem comes in at. I figure I will just warn those who are doing this and if they want to be used like this, then its their problem, but it sure isn't making things any better for the rest of us and it also is causing nothing but downrigiht SLAVE LABOR!

I am willing to work my rear end off for my company and go above and beyond. But, when a company takes advantage that is where I draw the line. On top of that, like the other poster said, 7cpl and paying your own taxes is not enough money period!

Truthfully, I don't know what the answer is. I know people need jobs and especially now you have to do what you have to do sometimes to put food on the table, BUT personally, I wouldn't do it and be anyone's slave. On the other hand, I WILL go above and beyond the call of duty for a good employer who appreciates what I do, the skill I have and the willingness to work. Its a give and take. I think any company that wants a decent reputation will treat their employees right. Hmmmmm is that too old fashioned thinking??
I'm sure that every single one of us sm
if we were to admit it, have let ourselves be taken advantage of when we first got in this profession. But, if we continue to let ourselves be taken advantage of, that is where the problem comes in at. I figure I will just warn those who are doing this and if they want to be used like this, then its their problem, but it sure isn't making things any better for the rest of us and it also is causing nothing but downrigiht SLAVE LABOR!

I am willing to work my rear end off for my company and go above and beyond. But, when a company takes advantage that is where I draw the line. On top of that, like the other poster said, 7cpl and paying your own taxes is not enough money period!

Truthfully, I don't know what the answer is. I know people need jobs and especially now you have to do what you have to do sometimes to put food on the table, BUT personally, I wouldn't do it and be anyone's slave. On the other hand, I WILL go above and beyond the call of duty for a good employer who appreciates what I do, the skill I have and the willingness to work. Its a give and take. I think any company that wants a decent reputation will treat their employees right. At least that is the way it should be...treat your employees right and they will do a good job. Hmmmmm is that too old fashioned thinking??
and I can't think of a single MT
who shouldn't be required to take a written exam for the 20 laws defining and IC versus employee, to make THEY fully understand the difference between the two.


I would do it too if single.
I am originally from the PNW and I know a lot of people who have gone to Alaska for temp jobs because of the extra bonuses and pay offered to get qualified workers up there. It can be a good deal. Many of them went up there and saved all the money (said there wasn't much to spend it on anyway since room and board are often provided to temp workers) so that when they came home they took 2-3 months off. Sounds like a good deal to me. I have never been to Alaska, so I think it would be interesting to go live there for a short time.
Maybe she is a single mother.......
I agree...I would go part time with someone...that's what I plan on doing just to supplement. BTW....anyone who has a problem with that...I have a disabled child,although he does not drink formula....everything else is expensive and most of his treatments not covered by insurance.  Maybe this person is in a similar boat..............geez.............I say work as much as you want and make as much as you can doing it......
Well, as a single mom, do not, I repeat do not,
You will be soooorrrrrrryyyyyy. I guarantee it. There are too many other GOOD jobs out there, keep looking and good luck.
If you are single and have no family

go for it.   My situation was a bit different in that I wasn't running out of work, just testing the waters.  I applied to about a dozen companies, offered positions with each, took 3 positions to figure which I liked best.  I had worked for a small local company for 13 years as my only experience so was really clueless.   I found it really difficult to switch from the various accounts and scheduling became a nightmare because I really had no clear-cut hours or line counts.  It got to where I wasn't doing a good job, just doing the lines and not caring about the product, plus I was screaming at my son for bothering me while I was trying to work.  Just wasn't worth it. 


 


 


Single or family? nm

If $300/mo for single that is a ripoff and

you'd be much better off with a private policy.  My family of 4 pays less than $400.00/mo for good insurance. 


Single is about $45 a PP (not exact) SM
and family I can't quote since I don't have it, but I hear it's pretty cheap as national family coverage goes.  The insurance is Blue Cross-I have to say it's good insurance.
Are you on the single ASR account? (sm)
Because that's how many accounts Webmedx has up and running. I would say not because (1)if you were on that one and only account, you would know that the ASR engine can handle ESL just fine, and (2) the technology isn't called VR by anyone except the ignorant and inexperienced. You can attack, attack, and then attack some more all you want, but at the end of the day, you have no credibility at all. You're a bitter hag, and if you're that jaded with Webmedx, quit and go work for another company! Good luck finding one that will treat you with the dignity and respect that Webmedx gives all their employees.
Really, not one single complaint??
nm
A lot of MTs are single moms, or the
only breadwinner in the house. How do these people pay their rent? These are the people who are really suffering. All the way around its a lack of respect for this profession and the companies are screwing us royally. It takes a great amount of skill, many years of learning and the ability to sit in front of a screen for long hours. The way things are rigged now, you can't even afford to take a damn break for fear of getting the electricity cut off.
Single parent MT
Am a single parent MT and have always made a very good living for my child and myself, sure would like to have more but I get the convenience of working at home and having steady employment, only thing kiling me is the 700+ per month I pay for health insurance.
I can't tell you exactly for single, but I was quoted
a range from $134 pp to $245 depending on which plan you choose for E+child. I would think it would likely be about half that for Employee alone. But that is just a guess. HTH some.
Do you know what the single premium is and when it
n/m
What is the single premium?
  I was checking out their website last night and going to sites trying to get some feedback on the company, looks promising.
I would put every single question
That's how I do it when I start a new job.
So what's the single rate?