The Ripple Effect: What One Layoff Means For A Whole Town

The Ripple Effect: What One Layoff Means For A Whole Town


This story is about my hometown and how the jobs that were there for decades had to close their doors or cut back. When the first company laid off a lot of its employees and then said that they would close down, I knew bad times were headed for Roxboro. I made the painful decision to move away from my home, my family, and friends just so I could keep a paycheck in my pocket.

It’s heartbreaking to go back home and see two empty lots where car dealerships have stood ever since I could remember. The plants that kept many of Roxboro’s resident employed now look like ghost towns, with over grown weeds, and gates to keep people out.

When I read this story I can’t help but wonder; how will Roxboro and its residents survive this, and will it make Roxboro a better city. I also wonder about how many people have left Roxboro just as I’ve did to find work. And how are people coping with such massive job lost?

Email from my Baby's Daddy

I got an email from my baby’s daddy asking me to bring his children to see him. He said that he had some money that his wife did not know about and wanted to know how far I was willing to travel so he could see his children. My response to him was; if you have extra money and want to see your children you need to come home yourself.

The reason for my response is this. This man is in the military and can not see his kids all the time and I understand that. However, that is not an excuse. He may be in the military but he can email his children, or call his children on a regular basis, send birthday gifts or even call on their birthdays. But my children get none of that from their father. However, he can take trips with his wife and other children but can’t come home. Just recently he took a trip with his wife and their children that brought him about 4 hours away from his parents’ house. We didn’t even know this until he posted it on facebook. He could have came home to see his children then, but he chose not to.

Now I am not the baby mama from hell. I do not do things just to make his life a living hell, nor do I talk bad about him in front of my children. So why do I need to bend over backwards for him, when he does nothing at all but pay his child support that is court ordered.

So my question to all you baby daddy’s out there; what are you doing for children to remember you by? When they are grown and look back on their life what will they see? Will they see a father that was there or father with a million and one excuses?

It's Sunday

First of all let me give thanks to the Lord for giving me another day!

It's a beautiful Sunday morning and I'm chilling with only two kids today. It's a tiny break, but I'll take any break I can get no matter how small. My two older boys are spending time with Papa. They went to their first College football game yesterday. Too bad that the tickets they had where for a team they don't like, but I talked them into going anyway, just so they can see what it's like. Plus they get to hang out with Papa, after that they were all for it. It's so amazing to see a boy's relationship with their Grandfather, it is a very special bond. They may not have their father in their everyday life, but at least they do have his dad.

About Gemini

I am a single Mother of 4 children, 3 boys (ages 13, 11, and 5) and 1 girl (age 7). I work full time as a benefits rep for a major company. I am also planning on going back to school to finish my degree in Information Systems. Yes I know I do have a lot on my plate, but I'm up for the challenge because I am Super woman!

So stick around as I share my highs and my lows with you while I travel this road called Life.