~Not Proud But Not Ashamed~
By Jennifer
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
Valdosta, Georgia
February 4, 2017 1:14pm CST
Have you ever had a job that made you go against everything you believe in? I have. Twice actually in my life.
I was partly ashamed every day doing the jobs BUT I am not 100% ashamed of it either. Why?
I took care of my family by working them. We were homeless-living in a motel-and the only way to keep that roof over our heads was by me working doing what I did. Which is why I say-not proud but also not entirely ashamed either.
Another time in our lives we were really bad off I did another job that I had the same feelings about. Again though it took care of my family when we needed it the most.
Being a stripper and a webcam model were the hardest things I have ever done in my life. As I said though-it fed and took care of my family and for that reason ALONE I am proud of doing what I had to do at the time...I was pregnant both times and no one else would hire me and my husband couldn't find work either.
Have you ever had a job that you weren't proud of but you did what had to be done anyway?
45 people like this
48 responses
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
4 Feb 17
Taking a job that allows you to feed your family, though it may be distasteful to you at the time, is never something to be ashamed of. My father taught me that a parent's first responsibility is to the children, and that any job that keeps a roof over their head and food in their mouths is honorable, even if not desirable.
10 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@DWDavis Thank you. That is very true. Your father is a wise person for sure. I was ashamed at the time but looking back I was a good mother for taking care of my children and that's important to me.
3 people like this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
4 Feb 17
Totally agree
If you have a family you need to make money.
If you have a family you need to make money.3 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
5 Feb 17
@LoriAMoore I have very little sympathy for those who won't work but could. Between my fibro and my arthritis, every day I get up and go into my classroom to teach is a victory over the pain I'm in all day.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@DianneN Yeah I regret not sticking with college. I unfortunately dropped out when I got pregnant with my oldest daughter. =(
4 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
4 Feb 17
@LovingMyBabies Were you married then?
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
4 Feb 17
I have been lucky enough to do only jobs that I wanted to do, but I understand you completely, and I would never blame you. To be a stripper or a webcam model is a job like another one, you had a good reason to do them, and there is no reason to be ashamed.
4 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@topffer That's good. Those two jobs were awful and I cried every day having to do them but yes I did it for my family. I hope and pray it will never come to those circumstances ever again-which I don't think it will.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@just4him I have worked in fast food too when I was much younger-hated it but as you said it did pay the bills.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@NJChicaa You are very lucky.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (119651)
• United States
4 Feb 17
@LovingMyBabies I guess. I worked hard in high school and college and got myself a full time job.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@NJChicaa I dropped out of college when I got pregnant with my oldest daughter. I regret not staying but it's a lesson learned now.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@mohdovi Thank God I haven't had to work those jobs in years now.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180870)
• United States
4 Feb 17
I once had a job as a tele marketer for a conservative organization, and those are not my beliefs at all. I am not ashamed I did it, but it was a bit hypocritical.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (180870)
• United States
5 Feb 17
@LovingMyBabies Yeah, I eventually got fired. I guess I wasn't too convincing as a conservative..
.
.1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Feb 17
@snowy22315 I am sure it was hard working there since it wasn't something you believed in.
1 person likes this
@dodo19 (47317)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
6 Feb 17
@LovingMyBabies You certainly pushed through. You are definitely a strong woman for having done that.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Feb 17
@dodo19 Yes I did. I was miserable but I pushed through so my family could live. Thank you. I realized through that I am stronger than I thought I was.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
5 Feb 17
Be glad you had the body and were able to do this for your family. Not like it was a life time endeavor. I worked as a cocktail waitress in a rather demeaning bar. Paid the bills though and only did it for about two years.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (167071)
• Boise, Idaho
6 Feb 17
@LovingMyBabies ......You are past it now and can move on.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Feb 17
@celticeagle Thank God it was only for a short period of time. I am grateful it provided for us when we needed it the most but I was truly miserable.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (81948)
• Onaway, Michigan
4 Feb 17
Nope never had any jobs that I was not proud of doing.
2 people like this
@Tina30219 (81948)
• Onaway, Michigan
5 Feb 17
@LovingMyBabies Right but like you said you have to do what you have to do to provide for your family and keep a roof over your head.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@Tina30219 That's good, wish I didn't in a way.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Feb 17
@Tina30219 Thank God that was many years ago and I haven't had to do it again since then.
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
4 Feb 17
You had to do what you had to do for your family :)
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
5 Feb 17
@LovingMyBabies Nothing to be ashamed of, not the fondest memory but it got the bills paid / raising your family.Glad now its better for you! =)
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@infatuatedbby Yes I did. =)
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Feb 17
That is amazing to hear from you. I can understand, though. I suspect that there are many young women, some single moms, who find themselves in situations like that.
Back in the 1980s, I took a job selling memberships to a well-known lobbying association. It was my job to call on mostly, mom and pop to medium size businesses, do a canned (memorized) presentation saying how important it was to be a member, then hit them up for money to join. It was usually a hundred to two hundred and half went into my pocket as commission, my boss got a cut, her boss got a cut and I always doubted there was anything left for lobbying state and Fed legislatures. I felt ashamed, taking money like that and quit after one year.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@JamesHxstatic Most people wouldn't think that about me by knowing me but I did what I had to for my family, as I cried every single day doing it. There are many single mom's working there I can tell you that first hand-and many mom's who are putting themselves through school as well.
I would have a hard time working where you did as well. I would feel the same way as you did.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Feb 17
@LovingMyBabies I admire your fortitude in getting through it.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
5 Feb 17
Nope; and I've had a lot of jobs in my life @LovingMyBabies . Including being a Go-Go Dancer (which was my all-time favorite). I started working a full-time job at age 11 and that was to help feed 5 brothers and sisters.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@Kandae11 Yes I did, it was a horrible time and I hated every minute of it.
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
5 Feb 17
You love your babies and you love your family, I admire your courage to do what you did. Especially as you hated it. It was not a job of your choice, you did what you had to do, your husband is a lucky man.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Feb 17
@41CombedaleRoad Yes I do love my family. Thank you very much, it was really hard since I was so miserable every day. Thank you. =)
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37355)
• Toccoa, Georgia
4 Feb 17
Wow, you did that? It surprises me but of course you did it when you had to provide for your family in the dire situation that you were in, so I understand. No, I have not been in that situation before.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@Leapea2417 I did 8 years ago. As much as I hated every day and cried a whole lot I knew I was doing what had to be done for my children.
@Juliaacv (51012)
• Canada
4 Feb 17
I think that we've all held a job that we were not proud of but that we had to work to make ends meet.
I scanned canned goods as a teller at a grocery store for a few months-I hated it so much, but it was right after a job that I had where the owner skipped town with all of our back wages for a couple of months.
I don't think that what you did is any worse then what many others have done for good reasons.
Sometimes it takes more to swallow your pride and take a lower job then to ask for a hand out.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Feb 17
@Juliaacv Yeah I hated working these 2 jobs as well. They were horrible, I cried constantly because I was miserable. I am very grateful that was many years ago and I will never have to do them again.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51012)
• Canada
5 Feb 17
@LovingMyBabies I was offered the job at the grocery store one morning a few days after our workplace closed. I didn't think it would be as awful as it was, it was a long time ago about 12 years ago, and I am glad when I look back that I did it because I took it before we got behind.
@Marilynda1225 (82789)
• United States
4 Feb 17
Sometimes we just have to do what we have to do to take care of the family. No shame in that
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@Marilynda1225 Yeah it was a really bad situation and I hated every single day of it. But it did take care of my family.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
5 Feb 17
@JudyEv It was really difficult. I cried every day going and every day coming home. I was absolutely miserable.
Thank you.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
4 Feb 17
For me, it was more like an unwanted job. I never wanted to be a teacher but I had to take the job or my youngest brother would have to drop out of school coz the fees weren't affordable at that time. Later I started liking the profession. Mostly b'coz people looked at me with respect and admiration.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 Feb 17
@Daljinder That's good that you started liking it after a little bit. We all make sacrifices for family when we need to.
1 person likes this
