Dear Miriam,
I am writing to you for help in solving a financial problem or maybe some of your readers might be able to help. I was working outside the home until last January, when I fell and fractured my hip. I will not be able to return to work anymore, as the work I was doing was very physical. I took out a credit union loan a number of years ago. I am getting my old age pension, but I find it hard to make repayments. I can’t sleep at night and I am very stressed about the whole thing. Is there anybody out there who could advise me on the right thing to do?
Worried Reader
Dear Worried Reader,
I am sorry to hear about your accident and the physical and financial stress that you have suffered as a result. I would encourage you to contact the MABS helpline on 076-107 2000, which is open Monday to Friday from 9am-8pm.
A problem shared is a problem halved
MABS is a free, confidential and independent service and the advisors there will be able to talk through your own situation in detail and explore your options in terms of dealing with your credit union loan in light of your new circumstances. A problem shared is a problem halved, so I would encourage you to make the call today.
My internet connection will hinder my children’s education
Dear Miriam,
I have two children who were both getting on very well in school until COVID and the advent of home schooling. A weekly schedule of work was sent to me as a PDF file with numerous online resources. The problem is that I live in an internet blackspot and none of the internet providers are able to offer me broadband of any type. This inevitably means that my children are falling behind in homework.
The school my children are attending is excellent. I just suspect they have no solution for me
I have been unable to make contact with the school by phone, in person or by email. I’m sure I’m not the only person in Ireland with this problem. I am hugely concerned for the next school year as I can’t see children return to class for more than one to two days per week.
By the way, the school my children are attending is excellent. I just suspect they have no solution for me.
Kind regards,
Concerned Mother
Dear Concerned Mother,
While home schooling has been a struggle for most parents, I can only imagine how much more stressful it must have been without access to online resources. But I’m sure that you did your very best in the circumstances, and that your children will have learned and grown in lots of ways during this time, so please, give yourself credit for that first and foremost.
It must have been very frustrating not to be able to speak to the school directly about the issues regarding accessing homework. Hopefully the return to school plan announced by the Government last week (after you sent your letter) will have given you some reassurance that the children will be back to some sort of normality come September. Even still, there might be some opportunity then to request a face-to-face or phone meeting with the principal to explain the internet issue and try to find an alternative solution, just in case home-schooling returns at some point. For example, instead of directing you to online resources, could the teachers provide work directly from the children’s textbooks? Or can the school print worksheets or provide work packs to do at home? I understand that schools are in unchartered waters too, but I would hope that a solution could be found.
It might also be worth calling the National Parents’ Council Primary helpline on 01-887-4477. They have told me that they have spoken with many parents in a similar predicament and should be able to provide more specific advice and support for your situation.
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Dear Miriam,
I am writing to you for help in solving a financial problem or maybe some of your readers might be able to help. I was working outside the home until last January, when I fell and fractured my hip. I will not be able to return to work anymore, as the work I was doing was very physical. I took out a credit union loan a number of years ago. I am getting my old age pension, but I find it hard to make repayments. I can’t sleep at night and I am very stressed about the whole thing. Is there anybody out there who could advise me on the right thing to do?
Worried Reader
Dear Worried Reader,
I am sorry to hear about your accident and the physical and financial stress that you have suffered as a result. I would encourage you to contact the MABS helpline on 076-107 2000, which is open Monday to Friday from 9am-8pm.
A problem shared is a problem halved
MABS is a free, confidential and independent service and the advisors there will be able to talk through your own situation in detail and explore your options in terms of dealing with your credit union loan in light of your new circumstances. A problem shared is a problem halved, so I would encourage you to make the call today.
My internet connection will hinder my children’s education
Dear Miriam,
I have two children who were both getting on very well in school until COVID and the advent of home schooling. A weekly schedule of work was sent to me as a PDF file with numerous online resources. The problem is that I live in an internet blackspot and none of the internet providers are able to offer me broadband of any type. This inevitably means that my children are falling behind in homework.
The school my children are attending is excellent. I just suspect they have no solution for me
I have been unable to make contact with the school by phone, in person or by email. I’m sure I’m not the only person in Ireland with this problem. I am hugely concerned for the next school year as I can’t see children return to class for more than one to two days per week.
By the way, the school my children are attending is excellent. I just suspect they have no solution for me.
Kind regards,
Concerned Mother
Dear Concerned Mother,
While home schooling has been a struggle for most parents, I can only imagine how much more stressful it must have been without access to online resources. But I’m sure that you did your very best in the circumstances, and that your children will have learned and grown in lots of ways during this time, so please, give yourself credit for that first and foremost.
It must have been very frustrating not to be able to speak to the school directly about the issues regarding accessing homework. Hopefully the return to school plan announced by the Government last week (after you sent your letter) will have given you some reassurance that the children will be back to some sort of normality come September. Even still, there might be some opportunity then to request a face-to-face or phone meeting with the principal to explain the internet issue and try to find an alternative solution, just in case home-schooling returns at some point. For example, instead of directing you to online resources, could the teachers provide work directly from the children’s textbooks? Or can the school print worksheets or provide work packs to do at home? I understand that schools are in unchartered waters too, but I would hope that a solution could be found.
It might also be worth calling the National Parents’ Council Primary helpline on 01-887-4477. They have told me that they have spoken with many parents in a similar predicament and should be able to provide more specific advice and support for your situation.
Read more
I helped my neighbour during lockdown; but there's no end to it
'I want to postpone our wedding day, my boyfriend doesn't'
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