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It's Rough Out Here

This may really seem like a random post, but stay with me, I promise it will make sense. If not, I need a new job.

I did all the right things. First I went to college and took out all the loans they told me to. Then I got married, then I had kids. Honestly, that’s where it stops. According to society, I had too many kids. (we have 7) Then we made another serious faux pas and decided to home school these kids. I haven’t worked since our 3rd was born, 2005. Granted, I have waited tables when the economy crashed in 08 and we went out of business, lost everything, and had to move to Tennessee.

Staying home is not without its sacrifices. Aside from the trips to grandma’s, we have been on vacation with our children twice in 23 years. We have started to get away together twice a year, but only for a night or two. We will never retire and I’m not sure with inflation we will ever get out of debt. Someone always needs shoes, braces, camp, or food.

The best part of all of this is that I often get told how “lucky” or “privileged” I am. This year will mark my 7th year coaching cross country at White House Heritage. It's an unpaid position, and my second year as the assistant wrestling coach, also unpaid. Last season I actually had a mom thank me for taking her kid home because she was working extra hours to go on vacation. Let me remind you that none of my kids even go to the local public schools. There was a need, and I stepped up to fill it. Coaching often costs me money. It’s not just me, it’s any non staff coach on any of your children’s teams. (in Robertson County)

In my spare time I decided to fight city hall. Some say I won, I think I was too late. When Jackson Farms sold and the city allowed 455 homes down the road from me I got involved and didn’t stop. Now I go to at least two city meetings a month and sometimes more. Here is where I remind you that I don’t even live in city limits.

Why on earth am I telling you all of this? Because I have 770 subscribers in a city of close to 14k people. Over last week I watched HIP White House fill up with complaints about water and the city. Complaints about the “greedy” board and the problems. WHERE WERE YOU???

84 Comments on this one

If you were one of the 200 people that fought The Parks, I’m not talking to you. But where the hell were the rest of you when the city approved The Mill, Sage North, Sage Farms, Dorris Farms, Willow Grove, Concord Springs, The Fields at Oakwood, Calista Farms, am I missing any? If you have babies at home, I’m not yelling at you. If your children are at least school age, graduated, or you have none……..What is your excuse??You people can vote!!!! I couldn’t even vote for any of this.

The water everywhere is a problem. I feel for you. Someone had to approve all of the concrete. The concrete at the soccer complex is creating issues behind Colorado Grill in that neighborhood’s creek. The Mill is killing the yards in the neighborhood behind it. Volunteer Drive is flooded every time it rains with run off from Jackson Farms. The people behind Dorris Farms are flooding now too. Don’t forget next to White House High School. There is a yard there that flooded worse over last week than they did in the 2010 flood. Who works for TDEC? Who works for planning? Who is responsible for the mess?? You are. That is the answer. You were supposed to keep watch on your city government and your state government and you didn’t.

This Independence Day was a dud in my book. I went to bed by 8:45. I did not read the Declaration of Independence. I did not celebrate “freedom.” We are taxed into oblivion, and no one is responsible for anything. I woke up to local politics too late. I really thought that people would be behind me and excited to know what is going on at the city level. I thought wrong. People want to be comfortable, do what they want, and have others take care of it.

Back to where I started. I home school, coach, help with a small business, raise kids, take care of a home, write for a magazine, do lots of laundry, train jiu jitsu, and still manage to pay attention to the local politics. This is not about “look at me, how great I am,” this is “What is your excuse?”

I’m not putting a subscribe button here and I’m not asking for money. There is a city meeting tonight and I’m not going. I may watch it on YouTube this week, I may not. I’m going out for half price burgers with my husband.