Millionaire

Growing up, I said that I didn't want to be a millionaire, not that I would say 'No, thanks' if someone walked up and handed me a few million with no strings attached. But the idea of working toward a goal like that just didn't appeal to me. I just wanted to be able to have a stable, solid life, a home, and to have the ability to put my kids through college without breaking. In this time of economic instability, I have changed my mind. I want oodles of money.

The sad thing about this is that I have no plan or way to get it, other than winning the lottery. I spend oodles of time dreaming of what I would do if I were to win the lottery. Buy my parents' beach house, buy a friend a house, buy myself a big whopper of a home. Buy my mom her own home. See a theme here?

I would Gift a bunch of people in my life with things like exotic and wonderful trips (for ex, roma), and cars when needed. I would go on a crazy shopping binge, to fill up my new house. Although I wouldn't fill it up TOO much, I want a clean, uncluttered beautiful home.

I would start a business to keep up my new lifestyle, and as a safety net. I would create a department store for "Real" sized women. Size 10 and up, it would be like Lane Bryant, but bigger and much better. It would have everyday clothes, work clothes, undergarments, swimsuits, basics, glamour clothes, trendy clothes, formal wear, accessories (because big girls need different sized necklaces, bracelets and anklets too, quite often). It would be one stop shopping with a few other little niceties that I won't post here just in case I ever get to do it so that noone steals all of my ideas!

And most importantly, I would start a plan that I have to help single mothers. I would start in Raleigh with a whole apartment building. I would renovate it so that it had a floor of classrooms, a cafeteria, a gym, a laundromat and a medical office. It would almost be like its own little city. Outside we would have a bit of land, enough to have a big playground, some tennis and basketball courts, and a pool that would be able to be uncovered for inseason swimming and covered for year round.

So what I would do with this building now that I have it all set up is to allow single mothers, starting with homeless women, and then with poverty stricken and so forth, to move in, with their families. The apartments would vary in layout, and they would be somewhat small, but well laid out and comfortable. These mothers would have to train in a vocation or get a degree, with specific work intentions, at a local community college or whatever.

Their children would be supplied with basic necessities like clean clothes and such. They would be in school of course. The cafeteria would feed everyone breakfast and set up lunches for the kids to take to school, and it would feed the children below grade school level while the parents and older kids were at school. Of course we would also have high quality day care on sight for those younger kids.

Everyone would be required to contribute to the whole. Parents would not have to get outside jobs the first year (families can stay a max of 2 years, more about that later). They would have nights and weekends free. The mothers would have to teach a class once a week (anything from another language, cooking, knitting, anything that people might enjoy taking) or commit time to helping babysit other kids in the building, or time in the cafeteria. Older children will be required to do similar things. They will help babysit, help in the cafeteria and help tutor younger kids.

All school children are required to maintain at least a C average in school with incentives for higher grades (such as trips and such). Tutoring will of course be available at the home. All children must be engaged in some sort of structured activity whether it is a sport, being part of a school club that is active (meaning actually takes part in activities, not sitting around and talking for one hour a week). After 16 years old, they may take an approved job off site as long as they maintain their grades. They will get help with prepping for college and applying for scholarships and financial aid, as well as getting guidance counseling in general.

All families will be required to enter family therapy for a minimum amount of time, and then for as long as the inhouse therapist deems necessary. This is because these families will likely be coming from difficult situations where the kids and moms were likely exposed to upsetting situations and they need to get out from under all the drama.

The daily rules about living in the home would be quite strict. This would be a place for a family that is serious about changing their lives, not for people who just want a hand out. No males over 18 (that aren't relatives) would be allowed in the building except in common areas past 8 pm. The exception would be for males that came in as 17 and are still in high school. Moms are discouraged from dating if they aren't already in a relationship, but the men they do get involved with are not allowed to stay over ever because that is inappropriate. This is to keep the mothers focused on their goals as well as to keep children from being exposed to potentially negative men (when moms have a habit of choosing 'inappropriate' men it affects the kids). Moms are expected to be home every night (sleep at home, not out with men or partying). If moms need to stay somewhere for a legitimate reason they must leave contact info with the concierge.

There would be constant activities for the kids and the families to do together, movie nights, international food nights, classes, sports activities, and periodic outings, such as trips to museums, movies, theater, amusement parks, and sporting events. The cafeteria would not be open for the nights or weekends unless to cater a special event.

I mentioned a medical office. There would be a 24 hour nurse onsite, with a doctor on site weekdays and Saturdays for basic preventative care and minor issues.

We would have a concierge that I mentioned earlier, this person and their staff would be in charge of keeping track of guests registered with the residents and maintaining the use of the home vehicles. There would be a number of large vans and smaller SUVs for use on outings and for taking families to the grocery store and on errands. There would also be a few 'rental' cars onsite, owned by the home, for use when reserved by licensed drivers (moms) for family things.

My goal with all of this is to give these moms not only a workable skill, but to help them and their kids get a taste of what life can be like, and to enable them with the mental, emotional abilities to succeed in life. More to come, I am getting kicked off the computer....ahhhhh!!