My Inner Strength, My Outer Strength
They’re the reason I get up. They’re the reason why I push through everything that I push through. They are my inner strength, my outer strength”, says Jean Givner, 54, a mother and grandmother, who is the oldest of three generations of the Givner family living under the same roof in Wilkins Township.
Jean is the matriarch of the home and works two full-time jobs, as a certified nursing assistant and a direct support professional, to afford the rising cost of living for her family. She bought her house during the COVID pandemic, when housing costs weren’t as high as they are now.
When inflation began to rise, her daughter Layla, 30, Layla’s fiancé, 36, and Layla’s daughter, 11, moved in with Jean.
“The point of us all being together and working together is to be able to lighten the load, but it seems like every time we think we’re going to catch a breathing room, you know, we get hit with, oh well, inflation’s going to happen more, and you know, then we’re getting hit with these higher utility bills, which is ridiculous,” Jean said.
Now two of Jean’s adult children live in the home with her, along with five of her grandchildren, ages 5 to 15. With nine people and three dogs under one roof, Jean said she works a second full-time job to afford groceries, which usually cost the family around $450 a week.
Jean did the math for a month, and figured out that she works an average of 14 hours a day and sleeps five, leaving her with around 5 for everything else.
“It can get a little hectic with my three siblings, but we make it work and try to do our best.”
- Anajha, the oldest grandchild.
Jean’s only daughter, Layla, lives in the basement of the home with her fiancé and daughter. They have their own kitchen and bathroom, but the bathroom is currently broken. Leila is pregnant, and soon there will be another grandchild in the home. “The struggle is not really having enough room for everyone.” said Jean.
