Just Me

Helping my Mom

HEY, GUYS! I'M NOT DEAD!!

...GOD DAMMIT...

Anyway, hi! I apologize for not being very active on Wattpad. Whenever I do use it, I dedicate my time to only writing. I'm also sorry to all of the people who have messaged me and I never responded. I am just terrible at managing things.

I wanted to make this segment to kinda get you all's advice on something very important to me.

Recently, my mom had to buy a new car since her old truck suddenly stopped working. Because she bought a new car, she spent A LOT of money. It's only her who takes care of us at the apartment (but my brother and I don't do a lot to begin with so she only worries about work and bills).

Still, because she needs to catch up on money, my mom is going to have to get a third job. She works at DPS, and she's also a teacher at a gym, now she'll be working as a waitress at Chili's. A lot of plans that we had before might not be done now that this has happened. She's gonna be away from home a lot, so I'll be alone or I'll be taking care of my brother. It's gonna be rough asking for money for things like school supplies and events because I don't want her to spend money. And, Christmas is gonna pretty much suck for my brother and I. My mom said so herself.

I know that I shouldn't think this way about my mom's finances because she's my parent and it's her responsibility to take care of me....

But I don't want her to spend money on me, even if it's on things that I really need.

I don't like asking for people to buy my things in general. A lot of adults tell me that I shouldn't worry about money. Just recently, my Spanish teacher told me to just ask my mom for the things I need, because it doesn't just affect my education, it affects my life and communication skills. She's right...but I still can't bring myself to do that. I'm not scared of my mom getting mad at me. A have a big fear of others being disappointed in me, and of being a failure. In a way, I feel like I fail not just my mom, but my dad and my step-mom too by asking for money. Plus, I don't consider myself important enough for that. Sure, I'm still my parents' kid, but I'm not high maintenance, and I don't ask for much because they have enough on their plate as it is. I'm not important.

I'm 16. I should have a job by now. And that's something I've been contemplating a lot, now more than ever.

I've been thinking about getting a job...or finding some way to make money so that my mom doesn't have to buy me things. I can just buy my own stuff, or give the money to her to use.

It also makes me upset that she has to do all of this stuff and she's kept a cool demeanor. She barely cries, or stresses. If she does stress, she doesn't show it. I don't want to be in this state while she's probably slowly stressing with all of this weight on her shoulders. She's a strong woman, but something always gives..

This is where I need all of your help.

I've been thinking about selling prints of my art. You all seem to love my art on Insta, DeviantArt, and Wattpad.

I don't expect you all to buy from me. At least not at this stage when this is still just an idea. I only need your advice. Maybe even your moral support.

To anyone who sells prints of their art: How do you do it? Through what outlet? What are your charging standards and policies?

My art is mainly traditional, so it's not as clean as digital art. I'm still willing to try.

My step-mom knows a lot about art and selling it. Price always depends on the art. What size of paper or canvas it is (if you sell the physical art piece), whether it's colored or not, if it's simplistic or complex, what materials were used to make it, etc.

For now, I think maybe above $10 is a good amount for my art. Although, I'm nervous to charge above that since the demographic of people that would want my art would be from 12-18, or maybe a little older. With that in mind, most of those people won't have enough money for my prints. Or maybe you do, I don't know.

I know I'm sounding like I'm overthinking this. And I know I've got a lot of other things to worry about.

I've got school.

I need to update.

I need to communicate with everyone here, and on my other social medias.

And now this.

Please, I really need your help. Even if it's minor, even if it's just a small tidbit of advice, even if it's saying you'll promise to buy all of my art, it'll help me. It'll help my mom, and my dad and step-mom. I don't know what to do, and it's killing me. Please. I need something to work.

Regardless of all of this, I hope you all had a good day, and continue to do so. I'll be updating soon...!

See ya.