Dear renters

Dear prospective renters, I’m sorry. I’m sorry you’re having to look at rentals half the size of your house. His house now. Or maybe he sold it. Along with your stainless steel kitchens appliances and your washer and dryer that handled your clothes just the way you liked.

He got the house, but you got the kids. And, unfortunately, you also got the dog. Because how could you separate your children from their dog, at a time like this? When they’ve just lost their father. The dog is making it harder to find a rental. But the dog is coming with.

I admire that you’re doing everything you can to keep your kids in their school district – the best school district in the entire region. Your credit report is still good, but you need an income source. I know you thought you’d just take a couple years off when they were babies. But it’s harder than you realized to go back. You’re sending those resumes out every day, but this is New Mexico. There’s not much for jobs here. And you can’t pay that much rent on minimum wage, not by yourself.

I see you frowning as you stand looking in dismay at this cute little house, and I understand you’re used to better than this. I want to tell you it will be ok. But it could be hard for a long time. I’m so sorry. I know you never expected this. In the end, it will all work out. But it’s going to take awhile and meanwhile those kids are going to grow so fast. They may never have the childhood you imagined for them. But they’ll be ok. Just keep telling yourself, they’ll be ok.