John Watson can't work these days, but he's still trying to improve himself.

The 42-year-old Kaka'ako resident is attending classes online to get his bachelor's degree. He has just four more classes to go before he gets his degree.

When he's not studying, he's homeschooling his three children, ages 14, 10 and 8. They get their curriculum from different charter schools, he said. But he makes sure they do the work and that if they need help, he's there for them.

The reason he can't work is a mental illness he says had gone undiagnosed for years that is compounded by other medical conditions, such as liver problems and chronic back pain. The mental illness left him stressed and depressed and unable to succeed, he said. It all came to a head about four years ago.

But before all this, he was a successful entrepreneur with two or three businesses going at the time. He gave it all up to control his medical conditions.

"I was a confident, secure, courageous go-getter," Watson said. "Then all of a sudden, I couldn't even drive a car. I have no confidence. I am trying to rebuild my life now."

He's good at cooking and educating his kids. But he doesn't do laundry and doesn't wash dishes. The children take those chores on.

"Financially, it's a big adjustment," Watson said. "All our income goes to the bills. There's not much I can provide for my children for Christmas."

Each month they get $400 in assistance for food, but that's gone mid-month, he said. They hit the food banks regularly, but that doesn't fill the pantry completely.

If someone adopts his family, Watson said gift cards to Sears or Foodland for a holiday meal would mean that his children could have a great Christmas.

"It's the extras that I can't provide," Watson said. "We'd just like one special thing for Christmas for the kids. Not much. I don't want the world."