I have a question for anyone here who grew up poor
- 129 Replies
Why were you poor and did or do you resent your parents for it? I grew up in poverty because my father skipped out on my mother and me while she was still pregnant. She refused to go after him for child support because she was afraid that my father would demand visitation out of spite. Mind you, I had never met him and still haven't. I resented my mom for having me with someone like him and for not getting any child support for him. So what's your story of childhood poverty? Were you ashamed of your home and car?
We were poor as hell. My mother got pregnant with me at 15 and went on to have 3 more children by the time she was 21. She was a shitty housekeeper and we lived in filth even though she was a SAHM. We were stationed at Fort Hood with my dad and he was an e-5 in the Army. He was hurt in Desert Storm and medically discharged from the military at 20% of his pay, even though he couldn't work. There were times when we would be without electric for days and we lived in a 2 bedroom house that my grandparents paid for. My father spent more money on guns and ammo than on his family. He was involved in a militia that was preparing for war on the government. I hated every second of my childhood.
Yes, I resent them. Every single day they give me with the drive to be a better parent and a better provider.
I grew up poor because it was my single grandma taking care of me and my brother and she didn't make a lot. She didn't get child support from my father because they couldn't find him and the only PA we had was medicaid but lost that when I was about 10ish. I don't have a clue why we lost it. I was ashamed of our old trailer that we lived in but not our car because it wasn't that old.
I grew up poor under similar circumstances to yours. My father died while my mother was pregnant with me and she had two toddlers. She was uneducated and disabled so we pretty much lived on PA. I never had new clothes, always hand-me-downs, been hungry and had my share of ketchup sandwiches. We didn't even have a car, it was walk or the bus for us.
No I'm not resentful, I'm proud of my mom for raising us to be an Engineer, a HS Math Teacher, and a Small Business Owner. We will never forget our working class roots no matter how much money we have. Sometimes it was hard to see my friends get the latest bike or have an exciting vacation, until I realized they'd lend me their bikes and take me on vacation with them. I loved wealthy friends, still do.
I resent my mom, not my dad. He loved us w/o a doubt and would've done anything for us.
Quoting onethentwins:I grew up poor under similar circumstances to yours. My father died while my mother was pregnant with me and she had two toddlers. She was uneducated and disabled so we pretty much lived on PA. I never had new clothes, always hand-me-downs, been hungry and had my share of ketchup sandwiches. We didn't even have a car, it was walk or the bus for us.
No I'm not resentful, I'm proud of my mom for raising us to be an Engineer, a HS Math Teacher, and a Small Business Owner. We will never forget our working class roots no matter how much money we have. Sometimes it was hard to see my friends get the latest bike or have an exciting vacation, until I realized they'd lend me their bikes and take me on vacation with them. I loved wealthy friends, still do.
Quoting KitschyGirl:
We were poor because I had victims for parents with a shit attitude and poor decision making skills.
I come from a long line of poor people. My dad dropped out of school at 13 to work and support his mom and siblings. He is basically illiterate. He has worked manual labor jobs that start you out at minimum wage. My mom quit school and never did anything else either. Nobody in the long line of my family has ever attended college until just a few years ago. Nobody has even graduated school until a few years ago. I think we were poor because that was the only thing they knew.
ETA: Yes, I was embarrassed of where I lived. I grew up in a crappy trailer. Not even a nice one. Our cars were ok. Nothing special.
leaving baby alone while i do laundry?