Growing Up Poor-Part 1

Things about growing up poor...

1. Not realizing you are poor.

2. Not realizing you always smell of woodsmoke from the wood-burning heater your family uses.

3. Learning to work at a very early age if you want anything "extra".

4. Getting a decent toy that runs on batteries, and you cannot afford to buy batteries.

5. Working every summer from before school-age and up. Not knowing what it was like to have a "do-nothing" summer.

6. Coming home from school most days and working around the farm until dark.

7. Not participating in things at school that take extra money because you know your parents don't have it.

8. All "vacations" consist of visiting relatives who have the extra space to let you stay with them.

9. Not having birthday parties. And not going to other kids' birthday party because you cannot afford to get them a gift.

10. The looks people give as you count out your blind dad's food stamps for the cashier at the grocery store.

11. Always visiting your friends' houses after school, but no one ever visiting your house after school.

12. Seeing your parents constantly bail your adult siblings out of their problems, which leaves nothing to pay for things for you.

13. Wearing hand-me-downs, or worn out ragged clothing with holes, or knock off brands.

14. Working your ass off in the garden with your parents because you may starve without the food it provides.

15. Most childhood clothing bought at end of summer from Sears so if you had a growth spurt, nothing fit right by end of school year.

16. Wondering why Santa hates you because your school friends get great gifts and tons of them, and you only get a few things and none of the things you asked him for in your annual letter.

17. Most of your Christmas presents are clothing and "practical" things.

18. Most of your toys at Christmas are the cheap ones which always break fast because they are not made sturdy to last.