Who here knows what it's like to go without?

[skeeliteful]

Looking back on my childhood, I would have to say that we were EXTREMELY blessed. I have no idea how my mother was able to provide for my brothers and I without child support from my father (she has since taken him to court 3 times for back child support; but that's another thread). I can remember times when my mother wouldn't eat dinner so my brothers and I would have something to eat. I can remember being embarrassed to ask for the reduced lunch application. I remember being embarrassed to have friends come over because we couldn't afford cable, our A/C never worked and we had hand me down furniture. I remember going to pawn shops and shopping at thrift stores and Pic 'n Save. I remember having my flute repossessed for non-payment (somehow my mother was able to get it back). I remember my brother lying to my mother about his class ring being stolen when he actually pawned it to pay for his tuxedo to go to prom. When my brothers and I went to college we would always be sure to send out mother money when we got our financial aid refund checks. But through all of that my mother still managed to get my brothers and I everything we needed and most of what we wanted. We always had food on the table and clothes on our backs. There was never a time that we could ever say that our mother didn't do something or get something for us.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by skeeliteful

I can remember times when my mother wouldn't eat dinner so my brothers and I would have something to eat.

Our moms sound a lot alike. I remember once when I was really little. We were out and about and she didn't have any cash on her (this was before everyone had debit cards), but I was so hungry I didn't want to wait till we got home. She was just as hungry as I was, but she gave me the orange left over from her lunch and then she ate the peels after I was finished. I thought she was crazy, but that's how she grew up--times were too hard to throw the peel away. Man, I'd forgotten about that time. My mommy's definitely my shero. I think I'll go hug her now....*goes off to mommy's room*

[OneTimeSBX]

Originally Posted by skeeliteful

I have no idea how my mother was able to provide for my brothers and I without child support from my father.

its called the grace of god...

once i learned my daughters father was hardly worth the air
he breathed, i swore she would not go without just because of him. i guess that was easy for me to say, seeing as how i only had one child, but it still made things difficult. i remember him asking if he could carry her on his taxes one year, i dont think i have ever laughed that hard! i told him hell no, pampers arent free. her food isnt free. the gas i put in my car to drive to work and pick up your slack isnt free.

i am not afraid to go without. i love to shop (when i have it to spend lol) and love to shop for other people even more. true, my child is not laced in designer everything, but she is always presentable, always polite, and nobody can tell the difference. the same way my parents raised me, and i am better because of it.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

once i learned my daughters father was hardly worth the air he breathed, i swore she would not go without just because of him. i guess that was easy for me to say, seeing as how i only had one child, but it still made things difficult. i remember him asking if he could carry her on his taxes one year , i dont think i have ever laughed that hard! i told him hell no, pampers arent free. her food isnt free. the gas i put in my car to drive to work and pick up your slack isnt free.

i am not afraid to go without. i love to shop (when i have it to spend lol) and love to shop for other people even more. true, my child is not laced in designer everything, but she is always presentable, always polite, and nobody can tell the difference. the same way my parents raised me, and i am better because of it.

So not to be stupid, but how does it work? I thought the parent that has full custody gets to declare the kid on the taxes? How is he gonna ask for the exeption when he doesn't cover basic necessities?

I think that parents can provide for the basic "presentable" aspects for their children, i.e. cleanliness, neat clothing and politeness with out excessiveness or "conspicuous consumption". Yes, money does pay for aspects in life that one would never get, like a trip to Paris every summer in the Villa... But, if there is someone who vacations every d'Ete sur Ste. Tropez, I am sorry, but you would not be at GC posting.

I really do not like folks broadcasting their thoughts about richness. It is just another indication that they are really not rich in the first place. And it is in improper to discuss one's income.

Education is different, but there is a difference between educated and wise or learned. And wisdom is sage for the most part. As it relates to child rearing and poverty, wisdom and common sense teaching has nothing to do with one's economic status in life...

Because: You can place a 10 cent person in a million dollar dress and you still have a 10 cent person...

Or you can place a million dollar person in a 10 cent dress, but you still have a million dollar person...

[Wonderful1908]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

So not to be stupid, but how does it work? I thought the parent that has full custody gets to declare the kid on the taxes? How is he gonna ask for the exeption when he doesn't cover basic necessities?

People do this all the time, switch off claiming kids. Not even there own kids sometimes. Just a child with a social security number. I claimed my college roommate one year

[BlueReign]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

its called the grace of god...

once i learned my daughters father was hardly worth the air
he breathed, i swore she would not go without just because of him. i guess that was easy for me to say, seeing as how i only had one child, but it still made things difficult. i remember him asking if he could carry her on his taxes one year, i dont think i have ever laughed that hard! i told him hell no, pampers arent free. her food isnt free. the gas i put in my car to drive to work and pick up your slack isnt free.

i am not afraid to go without. i love to shop (when i have it to spend lol) and love to shop for other people even more. true, my child is not laced in designer everything, but she is always presentable, always polite, and nobody can tell the difference. the same way my parents raised me, and i am better because of it.

I have to quote you and say Amen. And the bolded part above is what makes me able to get up everyday and thank God. I receive compliments about my children all the time and I know it's because I pass on what's been given to me.

I have to add that most of the people who have posted about growing up with hardships here are some of the most rooted and down-to-earth people on GC. JMO.

[KAPital PHINUst]

I saw the documentary Maxed Out and it had a clip of comedian Louis CK talking about being broke. I liked his jokes, and found a YouTube clip of the entire "being broke" bit which was HILARIOUS!!

I thought of this thread, and ttt'ed it to post the clip:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rpaCQKJpE9k