Rich kids, on the contrary, may never have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, making it hard for them to empathize with those who go hungry. Every pair of shoes must last, every backpack must survive another school year, and every toy must be handled with care because there is no backup waiting at home. You grow up knowing the value of things not by their price, but by how long they can keep going. When you don’t have much, imagination becomes your playground.
A cardboard box becomes a castle, a broken broomstick becomes a sword, and the outdoors becomes the best entertainment you could ask for. Fun didn’t come from having things — it came from making things. Money struggles were never just background noise. You heard the whispered conversations about rent, bills, and overdue notices. Even if no one said it out loud, you could feel the tension in the room. You learned to read emotions the way other kids learned to read books.
