At the store, you knew not to ask for extras. Groceries were counted out carefully, item by item. If something went over the budget, it went back. Treats were rare, but when they came — a new shirt, a fast-food meal, a small toy — they felt like holidays. Poor kids may live with the constant fear of medical bills they cannot afford to pay. They understand the stress of avoiding medical treatment or prescriptions due to financial limitations. Rich kids, on the other hand, may have access to top-tier healthcare without concerns about costs, making it difficult for them to relate to the anxiety of medical expenses.
Rooms, clothes, toys, food — everything was communal. Nothing truly belonged only to you, and somehow, that taught you both generosity and patience. You learned early that life feels easier when people help each other. A good report card, a working hand-me-down, a meal everyone enjoys — these moments meant something. They still do. Growing up with little gives you an appreciation most people never learn: gratitude for the ordinary.
