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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm the c/o 2000 DC poster. 
[b]When did everyone else start being ashamed of being poor? [/b]I realize that up until middle school I just assumed everyone lived like that. Most of the kids in my elementary school had similar situations and stories. I went out of boundary for middle school which is when I started to notice differences. By high school I was in class with kids driving their own cars to school. I think that's when the disparity really hit me. I wouldn't accept rides from people out of fear that they'd ask to come in my house to use the bathroom or something.

One time a guy showed up unexpected because his mom forced him to come to me for tutoring. I couldn't let him in because I was just too ashamed of my house. He kept saying, "I thought we were friends and you won't even let me come in for tutoring. I'm gonna fail." It was raining so we couldn't just sit outside. It was the hardest thing in the world to pretend I didn't care. But I was so afraid of other people in school finding out or him telling his mom and her calling child protective services or something (it happened once before). [/quote]

I think I knew from a very young age.  I was always aware of being dirty, smelling bad, and having worn, dirty clothes.  I could hear the mean comments that adults made about me and my parents.  A handful of other kids in my small town had the same problems, but for some reason we didn't flock to one another.  I knew I was very different from most of the kids and I tried desperately to hide it or pretend like I didn't care (but looking back I bet I didn't fool anyone - at least not any adults).  I also had a few humiliating experiences when classmates showed up to my door and I couldn't let them in.  There were times when other kids tried to help me, and I knew they were being sincere, but I found it equally shameful.

To the PP who gave me a virtual high-five a few pages back - thanks, I needed that.  This thread is cathartic, but it also makes me sad.[/quote]

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