Being someone who grew up poor, I understand this pride and fear of becoming a burden on others. What always helped my mother was feeling like she earned whatever we got.
So neighbors and family would have her or us help with something in exchange for something we needed. It helped us both with whatever we needed as well as helping us retain our pride and humanity.
I honestly do the same thing with people struggling in my community that I know. It allows them to accept help and both of us to retain our fullest sense of humanity.
We have made the idea of struggling or being poor meaning you haven’t tried or worked enough when that often isn’t the case. Receiving support ends up feeling like you are admitting you have failed in some aspect. I wish we could get past this idea, but in the meantime I am so happy others are taking how a struggling family feels in mind.
My mom does this kind of thing with her neighbors. Theyre not in the best place to give because money wise or really food wise. So instead, she'll ask the kids if they can bring up her trashes when she's out of town (like for her vacation). She usually offers them like $2 each for it as well. One time they forgot to bring it up, and they were nervous about what she would say. All my mom said to them is, thats okay, I forget things too. But because yall apologized for it, you can still get the money!" It brings those children so much happiness.
Another thing she'll do for them is buy ice cream things during the summer. And she'll grab enough for them and start eating one, then go, "I really wish somebody would help eat these for me! I got too many!" And they'll volunteer to help eat them. Theyre so precious.
adrock747 on June 21st, 2020 at 21:47 UTC »
That is such a decent thing to do. I need to remember this and try to live up to this example. Good stuff
TheGreatPlathetsby on June 21st, 2020 at 22:52 UTC »
Being someone who grew up poor, I understand this pride and fear of becoming a burden on others. What always helped my mother was feeling like she earned whatever we got.
So neighbors and family would have her or us help with something in exchange for something we needed. It helped us both with whatever we needed as well as helping us retain our pride and humanity.
I honestly do the same thing with people struggling in my community that I know. It allows them to accept help and both of us to retain our fullest sense of humanity.
We have made the idea of struggling or being poor meaning you haven’t tried or worked enough when that often isn’t the case. Receiving support ends up feeling like you are admitting you have failed in some aspect. I wish we could get past this idea, but in the meantime I am so happy others are taking how a struggling family feels in mind.
angel13molly on June 21st, 2020 at 23:11 UTC »
My mom does this kind of thing with her neighbors. Theyre not in the best place to give because money wise or really food wise. So instead, she'll ask the kids if they can bring up her trashes when she's out of town (like for her vacation). She usually offers them like $2 each for it as well. One time they forgot to bring it up, and they were nervous about what she would say. All my mom said to them is, thats okay, I forget things too. But because yall apologized for it, you can still get the money!" It brings those children so much happiness.
Another thing she'll do for them is buy ice cream things during the summer. And she'll grab enough for them and start eating one, then go, "I really wish somebody would help eat these for me! I got too many!" And they'll volunteer to help eat them. Theyre so precious.