When I was a kid mom smoked, just like every other adult. I think she even had a beer or wine occasionally. She got some sort of assistance when she was going to nursing school. We were on food stamps for a while when she lost her job. After my parents divorced dad worked and paid his child support. Mom raised us though during the preschool and elementary years. The assistance she recieved was never a source of pride, in fact it was humbling and embarrassing for her.

Thankfully she did all she could for us kids. Now I’m a Delta pilot and my sister is self employed with her own business employing others. I am very thankful I grew up in this country where fortunately this type of story isn’t that uncommon. “Those people” are a lot closer than we think. I remember garage sales and thrift stores being normal shopping spots. Cousins and neighbors used to give us “hand me downs.” As a child I was oblivious to the struggles and had a normal happy childhood. I never had the new shoes or designer jeans but for some reason I didn’t think much about it. I knew others were better off financially but I didn’t starve or go without clothes or a roof.

Frankly, the welfare kids had more in common with everyone else than the Kochs, Buffets, Zuckerbergs and Trumps of the world. We all went to public school together and somehow made lives for ourselves. Other than not being able to afford some sports and not playing early enough to be good when the high school teams were a big part of school, I don’t think I missed much. I moved out at 17 to lighten the burden because like everyone at that age, I had it all figured out and didn’t require more parenting. I chose to enlist in the Army and served my country as a way to pay it back and pay it forward, at least in my mind I was contributing to what I had benefited from. I’ll probably be labeled a socialist but I still think this is the way it’s supposed to work. Help others help themselves and have compassion for all because we all have our burdens.