I am still amazed to learn that “more than 46 million Americans live below the poverty level” (Ending Child Poverty, 2016), and the U.S. child-poverty rate is more than four times higher than rates in such European countries as Sweden, Norway, Fineland, and Denmark” (Jenson & Fraser, 2016). How is this?
The Poor Kids documentary, hit a cord close to my heart because I to share their experience growing up in a poor family. As a child I could remember going to school and my mother coming to pick up my sisters and I from school and taking us to our new home on several occasions. I went to 6 different Kindergartens and lived with family many family members up until I was in fourth grade. Just like Kailie, Brittney, Jasmine, and John I too felt the overwhelming feelings of despair and hopelessness wishing my life would change and that …show more content…
The constant worry about money, food, and shelter was always on my mind. Even though children should not have to worry about these (adult) things my mother had no way to shield the reality from us since we were living the life with her. The overwhelming feelings of hopelessness I felt, my mother felt 10x more. My mother worked as a lunch truck driver, her hours where 5am till about 3pm. Because she worked, she did not qualify for welfare programs such as TANF, Food Stamps (SNAP today), or Medicaid. We did qualify for reduced lunch at school, but my sisters and I were too embarrassed to use the card in school, as the other students would make fun of us. My sisters and I never saw a dentist or went to the doctors until we were 14, because my mother could not afford health insurance for 3 children. When we finally became stable, my mother grew tired and finally gave up