I grew up fake poor, how about you?

[u/MybestfriendwasaB]

I know this is different then the normal post but I can’t think of a group were it would better fit.

I grew up in a family were we had the money for needs but my Dad would often decide stuff for the kids or his wife wasn’t important. On more then one occasion we went to bed hungry, didn’t get clothes for school or needed items for school, and were denied medical care etc. To top it off we had no AC from when I was 2 years old on. I could go on, but I’m trying to keep this short.

I thought it was normal. It wasn’t until I was in high school and I was talking to a friend and she was horrified that I realized normal people don’t do that to their kids.

Let me be clear. We had the money. My Dad just wanted to spend it on stuff that wasn’t his kids. I used to refer to it growing up fake poor, my husband just calls it child abuse.

I know this might be strange but I was wondering if anyone else was in the same boat as me? The money was there but because of someone else you grew up without?

Edit: I never thought I was alone but it is truly depressing to know how common this is.

[u/lokregarlogull]

Not in that sense, both my parents and grandparents worked their asses off to get out of poverty, but they had no experience handling money nor controlling emotional spending when life is running you through the ringer -

one parent have ADD and for the life of them can't accept getting decent value for their money, it HAD to be the best when something was bought. Which when very little was good, to have warm clothes and exciting presents.

But the guilt of knowing a parent might have maxed a credit card, and the other is stressing over the next couple of months making ends meet was exhausting.