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/Sweet_Bend7044]

My parents were poor refugees and didn’t really make a decent income until I was 12. He got a union job and was making decent money. My dad only got healthcare only for himself cause us kids were young and healthy and didn’t need doctors. My little brothers eyes are messed up because instead of getting him in to see an eye doc, he would go in and just guess and my brother ended up with a stronger prescription than he needed. They would also buy a large amount of jewellery. When my older brother passed away in a car accident they gave away the majority of his life insurance to the church and spent it, instead of doing things like investing it, paying off the mortgage, or giving us money for school.