Fifteen states — all but one run by Republican governors — skipped the deadline to apply for a new federally-funded program that will provide $120 per child for groceries during the summer months to families of children who already qualify for free or reduced-price lunch at school.
When I was in 5th grade I was on that. Because of that, I wasn’t able to have the upgraded items, which was basically chocolate milk vs regular milk. Since pretty much everyone wanted chocolate milk, I had to say I didn’t like chocolate to avoid the shame of being poor… which turned into a huge thing (to kids) about me being the only one who didn’t like chocolate, and because I had to stick to the lie, I was always given “alternate” treats in class—which always sucked.
That really stinks, I remember the feeling of not wanting the thrifted Hollister or other big name branded clothes my mom would try to get because I knew the other kids would think I had money and treat me differently (poor rural town). It was kind of surreal to be poor, but my parents were fighting the image of poor, only making it harder for us to blend in with the poor community around us. She insisted that they were nice clothes and her children would go to school in nice clothes. To be fair, those clothes were uncomfortable and had print/designs that made it too warm for sweaty pig me. I also had a stutter and an accent from another part of the country, so it wasn’t doing me any favors.
I’m glad your parents were able to take advantage of a program that helped them, but man does poverty leave such weird marks on every age involved.