plainpat

We had the best step Dad in the world. He took on 3 children ( I was the oldest & 3 yrs later we had a new Sister.) We were seldom corrected.....just a look or shake of Mom's head was all it took.Both parents were readers,so all the kids were too,reading encyclopedias,comic books & cereal boxes.
Our parents loved us & never heard the word step parent or half sister. We were all his kids & to this day,we are thankful for the parents we had & miss them.
Poor was a word we didn't hear till we were grown.Our young life taught us many life lessons.We were never poor in heart.

TexasSunshine

Such inspiring stories and can relate to most of them. Grew up poor and realized it, kept house cold, especially at night, wore plenty of hand me downs (3 girls). We did have food to eat, maybe pinto beans and fried potatoes many times. But I think it made me and DH appreciate what we have now.

Nanny's dollface

Funny thing looking back growing up, I never knew we were poor. We would have fried salt pork and boiled potatoes, spam, Imperial margarine, pasta, and hamburger meat. My grandfather one pace a month would go to the north end of Boston and buy bird nests cakes ( sliced jelly roll with mocha frosting, raspberry jam on top and covered in coconut) still my favorite. Clothes were made by my grandmother who was a seamstress. My hair was always taken care of ( frosted at 12 years old) mom was a colorist. Never went on vacations except day trips every now and then. Went to the beach in the summer for the first time when I was 18. My grandfather and I would drive to the beach when it was storming.. I later learned that he didn't like sand in his toes. Lol he was a truck driver not making much money, my mother worked as a hairdresser and in a factory. We were very poor looking back in monetary standards but very rich that few people can appreciate.

Sandygirl

Money was tight but....
we always had new clothes for school
We wore good shoes to school. Keds for summer.
Mom and Dad had a Christmas Club account. We had really nice Christmas toys, etc but the rest of the year...we did not get more toys. Maybe a birthday gift. So many fond memories of Christmas as a family. They made it special.
family holidays, good conversation and warm hugs, Loved to hear the stories of family lore. I miss those days....everyone is gone now. ( parents, aunts and uncles)
soda was a luxury...not an every day beverage. Same with chips and snacks....

one car family, modest house.

Sandy