Let me tell you a story.

gmc222 · October 2013

Yesterday I was at the grocery store and there was a family in front of me in the checkout line. Mom, Dad and three little girls that I guessed would be 5, 3 and 1. They were all dressed in their Sunday best, and each girl had a cute dress, matching cardigan and adorable metallic shoes. The mom appeared to be pregnant with her 4th, and was dressed in a pretty maxi dress with Tory Burch tall boots, and scrolling down her iPhone. Of course I was thinking how jealous I was of her big, adorable family all put together.

Then she asks the cashier to confirm that the number printed on her receipt is the balance for her food stamps. REALLY?! You're still making babies and you can't afford to feed them because you apparently shop too much? Ok, so I don't really know them or their situation, but this has clearly bothered me since yesterday!

pettycrocker · October 2013

Normally I would agree with you, but pretty recently a friend of mine who is a SAHM to a 2 y/o and just decided to TTC #2, found out she was in fact pregnant, and very shortly after, found out that her H lost his job, which left the family with no money AND no medical ins. That really put a lot into perspective for me. Our economy is still pretty crappy, and jobs are not so stable for a lot of people. I see people in my area and from their nice cars and clothes, you would think they have nothing to worry about, and they're using food stamps at the checkout.

So from that, I would look at those people and think maybe the mom is a SAHM and the H was making really good money at some point to afford all the nice outfits and shoes, and they suddenly lost that income- which leaves them with all the nice clothes they had already purchased, but no money for food

That's the world we're living in now. Working/Middle Class are becoming a minority.

gmc222 · October 2013

@MrsCastillo Thank you for that perspective! I guess I was jumping to conclusions. Plus I may be a wee bit more sensitive about people who can apparently have lots of kids when it's so difficult for me.

I hope you're friend is making it work with her new situation.

Amores0121 · October 2013

Mrs Castillo said:

Normally I would agree with you, but pretty recently a friend of mine who is a SAHM to a 2 y/o and just decided to TTC #2, found out she was in fact pregnant, and very shortly after, found out that her H lost his job, which left the family with no money AND no medical ins. That really put a lot into perspective for me. Our economy is still pretty crappy, and jobs are not so stable for a lot of people. I see people in my area and from their nice cars and clothes, you would think they have nothing to worry about, and they're using food stamps at the checkout.

So from that, I would look at those people and think maybe the mom is a SAHM and the H was making really good money at some point to afford all the nice outfits and shoes, and they suddenly lost that income- which leaves them with all the nice clothes they had already purchased, but no money for food

That's the world we're living in now. Working/Middle Class are becoming a minority.

This. Also, you can often buy brand name clothes from TJMAXX or consignment stores. All of my daughters clothes and shoes are hand me downs from my sister who is one year older than her. She has as many clothes as a celebrity child, I kid you not, because my little sis is very spoiled. Many of them have the tag on them when I get them and they are very nice clothes. These are clothes that I could not afford to buy her, but they are given to me and that could be the same situation for this woman.

britt6292 · October 2013

I think IF can cloud yor judgement. I have found myself thinking negative thoughts about people that I normally would not think twice about. I seem to take things more "personally" now even if they have nothing to do with me!

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