Do We Ever Realize?

[chelsea24]

Sam's thread got me thinking about this. About being rich in other ways of our lives. And I was wondering if we ever stop and realize how much our parents did for us.

When I was growing up, I didn't realize we were not rich because I always got everything I wanted. New doll out, I got it. New Mickey Mouse item out, I got the whole outfit plus the item. In third grade, I got a new "Hi-Fi" and my parents threw a big "dance" party for all the third graders. Lots of pajama parties for 20 or more girls plus a huge breakfast in the morning cooked by my dad and mom as a team. I can't believe that I was about 16 before I realized that we weren't rich. We had a nice bungalow, much like all my other friends. I knew I had more toys, clothes, etc, growing up so I really thought we were rich. What I didn't realize was that my mom an dad were doing without to provide all of this for me. They both worked, but salaries were low. I walked in one day while they were trying to plan my Sweet Sixteen Party. Trying to figure out how to pay for it and all that they wanted to give. They didn't see me and I went to my room and cried for hours. I loved them always, the the love I felt on that day was overwhelming.

So, simple solution, after a lot of soul searching. I told them I did not want a Sweet Sixteen Party because the more "in" thing to do was to go with girlfriends to the movies and that they were all taking me. The very next day I got a job after school stocking shelves for 50 cents an hour and have been working ever since. I never asked for anything again, plus I was able to buy my parents the little things they considered luxuries at the time. And that made my heart sing.

Johnny kind of said this in one his posts once and it really hit home. About the mom that said she didn't like pie anyway when there wasn't enough to go around. And now here's Father's Day approaching.

I wonder if we ever really know how much our parents did for us?

Please share some stories.

[Peggy D]

Chels,

I almost cried when I read your post. It brought back many memories of things my parents did for my brother and I.

[F16 1UB]

I remember the kids in the neighborhood saying they thought we were rich because we ate by candle light almost every night. Yeah, when mom used to cook for a family of 5 and we all sat down to eat together. Imagine that. Mom was a classy chick that enjoyed candles, soft music, and loved her family. I was delivering papers daily on my bike at age 9 and saved over $100 with Christmas bonus from customers. Dad asked if he could borrow it to pay the rent. Yeah we were rich with family values. To this day I don't believe he ever paid me back. Didn't matter. I made sure they had no wants in their later years.

F16

[Blondie]

Chelsea,
That was heartwarming---you clearly have one of the most important things in life-----compassion. :)
blondie

[chelsea24]

Thanks Blondie. You're a kind lady and I loved meeting you. Wish you'd move here already! chels

[chuckinca]

Chelsea:

You shoulda worked for Jewel, they paid a buck twenty five to start. My first job was delivering the Southtown Economist Newspaper. You delivered to every house in the neighborhood and at the end of the month you had to make collections and about one in ten houses paid.

[redwitch]

Chels, you were quite a remarkable young lady. Not many could or would have sacrified something they wanted as badly as you must have wanted that party. You do the memory of your parents proud. Thank you for sharing that with us.

I don't know what sacrifices my parents made while Dad was alive. Things were not big around our home -- we knew we'd be moving in a very short while so it just didn't pay to have a lot of stuff. I do know it was very hard for my mother after his death. My grandmother had convinced Dad that Mom was young and healthy, so she should get all the insurance money and anything else she could get in the way of military and civilian benefits. So, Mom did the best she could and gave up a lot of the things a woman loves to have (cologne if no perfume, the pretty underwear, the new blouse, etc.) so that I could have THE dress for school, go on a field trip, whatever she could afford to give me.

I started babysitting shortly after dad died. As soon as I could, I got an after-school job. I understood that the only way I was going to college was on a full scholarship, so I made sure I jumped through the necessary hoops to get it. Through it all, my mom was my cheerleader. I know it hurt her that she couldn't help me the way she wanted but she was always there for me -- even if it meant losing her job to be at my junior high school graduation.

So, I guess I always understood the financial sacrifices she made but I never understood the emotional sacrifices until now. I just never thought about them. Thank you for opening my eyes. Chels, I truly owe you.

[chelsea24]

Chuck: $1.25 Wow, I would have really been rich!

Red: Thanks, hon, isn't it amazing the little things we took for granted.

F16: Your mom sounds absolutely enchanting. How wonderful, dinner by candlelight!

[nONIE]

I realize now Chels thanks to your eye opening post.Thanks for making us aware how much our generation of parents truly sacrificed for our happiness and well being.

I needed a few corrective surgeries as a baby that my parents could not afford. These were not life threatening problems but my parents knew that as I grew older I might be teased or ostracized for cosmetic reasons. Their forsight saved me from a devastating lack of self confidence and for that I will be eternally grateful to them.

[RCT]

Did anyone else have the experience, of once you are out on your own, how all of a sudden, some of those foods you didn't care for growing up tasted alot better when the money was coming out of YOUR pocket??

[chuckinca]

Liver still tastes terrible

[nONIE]

Aw common Chuck, with onions and ketchup, its delicious! and still cheap.

My kids grew up on fried chicken livers, we learned to love em.

[chuckinca]

Sounds yummy

[chelsea24]

LOLOL Ron: Yes! I love liver and onions and wouldn't touch it as a child. (No ketchup though Nonie! :joke:)

Chuck you're too funny. A real Chicago boy! :bigthumbsup: