The family i grew up in included myself, five brothers, and a sister who came along right before i flew the coup. Both parents worked to support us. We managed to eat, play, have presents at Christmas and birthday, have camping vacations, survive illnesses, strikes, hard times, and grow up to be healthy productive human beings.
We worked when we were old enough. The money i made working at a bar-b-que grill, and retail, and cleaning, bought me some clothing, shoes i wanted, and paid for some of the extra curricular activities at the Catholic school we all attended. The parish subsidized some of the tuition. My dad insisted we attend a Catholic school and not leave the system till we graduated. We all fulfilled my dad's wishes.
The snob in me came out the first time my mother made me a dress for the winter formal. More than anything i wanted a store bought beautiful gown like my friends. I knew we couldn't afford so i tried to be compliant when mom said she would make me one. I look back on those pictures of me in my dresses that mom made and realize just how incredibly talented and creative my mom was. I think i tried to be grateful to her but i feel, looking back, that i was pretty ungrateful. I'm embarrassed now.
One year the girls in my class were asked to model for a style show given by Bourlson's. THE store for designer clothes in Medford. I was a size 5-7 which would be maybe a 0 or 2 now. There was a navy blue beautiful dress with fabulous detail i modeled, that fit me perfectly. We would have a discount for the clothes we modeled but at $27 the dress was wayyyyyy beyond what i could afford. Wouldn't ya know that not two days later i saw J. O. walking around with MY dress on. For her it wasn't a special dress it was a casual everyday dress. Oh how i wanted that dress. My mom must have wished she could afford that dress for me.
I saved to buy a White Stag jacket and it was stolen I saved at one time in my life to buy a Coach handbag and it was stolen My want for the brand name items has not really worked out but it still doesn't mean i don't want them.
My priorities have shifted as i've aged. Maybe it's maturity or reality i don't know. Thrift stores (i managed one) are not my favorite places, neither are 99 cent stores or discount stores or Walmart or Kmart etc. I will shop in them but part of me is still the young girl who yearns for the brand name and upscale style to which i probably am better off not to have become accustomed too.
Mom and Dad did a pretty all right job with the brood. We turned out to be decent human beings and have contributed our share to the planet with fabulous children and grandchildren. I find myself wanting to be able to afford more for my kids and grand kid. I wish i could but i can't. I'm a happy, satisfied human today with a few twinges of regret at the attitude i sometimes showed to my parents. I think i was just born that way. Nature vs Nurture.
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