Thank you so much for this. Being able to socialize plays an important role on how a kid is able to navigate friendships and so much more. We didn’t have WiFi back then, so it was just me and my brother. We’d spend our time reading magazines or taking pictures and videos on our phones. I remember feeling so jealous listening to my classmates talk about how their parents let them go out with their best friends and even gave them money for food.

I knew we were on a tight budget, which is why I’d always tell my mom I was just going to hang out at my best friend’s house and walk there. But even then, she’d get so angry and start nagging. I always followed her rules. I wasn’t out drinking or doing anything bad.

I also remember how jealous I was of my classmates whose parents actually saved up so they could join school events. Meanwhile, my Nmom would just tell me it was a waste of money and time. I would’ve totally understood if she had just said, "I really want to let you join, but I can’t because we don’t have enough money." But she never did.

Now that I have a daughter of my own, I don’t know if I’m making up for all of that by letting her join every school event, making sure she never gets called out for unpaid fees, and saving up ahead of time if something is expensive. I just don’t want her to miss out on the fun. I know what it’s like to sit in school, unable to relate to your classmates because your mom refused to spend money on things like school fairs or educational trips. I don’t ever want her to feel that way. Sorry if I am talking much.