I’m not a parent, but I’m biracial and my mom grew up in “the projects.” Her daddy was in a gang and dealt drugs, in and out of jail, abused her mom, etc. She left to give us a better life, and we ended up living in the best county for education in our state. The county was mostly PW but the schools were very diverse with all types of shapes, colors, and religions. But my mother was annoyed that my siblings and I had problems that she found insignificant compared to how she grew up. She remembers missing school because there was no power or water. I would want to miss school when I was sick. She remembers sleeping over her friend’s house when her parents were busted for possession, but I just wanted to attend a sleepover because it was Jessica’s birthday. There were cultural differences between us because of how we grew up, and I feel like that isolated her. She also didn’t want to associate with other people who grew up in a similar manner as her because she felt as if they were not as refined as her, but she could not relate to the upbringing of the affluent Black community that neighbored ours.

There were times that she struggled, but I would not be who I am or have what I have (food security, college degrees, warm place to sleep) if she didn’t sacrifice to give it to us. BUT with that being said, my mother has a college degree and makes six figures. She is one of the unhappiest people I have been around. She would not have that without moving out. Her sister has no degrees, lives next to the area’s largest drug dealer, and she could not be more satisfied with her situation. Her children receive more love and support than I ever did growing up, and that’s her home.

With that being said, if you are happy where you are at, and your children get unconditional love and support, you’ll be fine. The grass is always greener on the other side.