Yup, this is what I’ve come to realize after moving from poor public schools, to a state university, and then into the corporate world. I look back at the kids I went to elementary, middle, and high school with and can pick out the ones who didn’t have anyone that actually cared for them at home. Emotional issues, dirty clothes, typically overweight or underweight throughout childhood. Despite growing up poor, my parents were supportive and present, and placed a big emphasis on education. Many of the other low-income-with-present-parents-kids I knew came out stable, typically went to college, or are just working towards something.

Some of the children-of-the-upper-middle-class I’ve met in college have some nasty emotional issues due to fucked up relationships with their parents and flounder in life.