Journal Entry - Lesson 10

I really hate that people blame society for their problems!

After reading Class in America—2003 by Gregory Mantsios, I started thinking about my own upbringing. I was raised by a single mother with two other siblings. She was a college graduate and had a decent paying job. From the descriptions of the different classes, my family probably was considered as poor or lower class.

I remember that money was tight. My mother had a strict budget that she adhered to. Very rarely did the family go out to eat, like maybe once a month and dessert was only offered on Sunday. For entertainment, we would go to the drive-in movie because it charged a small fee for each vehicle. Many times we would be able to invite friends to come along since it didn’t cost anything extra. My mother liked to take the family to the theater usually once a year. Everyone would get all dressed up in their best clothes; it was a special time for our family. Musicals like: Oklahoma, Sound of Music, and South Pacific were some of the highlights.

I never considered that our family was poor. Looking back on our childhood, my siblings and I still remember it with fond memories. We never felt that we were lacking anything, even though the family did not have a lot of money. Life was filled with laughter, joy, and happiness. I feel that it was because my mother worked hard, planned for expenditure, and saved so that her children could experience the refined culture around us.

She taught each of her children to work hard and be responsible for their choices. I recall her encouraging us to make good choices and always do our best.

I know that my mother made a lot of sacrifices for our family. She did not blame society for her lot in life. She continually worked hard to improve her family’s living conditions. My mother has been a great example to me. I recognize that the independence, fortitude, and strong work ethics I have developed are from the example she set.