It’s interesting how money changes people. I didn’t even grow up poor, so I didn’t expect this kind of behavior from my parents. Why would you send me a list of things to buy for you when you know I’m currently struggling and buried in loans? I’ve chosen to help sponsor some young children through school and I’m still figuring out the logistics. Yes, I have a little spare change, but that doesn’t mean I’m not struggling—I’m just paying it forward. I informed my parents about it, and the first thing my father said was that next time, the money should go to the church for construction. The same church where many of the members who contributed toward building a university can’t even afford to send their kids there, and the university doesn’t even offer scholarships. Meanwhile, my mom got upset that I told my father instead of her. And to make it worse, I had sent her some money, yet she’s pretending not to have noticed. This isn’t the first time she’s acted this way. The last two times I sent her money, I had to call her before she even acknowledged it. Let’s not even get into how my sibling sends her large amounts of money, yet she still pretends to be broke when it comes to me.
The last time the bank messed with some money she received from my sibling, she blew up my phone with voice notes, calls, and texts. But this time, I know she’ll quietly spend most of the money without saying a word. It’s heartbreaking. Entitlement comes in different forms. Honestly, if I weren’t worried that the parents of the children I’m sponsoring would misuse the money on non-school-related expenses, I would have just given it to them directly. But it’s fine. I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll just do my own thing quietly moving forward.
Also read: Something Feels Off About His Girl