When I was a kid I thought the poor kids ate the crunchy Cheetos. I don't know how I derived that but apparently it appeared to my observant 8 year old mind that the kids who WERE poor (or at least seemed to be) only ate that kind. Like they were so poor they couldn't afford air to puff up their crispy bits of artificially colored and flavored 'cheese.' I remember not judging them for it as it was more philosophical and I ultimately took a tone of sympathy with them. Were they poor BECAUSE they ate un-puffed Cheetos or was it all they could afford to eat because they were poor? I'm sure I confused them with a few too many sympathetic smiles across the lunch table.
My son has taken it upon his 3 year old self to develop similar social stereotypes.
"Mama, LOOOOK!" He'll shriek from the backseat.
"WHAT????" I respond, wondering what could possibly be wrong or what squirrel I'm about to hit.
"That CAR! It has a windshield wiper on it's BACK WINDOW!"
"Wow, Oh Child of Mine, you're right...it does, doesn't it?"
"Mama, why don't WE have one??"
"Because we don't drive an SUV"
"Why not??"
"Because we're poor."
Well played, Life. Well played.
My son has taken it upon his 3 year old self to develop similar social stereotypes.
"Mama, LOOOOK!" He'll shriek from the backseat.
"WHAT????" I respond, wondering what could possibly be wrong or what squirrel I'm about to hit.
"That CAR! It has a windshield wiper on it's BACK WINDOW!"
"Wow, Oh Child of Mine, you're right...it does, doesn't it?"
"Mama, why don't WE have one??"
"Because we don't drive an SUV"
"Why not??"
"Because we're poor."
Well played, Life. Well played.