There's no doubt that parents encourage their children to succeed in school so they don't ever have to go through what they are going through now. Parents work from dusk till dawn but it's still not enough to pay for the mortgage, bills, utilities, etc. This creates a type of stress in the family. The children may or may not know it, but as kids, they expect certain things from their parents. When the parents are unable to get fulfill their needs, arguments may take place and it may eventually lead to domestic violence. Believe it or not, but it wouldn't take much to get parent angry when there are under emotional distress. The parents have to worry about having a place to live, putting food on the table, clothing their children, and hearing their children complain about what they want, what they can't get, and how their friend's parents buy it for them, etc. Living under such pressure, it doesn't take much to get parents angry. .
I once lived in poverty when I was in elementary school. My family and I lived in the harsh streets of San Francisco's Chinatown. Both my parents knew very little English and worked a 9-5 job and going to school at the same time. They paid little attention me and my younger sister. We always had to take care of ourselves. I always felt that my life was incomplete. I was never able to get what other kid had. I wanted my parents to buy me toys, take me out to eat and play, and just spend time with me. I remember I started breaking things at home just to get them mad and draw their attention. But the only attention that I received was a whipping to my behind. I started to sneak out and hang around with some neighbors. They were all older than me and they really took care of me. Many times, they gave me what I wanted and asked for. I don't really know how they got it but they were always able to satisfy me. I later realized that they were involved in gang related activities and wanted to include me in.
