Working Poor #2

The Working Poor book for book club continues to surprise me. In my readings for book club this week left me angry and not feeling much sympathy for the poor. One case in particular I found to be ridiculous was that of the couple Sarah and Willie, who have since divorced. They barely have enough money to raise their four children (of three different fathers including Willie) yet they spend frivolously and let their children run around in diapers. The parents are children themselves not being much out of their teens and go to clubs and drink, and often get into physical disputes. The extra money they received from taxes went to Sarah and Willie’s tattoos. The children have behavioral problems stemming from the parents own problems with anger, instability, and inconsistencies. The section that infuriated me involved Cody (3), Kayla, and a baby of Sarah and Willie; “Sarah asleep…Kayla, at eighteen months, chewing on a cigarette and putting a Bic lighter in her mouth. She played in the dirty toilet while Cody pulled his chair up to the stove with the burners lit. [The author] saw Kayla hit the baby in the face with a sneaker and pick up a plastic bench, ready to slam it onto the baby’s head” (35). The children even at 3 years old still wear only diapers with no money for proper clothing. They are served Lunchables and other expensive junk foods. This is just one example of a family and there are so many living in America. It’s horrible to know that this is happening especially with innocent children involved. People need to start taking responsibility with their money and their lives, and should think twice before bringing children into an unstable life.