Will children, living with a parent(s) on government assistance, tend to follow this trend as an adult?

It all depends on the parent. Because I was one of them on gov’t assistance for a brief period and I for a moment, I felt I was at my lowest point. Gov’t assistance is a huge help when needed, but there is nothing better than the feeling of independence. And if you’re a parent like me, who believes in values, independence, a better tomorrow and just wants a better future for your child(ren) in general, then of course you work your ass off to get to that level. In the process, providing a good example for your child(ren). Anyone that sits back and collects and has no intention of ever getting off welfare is just plain lazy. I am in no way offending anyone currently receiving assistance right now, but I’ve seen it first hand when I had to live on gov’t. housing for some time. It saddens me to see such traits passed down through generations.

friends of mine who have worked for schools in lower income areas (housing projects specifically) tended to notice a cultural tendency to do just this + not break from the tradition of a welfare state. as a matter of fact there were may mothers trying to abutt the child quota to get the most govt-issued money as possible. sadly in order to break the cycle will take more than just mere education + taking the child outta the hood. a permanent change will need to being at home, in the community + culture. i think what is most irking is when this is accompanied by a sense of entitlement + hubris.

@963chris Amen! And I forgot to mention talking to your child. Words of encouragement & support are so very important!

That’s how it’s playing out with one line in my family.

Do most who grow up in poverty stay in poverty? Of, course.

For some people, it’s true, unfortunately. I’ve got a friend in Utah who tells me all sorts of stories about her family and in-laws. It’s really horrible. It seems to me that for anything to change it has to be the individual who wants to make something more and be proactive. I’m living at home right now and was on government assistance. I needed the money and wasn’t shy about taking it, but it sucks immensely not being able to have the freedom to go somewhere when I want, get new clothes, or live on my own. Even though I’m still unemployed and the extensions help me, I’ve not really been feeling great that the governement keeps dishing them out. It’s called a nanny state, right?

Statistically, welfare families tend to be multi-generational. Children learn from their parents.

Absolutely. It becomes a lifestyle.

@963chris People get to feeling entitled to all kinds of things, if you let them. I had a lady once tell me that she was entitled to more sauce on her ribs. Entitled.

some will some won’t. it would be better if the Government could find them something pro-active to do for the money.

@YARNLADY [citation needed]

I have the same work ethic as my father, so does my brother. If the only example you ever see as a child is living off the system, then it is damned hard to break out. I knew a family in a small fishing town who would brag that they had 3 generations on welfare and all they did was fish all day.

Nope, not always. I was raised by my aunt/guardian on AFDC, free lunch, government cheese and powdered milk, the works. Unfortunately for her, her son and me, my aunt was incapable of a lot of the life skills the rest of us take for granted.

She tried, but reading was extremely hard for her. Math was hard for her. Learning positive social skills to network and move up in the work world was impossible for her, because relating to other people was hard for her, and this was on top of the mental illnesses that kicked in on her during my childhood. She was lucky to get a job in a hospital laundry – I had to fill out the application for her when I was 12. But that job didn’t pay enough even for her to live on on her own, so she had to get on AFDC for us. No man was going to marry her, and she knew it. Can you imagine her despair?

If I showed you in street view on Google Maps the various dilapidated houses I grew up in, you’d be appalled and wondering if you weren’t in parts of Alabama. Thank goodness I went to middle and high schools in rich communities, or university would’ve been a severe culture shock. I’m sure there are many people out there like her. You can’t just let them and their kids fall through the cracks, because you never know. Not all the children of the poor are wastrels.

Neither I, nor her son, grew up to be on welfare, even though we took different paths. I know a number of kids who grew up the same and didn’t get on AFDC, or whatever they call it today, as adults. We were ashamed of our poverty and were determined to not live that way.

People receiving gov’t assistance are as varied as any other group. I have a feeling you’re implying that, as a group, these people are somehow less capable and pass that on to their children who continue to be just as ‘lazy’ and continue to use up ‘taxpayer’s money’. Well, that’s not how it goes. Gov’t assistance is used for many reasons. I, as an immigrant, have used it and when my income improved, I haven’t so I suppose the ‘cycle’ was broken then. And I know that’s how it is with a lot of people.

I’m with @aprilsimnel – I came from a poor family. We got food stamps for a while. We always felt that being poor sucked, so that provided motivation to get out of poverty. I became a “Rocket Scientist”, my brother got dual degrees at MIT. We have had good jobs since college. The most he and I have been unemployed, since college, is 6 months.

Not if you tell your children to strive higher.Put your childrens dreams into motion before yours stops them in their tracks.