White American here. My mom was 15 when she had me. I was 12 when she abandoned me for the 3rd and final time. I was raised by my conservative step dad, and rebelled against him all through high school. I barely graduated on time and joined the workforce at 18. Went to college at 21 and dropped out a year later and learned a trade in the glass industry. Met my wife at 25, got married at 27. Went back to college at 28 and got my degree. Had first kid at 32. Worked in IT/marketing for 10 years. Sold first house and bought much nicer house. My kids are in sports and have a moral compass.

Some may look at my family and call us privileged. They’ll never know that I worked my ass off for everything I have. But my kids know, and they also know that they’ll also need to work their asses off to be successful. Nothing worth having is free.