Do you have a warm winter coat?
I need this
‘Laurien? Does your winter coat still fit?’
Jef sticks his head around the corner and waves a coat toward the sofa.
Laurien looks up from her phone. ‘No, the sleeves are way too short. I need a new one.’
‘Again. When will you stop growing?’
‘When I’ve grown taller than you.’
‘Do your best,’ Jef grins. ‘Are you home tomorrow afternoon? Then we can go buy a new coat together.’
Laurien looks at her dad, stunned. ‘I have to go shopping with you?’
‘I can hardly go buy that coat alone.’ He hangs the coat back on the coat rack. ‘And then we’ll look for some new trousers while we’re at it.’
‘Oh wow, cool. There are some new stores in the shopping center where I’m sure I’ll find something.’
Jef feels his shoulders slump. ‘I had a different store in mind.’
The smile melts from Laurien’s face. ‘Not the thrift store, surely.’
‘You find original things there. That’s what you always say.’
‘Yes, as an extra. But I’m not buying a winter coat there. My friends will laugh at me for the rest of the year.’
Jef stays silent.
Laurien jumps up and squeezes his shoulder. ‘Never mind, Dad. I’ll ask Mom. She can go to the shopping center with me.’
Should you get that cavity checked by the dentist after all, or buy new sports shoes for your child?
How do you feel when others 'just like that' buy something that is unaffordable for you?
What is De Kringwinkel to you: trendy or necessary?
What does belonging mean to you?
Do you ever stop to think about this?
Wist je dat?
Growing up in poverty is not just about material shortages. It is also about shame, social exclusion, or the feeling of not quite belonging, especially for children and young people.
Want to know more?
Shame plays a major role in poverty. People may be ashamed of their financial situation and therefore less likely to ask for help or avoid social contacts. This leads to stress, loneliness, and hiding problems.
Shame does not only arise within people themselves. Societal perceptions and stigma also reinforce the feeling that poverty is a personal failure. As a result, people can feel inferior.
Shame thus reinforces poverty. That is why a non-judgmental attitude, trust, and timely support are important to break the vicious circle.