Too poor to be proud?

I heard a elderly lady say that to her husband this afternoon. It made me sad but it also made me think. Am I too poor to be proud?

I don't consider myself poor. Sure we don't have a lot of money but I am able to buy what we need when we need it, if it is a genuine need and not a want. I don't take handouts but if I were in the position to need a handout to keep my kids fed and a roof over their heads, damn right I would take a handout. But that person would be getting that back and more once I was able to get back on my feet. I would think that being poor (and we were very very poor when I was young) pride is the one thing you have left. I don't know. I know that I will not ask my parents or anyone else for money. I would rather go without for myself until the next payday than to borrow from someone. There is a huge difference though when it comes to the kids. I would beg, borrow, steal, cheat and lie to provide for my kids. They shouldn't have to suffer because of a shitty economy, a bad decision R and I made, or whatever else. But suffering is far fetched. There is a big different between needs and wants. I would do the above to provide for their NEEDS but wants....no. Sorry. K does not understand the difference between need and want...ok maybe she does but it is always "but momma I need it" it generally being a candy bar, chocolate milk, a new toy, or clothes...things she has plenty of. She does not lack for clothes, milk, small treats, and the kids have a room in the house that is a toyroom/ O's bedroom...yeah they don't NEED toys.

But anyway I did not hear the entire conversation between the elderly couple but that one phrase still sticks in my head. Probably will for quite some time. I wish there had been some way I could have helped them...maybe I should have...but we are living on a dime as well. Great...now I made myself feel guilty for not helping them.