My mom had me while she was in college so I grew up while her career was just starting out. She clawed her way out of poverty and eventually married my step dad who went on to have a great career too. They make excellent money now after reaching the top of the ladder in their fields.

My bio dad is not and never was involved in my life. He is married with other kids now after having several other similarly abandoned children with random bar hook ups throughout his 20s and 30s. Growing up we were really poor in the beginning so of course my mom prioritized food and housing, and we eventually moved into nicer apartments and neighborhoods.

I can't help but to feel a bit of resentment, as my upbringing is so different compared to my half siblings. I had to get a job at 14 to pay for my clothes and school supplies. I got a dangerous and extremely shitty old car to get to work and school. My parents worked really long hours but didn't trust me on my own so I wasn't allowed to participate in after school sports or programs, even tutoring was not allowed. I was only allowed to hang out with kids in my neighborhood and no one was even my age so I was kind of an outcast because all of my friends were boys who were 2-3 years younger than me. My parents didn't pay for my college education and gave me a small amount of money for my wedding (which wasn't terribly long ago).

My sisters on the other hand have overflowing closets full of beautiful clothes, they both got brand new cars on their 17th birthdays, they participate in sports and after school programs, they go on vacations several times a year, their college funds will cover all 4 years of undergrad, and they are authorized users on my parents accounts so they have unlimited spending money. My parents wouldn't even pay for my bookbag and I carried around one that I had to patch to last me my senior year of HS.

I know that years ago money was tighter, but it's hard to see that they are so generous with my sisters and I still get very little- like my wedding that they gave me a little bit of money for- when I'm sure my sisters will be fully funded.

Then there's my bio dad's side of the family, I got nothing at all from him while his wife and child are living in a beautiful house and she goes to a private school.

I feel like this giant mistake, like both of my bio parents were living their lives with their "real" families waiting for me to age out of their 18 year requirement.

I'm an adult now who is married and I make great money, so it's really not even about equity. I can't help but to feel "othered" by everyone. I'm also mixed race so my appearance sticks out on either side of the family. I feel like my obsessive need to make a lot of money is fueled by my upbringing because I don't really have a safety net.

Did anyone else experience anything like this? How are you doing now?