“I was proud of saving money.”
“I know.”
“Was that embarrassing?”
“Yes.”
She looked uncomfortable.
“Sometimes.”
I thought about it.
I’d never considered that my pride in stretching a grocery budget might have made a child feel publicly different.
I didn’t regret being careful.
I did regret failing to notice when Lauren became uncomfortable.
“I wish you’d told me.”
I said.
“I tried.”
That hurt.