{"id":16400,"date":"2025-06-04T23:23:55","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T23:23:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=16400"},"modified":"2025-06-04T23:23:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T23:23:55","slug":"growing-up-as-one-of-8-siblings-this-girl-faced-poverty-lived-without-electricity-lined-up-for-free-meals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=16400","title":{"rendered":"Growing Up as One of 8 Siblings, This Girl Faced Poverty, Lived Without Electricity, &#038; Lined up for Free Meals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Once reliant on welfare and deeply ashamed of her challenging upbringing, the former child star overcame a childhood marked by poverty. Despite those early struggles, she eventually rose to prominence, becoming one of Hollywood\u2019s most celebrated and influential figures.<\/p><div class=\"ixlto69feb4ee6c5b6\" ><div style=\"width:100%; max-width:1200px; margin:0 auto;\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/bolt-casino.com?r=0BFDBF1283\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    <img \n      src=\"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f8693ebb-2018-480f-a2f7-0096810c07f0.jpg\" \n      alt=\"200% Deposit Bonus + 10% Cashback\" \n      style=\"width:100%; height:auto; display:block; border-radius:8px; cursor:pointer;\"\n    \/>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 1201px) {\r\n.ixlto69feb4ee6c5b6 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) {\r\n.ixlto69feb4ee6c5b6 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) {\r\n.ixlto69feb4ee6c5b6 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 768px) {\r\n.ixlto69feb4ee6c5b6 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {\r\n.ixlto69feb4ee6c5b6 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\">\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1761866\" data-uid=\"07ea9\">\n<div id=\"mgw1761866_07ea9\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"mgbox card-media\" data-template-type=\"container\">\n<div class=\"mgheader\">\n<p>This celebrity grew up as one of eight siblings in a family that often struggled to make ends meet, sometimes living without electricity and relying on free lunch tickets. Her life changed dramatically after finding fame as an actress.<\/p>\n<p>The star\u2019s strong work ethic can be traced back to her modest upbringing in the coal-mining town of Nelsonville, Ohio. Born to Stephen, an aspiring writer, and Barbara, a nursery school teacher, the realities of a working-class life shaped her early years.<\/p>\n<p>After her parents\u2019 divorce when she was a toddler, her mother later married Paul, a truck driver. Their blended family grew to include eight children, making frugality a necessity as they navigated the challenges of providing for a large household.Growing up in a household where money was always tight, the future star became acutely aware of their financial limitations from a young age. \u201cWe were on welfare,\u201d she explained in an interview, recalling a particularly uncomfortable experience from her childhood.<\/p>\n<p>In the third grade at the Clifton School in Cincinnati, her teacher would call out her name each day, signaling her to walk to the front of the line to receive a free lunch ticket provided by the state.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\">\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1761866\" data-uid=\"138f9\">\n<div id=\"mgw1761866_138f9\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"mgbox card-media\" data-template-type=\"container\">\n<div class=\"mgheader\">\n<p>\u201cI knew I was different from the kids who pay for lunch or bring their lunch from home. It was a stigma thing. I was not the only person receiving a free lunch, but you are aware,\u201d the celebrity recalled. That awareness weighed heavily on her, marking her early years with a sense of otherness that lingered long after those school lunches.<\/p>\n<p>Looking back, she described her childhood as \u201cDickensian,\u201d a term often associated with hardship and scarcity. \u201cI remember being poor. There was no great way to hide it,\u201d she said. In a separate interview, the actress shared that their home, which didn\u2019t have a TV, was often cluttered and \u201cnot pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The family often went without basic necessities and there were times when they had no electricity, missed out on Christmases and birthdays, and dealt with bill collectors. There were even occasions when the phone company would call to warn that their service was being shut off due to unpaid bills.These moments of financial distress were impossible to ignore, especially since the children were old enough to witness the toll it took on their parents. \u201cAnd we were all old enough to either get the calls, or watch my mother\u2019s reactions or watch my parents shuffling the money around,\u201d the star noted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\">\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1761866\" data-uid=\"02ab5\">\n<div id=\"mgw1761866_02ab5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"mgbox card-media\" data-template-type=\"container\">\n<div class=\"mgheader\">\n<p>While some stories suggest their electricity was frequently shut off, the actress clarified, \u201cThat\u2019s definitely exaggerated, although there were some Christmases where we went without presents. But my parents gave us so much love.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The family\u2019s financial challenges also affected their clothing, with the mother buying each of her daughters two pairs of shoes a year and 99-cent dresses from a corporate outlet. \u201cIt was not unusual to get them there or at rummage sales,\u201d said the actress\u2019s mother in a joint interview.<\/p>\n<p>The actress posing for a photo in Los Angeles, California in 1980. | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>Though they \u201cdidn\u2019t have everything\u201d they wanted, the star recalled, \u201cwe had everything we needed.\u201d Her mother, described as a \u201cmaster juggler,\u201d managed the demands of raising eight children while juggling work and household responsibilities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\">\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1761866\" data-uid=\"0d8fa\">\n<div id=\"mgw1761866_0d8fa\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"mgbox card-media\" data-template-type=\"container\">\n<div class=\"mgheader\">\n<p>\u201cIf you ask her she\u2019ll say she was a wreck. There\u2019s plenty of screaming that went on in the house but I think it was necessary just to be heard. There were eight children!\u201d the movie star explained. Growing up in a lively, often chaotic household, she developed a quiet yet commanding presence, able to communicate with just a whisper.<\/p>\n<p>When asked if she ever imagined the life she now leads, the actress admitted, \u201cNo. I would never have imagined this life. From a young age I imagined becoming an actor. And that\u2019s probably as much as I would have ever dreamt of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Watching her parents\u2019 quiet determination to make ends meet left a lasting impression, shaping the drive and motivation that would later propel her toward success.<\/p>\n<p>Family has always been a cornerstone of Sarah\u2019s life. This value was deeply tested in September 2022 when her stepfather, Paul, passed away. His death came just one day after the actress missed the New York City Ballet\u2019s annual fall fashion gala due to a family emergency.<\/p>\n<p>Paul, who married Sarah\u2019s mother, Barbara, in 1969, died at age 76 after an \u201cunexpected and rapid illness,\u201d according to a statement released by the family. In his final moments, he was \u201csurrounded with the love and gratitude of his adored wife Barbara of 54 years, and children, including Sarah Jessica Parker.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aside from disclosing details about her upbringing, her life with her loved ones, and how important family is to her, the \u201cHocus Pocus\u201d actress has shared reflections about aging in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n<p>During a 2023 Sirius XM interview with Howard Stern on his show, Howard asked Sarah about her perception when she looks in the mirror. He questioned whether she sees \u201ca good-looking human being\u201d when she does.<\/p>\n<p>Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. | Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI mean I\u2019m presentable [\u2026] I don\u2019t really like looking at myself. I don\u2019t\u2014I never have\u2014I like a fitting and getting in costume, I don\u2019t know. I mean I think I\u2019m fine,\u201d answered Sarah. Howard then asked her if she ever does any facial enhancement and cosmetic procedures like facelifts and Botox.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think about all of it [\u2026] I ask people all the time, like, \u2018Is it too late?\u2019 [\u2026] Now, people will be like, \u2018Well you don\u2019t now [sic] not only look rested, you look like an entirely different human being,\u201d divulged the star.<\/p>\n<p>On the matter of whether she ever felt like facial enhancement procedures were a necessity, Sarah confirmed that she has never felt this way.<\/p>\n<p>She added, \u201cI mean, I go to a dermatologist and there\u2019s like, you know, you can get like a peel, and then they like\u2014there\u2019s like a machine [\u2026] you know, and then you\u2019re like a little red when you leave. I\u2019ll do any of that stuff. I honestly think [\u2026] I missed out on the facelift.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After Howard praised how great Sarah looked, she revealed, \u201cEh, I\u2019ve heard stories. But I do understand why people make the choice because there is so much emphasis put on, especially women and primarily women, about looks. Even last year when we first went on the air with the new season and there were just so many endless articles about, you know, aging and aging gracefully.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also mentioned articles that were written about her and her graying hair specifically. \u201cFirst of all it\u2019s not but who cares? I\u2019m sitting next to Andy Cohen whose head is covered in gray hair and you\u2019ve not mentioned that at all. So I understand why women feel like there is just\u2014there is so much chatter [\u2026] and opinions,\u201d noted Sarah.<\/p>\n<p>She concluded her reflections by confirming that she sees nothing wrong with people doing whatever makes them feel comfortable with themselves and \u201cwalking out the door.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sarah Jessica Parker\u2019s journey from a modest upbringing to Hollywood success reflects her deep-rooted values of family, hard work, and humility. Despite fame and fortune, she remains grounded in the simple, meaningful moments that have always defined her life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once reliant on welfare and deeply ashamed of her challenging upbringing, the former child star overcame a childhood marked by poverty. Despite those early struggles, she eventually rose to prominence, becoming one of Hollywood\u2019s most celebrated and influential figures. This celebrity grew up as one of eight siblings in a family that often struggled to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Growing Up as One of 8 Siblings, This Girl Faced Poverty, Lived Without Electricity, &amp; Lined up for Free Meals - VM News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=16400\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Growing Up as One of 8 Siblings, This Girl Faced Poverty, Lived Without Electricity, &amp; Lined up for Free Meals - VM News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Once reliant on welfare and deeply ashamed of her challenging upbringing, the former child star overcame a childhood marked by poverty. 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