Tired of Playing Monopoly?

We had a brief class discussion on the very subject of the different variations of classes in class recently. Dr. Holliday explained that many of us categorize ourselves into the so called "middle class". Langston breaks down for us the many stereotypes that each of the classes take on. I would have considered myself middle class before reading this article. I live in a female headed household so therefore I am considered the working class or poor. This confuses me because she states most poor people are dependant on welfare for their income so therefore I would not be considered most. I'd have to look into the qualities of what the working class posses. Most working class families are supported by unionized workers who possess marketable skills. My mother and I live together and work as a team. I am fortunate enough at this very moment to not work and support my son and I through child support and student loans to cover rent and expenses and my mother works at an assisted living residence to support herself . Due to the fact I don't work and I am a full time student and she works and maintains a salaried position that I would consider to be low income, we would probably consider ourselves working class. We live in a community where the mean household income is 92,844. Langston states middle class and upper class women can often hire other women to clean their houses,take care of their children,etc... I was walking in my apartment complex around the lake just yesterday when I overheard a woman strolling her child saying it only cost her 300 bucks to pay a cleaning crew to come clean her apartment. I stopped for a second and questioned..what am I doing here? I have always thrown myself into places that were more expensive than I could afford because I wanted to appear middle class perhaps? To project that I have privileges? I do feel fortunate to make ends meet but wonder how my mother and I find ourselves always being able to earn the salaries of the working class but living amongst the middle class.How many others are finding themselves perhaps labeled a different class and you are merely hanging on by a thread hoping you won't fall? Why do we do this?Safety?Security?Appearance?Were we taught this and were we able to keep this up for so long? With today's economy will it finally push us to our max? Please share if you too feel you may have labeled our self as middle class but might actually be poor or upper class. What have been your struggles to survive?What lengths did you take? I'd say I am playing on St. James place but set myself up on Illinois Avenue. What about you?