Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
I went off on my daughter
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 255406" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>It's funny - the term "trailer trash". We do have it in Australia, freely borrowed from the US we admit, but it isn't applied to people who live in caravans (which is what we call the dinky little things you pull along behind your vehicle). Instead, the term is applied to PEOPLE who qualify, usually by their behaviour. The emphasis is on "trash".</p><p></p><p>In our little village we have had what I supposed you would call a trailer park. It had some transients (people on holidays - it was a lovely place, our village is a popular holiday destination) but mostly long-term residents, many of whom just couldn't afford to live anywhere else. And they were happy there, it was a lovely community within a community. The owner (now retired, which is why it no longer exists) is very active in the community as someone who fights for people's rights and to keep the town free from developers. He's a good man. One old lady who used to live there, was our babysitter of choice, because she had high standards for the kids, would make sure they did what they were supposed to when they were supposed to (including any homework) and who would even wash up for us! The kids really loved her too. She has recently moved into a retirement village on the edge of the Outback, because that is where her daughter lives. She misses our village and the ocean. She was typical of those living in the "trailer park".</p><p></p><p>We do have trailer trash in town. They don't live in a trailer, they wear the latest fashions but they have such an attitude problem that many people give them a wide berth. Encounters with them can be unpleasant because they are so aggressive, they always act as if other people are out to have a go at them, which only alientates people even more. The girls have been involved in petty vandalism, they were tagetting easy child 2/difficult child 2 for a while even though they used to be friends in elementary school. But as these girls grew chubby and un-pretty (the diet of fat & carbs didn't help) and easy child 2/difficult child 2 would wolf down fat & carbs without gaining an ounce, they got very nasty to her. I make a point of waving to them, saying hello to them, but they've been increasingly frosty until now they mostly ignore me. I still chat to their mother when I meet her, we have always been friends. I'm hoping that as the girls leave teens behind, they will also move into independence and go outside the village and hopefully lose the trailer trash attitude and label.</p><p></p><p>I do feel for the girls, life hasn't been easy for them. But when things are tough there are two options. The first is to let it make you hard and nasty, to use it as an excuse for not getting anywhere in life. The second option is to rise above it, to fight back and live a good life regardless of what you have to deal with.</p><p></p><p>So at least over here, this side of the Pacific (and equator) "trailer trash" isn't about where you live, it's about your stagte of mind and your attitude to life and what it throws at you.</p><p></p><p>I do like the quote someone gave above - "if you call me derogatory names such as trailer trash, you will never know what a good friend I could be to you."</p><p></p><p>Way to go!</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 255406, member: 1991"] It's funny - the term "trailer trash". We do have it in Australia, freely borrowed from the US we admit, but it isn't applied to people who live in caravans (which is what we call the dinky little things you pull along behind your vehicle). Instead, the term is applied to PEOPLE who qualify, usually by their behaviour. The emphasis is on "trash". In our little village we have had what I supposed you would call a trailer park. It had some transients (people on holidays - it was a lovely place, our village is a popular holiday destination) but mostly long-term residents, many of whom just couldn't afford to live anywhere else. And they were happy there, it was a lovely community within a community. The owner (now retired, which is why it no longer exists) is very active in the community as someone who fights for people's rights and to keep the town free from developers. He's a good man. One old lady who used to live there, was our babysitter of choice, because she had high standards for the kids, would make sure they did what they were supposed to when they were supposed to (including any homework) and who would even wash up for us! The kids really loved her too. She has recently moved into a retirement village on the edge of the Outback, because that is where her daughter lives. She misses our village and the ocean. She was typical of those living in the "trailer park". We do have trailer trash in town. They don't live in a trailer, they wear the latest fashions but they have such an attitude problem that many people give them a wide berth. Encounters with them can be unpleasant because they are so aggressive, they always act as if other people are out to have a go at them, which only alientates people even more. The girls have been involved in petty vandalism, they were tagetting easy child 2/difficult child 2 for a while even though they used to be friends in elementary school. But as these girls grew chubby and un-pretty (the diet of fat & carbs didn't help) and easy child 2/difficult child 2 would wolf down fat & carbs without gaining an ounce, they got very nasty to her. I make a point of waving to them, saying hello to them, but they've been increasingly frosty until now they mostly ignore me. I still chat to their mother when I meet her, we have always been friends. I'm hoping that as the girls leave teens behind, they will also move into independence and go outside the village and hopefully lose the trailer trash attitude and label. I do feel for the girls, life hasn't been easy for them. But when things are tough there are two options. The first is to let it make you hard and nasty, to use it as an excuse for not getting anywhere in life. The second option is to rise above it, to fight back and live a good life regardless of what you have to deal with. So at least over here, this side of the Pacific (and equator) "trailer trash" isn't about where you live, it's about your stagte of mind and your attitude to life and what it throws at you. I do like the quote someone gave above - "if you call me derogatory names such as trailer trash, you will never know what a good friend I could be to you." Way to go! Marg [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Parent Support Forums
General Parenting
I went off on my daughter
Top