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The smart play was to go to Tampa where they had family willing to help

posted 8 years ago by Howlin Wolf
7 replies | jump to latest

"Oh, so you want to take him out of school?" Enrol him in a new one; you'll be able to stay down there longer, and you'll be extremely unlikely to have to move again, because you've got connections.

"Oh, but the kid will lose his friends" Who gives a flying one? He'll make new ones, and it's not even as if he can't stay in touch with the old... Sometimes you have to make sacrifices in the short term to set yourself up for a better future. Nobody is saying it will be easy, but if you have a support system willing to offer help, then don't be ashamed to use it... I get that not everyone in such a situation HAS family, but if you do, then don't take it for granted, because a family who reaches out is a lot more forgiving than a government/economy that is just doing its job. Nobody in such an emergency situation should prioritize a child's short-term happiness over a family's long-term security.



"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

[–] PenSeven 7 years ago

I totally agree with you. I rolled my eyes when they thought it was better to live in that motel, than to take the kid out of school. When they could have lived in a safe environment with their family in Tampa. Then when she didn't like the new house she suddenly decides that Tampa is ok?!

[–] ion-moon 7 years ago

We don't know what the situation in Tampa was like, though.

Mom always wanted to go to Tampa, but was going along with what he wanted to do. Once he crossed a line in her eyes, she decided to part ways. Shrug. that made sense to me.

[–] Howlin Wolf 7 years ago

Neither does she... but to my way of thinking, staying with family who WANT to help has got to be better than living out of a motel and having to morally compromise yourself, just to get by... I'm sure some people would pick the same path, but to me they seemed like weak reasons not to go there.



"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

[–] ion-moon 7 years ago

Then I am guessing you have never lived with family. ;)

[–] Howlin Wolf 7 years ago

I have - and I know how hard it can be... but some families at least WANT to help; 'the system' just wants money...

Besides, the script didn't say she didn't get along with her family. She gave all sorts of other reasons, but not that... If she had come out and said 'I just don't get along with them', then maybe I could understand it a little better. 



"Your mother puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?!"

[–] IndianaDave 7 years ago

Nah, I live in Tampa and it sucked hard core around 2010. Better off in Orlando

[–] daveyh (581) 2 months ago

I'd just add also that his son had to change schools anyway and was hardly going to see his friends from the old neighbourhood anymore (think one's at his birthday party at the motel but i get the impression that's only after they'd revisited their old house and were in the process of moving back in)