A teenager who spent much of her childhood living and traveling in a caravan with her family is opening up about how much she dislikes the “nomadic existence” she says her content creator parents forced her into.
In a lengthy post on Reddit, the 18-year-old — who noted that she used a “one-time account” on the platform “for privacy” — began by explaining that she’s been on the road with her family long-term for more than 10 years.
“My parents decided when I was just 7 years old — too young to form an opinion on anything — to pack us up and move us into an RV to travel the US,” she wrote. “My dad works online and my mom creates content online. She’s not huge by any means, but big enough to get recognized sometimes and big enough to shove a camera in my face for as long as I can remember.”
This family of four left their home to live in a renovated 350 square foot RV (there’s a fireplace!)
The teenager then described the many ways in which the lifestyle had negatively affected her, starting with the cramped living and sleeping quarters in the caravan.
“I sleep in a small bunk bed that I outgrew years ago, and the second bed is the only space I have to put anything I own in. I don’t even have a curtain-only room and thank God I’m an only child or I’d have to share the small space I already have I have,” she wrote.
Children lean out of the camper window (photo).
Irina Velichkina/Getty
She said she was homeschooled first, then later switched to an online school for high school at “her own insistence.” Because she did not attend physical education, she did not manage to make many friends with her peers.
“I’m an 18-year-old girl, I don’t have any friends because the longest I’ve stayed anywhere is a month,” she continued. “I have no job and no way to find one because I’m not stationed unless I find one online, which also means I have no way to move out and get away from them.”
The teenager said that she tried to explain her point of view to her parents on several occasions – but to no avail. “I have talked to them about all of this countless times and they are so delusional and honestly believe that ‘nomadic life is the best way to live’ so why should I never need anything else,” she wrote of discussions on the subject.
Without mincing words, she continued: “I hate it [my parents] because they treat me like a pet that they can just drag along with them in their plans, and not like their child. I hate traveling, I hate the heat, I hate dealing with bugs and I’m sick of hiking. I can’t wait for the day when I finally figure out a way to escape them with their morning walks and cameras in my face.”
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While admitting the camper lifestyle has allowed her to travel and see a lot of the country, the teenager said she is “sick of it” at the moment.
“God forbid I want to have a normal life, go to college or maybe even make friends. That’s asking too much,” she concluded.
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Her post on Reddit received more than 1,000 comments, with many expressing sympathy for the teenager’s plight.
“Wow, this is heartbreaking,” one person wrote. “We only thought about doing this for a year and the only reason we didn’t is because we don’t want to separate our kids from their friends and lifestyle. We work two months a year and the kids love to get away and are happy to come home. I’m sorry you’re in this situation .”
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Truck on the road (photo).
stela levi/Getty
One commentator went so far as to suggest that the teenager was experiencing “a form of child neglect.”
“They isolate you 100% socially to only have a relationship with them,” they wrote of the teenager’s parents. “Mom is also using you as a piece of content, not as her child, so she can continue to create her own content. If you leave, I imagine she would lose the ability to create the same content she creates, therefore potentially causing her to lose revenue. This means that are in a conflict of interest if they keep you with them or allow you to move out because that decision would affect their way of life.”
“Convincing you that you should live this way seems like manipulation so they don’t lose some of their income,” the person continued. “I’m sorry this is happening to you. You deserve a life outside of your relationships.”
Quite a few people have shared their advice and suggestions so that the teenager can take steps towards the life she wants. They included joining the military (“Gives you a steady paycheck, money for college,” someone wrote), applying to Job Corps, applying to college with applications for federal aid and scholarships, and contacting any relatives who could help and “provide landing field”.
Another person suggested that a teenager reach out to other teenagers in similar family situations to find support and connection. “This is definitely an unusual situation and a product of modern ways of making money. I’m sure you’re not the only one in similar shoes, although it’s quite uncommon. There may be people you can relate to who also feel trapped by influencer parents,” they wrote. .
Another Redditor encouraged the teenage girl not to give up and not lose hope, regardless of which way she chooses to separate from her parents. “You have the absolute right to live your life the way you want. Go live your dreams!” they wrote.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education