Hi Helcat

I was around 14-15 and she was around 11-12. I was legally allowed to move to my dad’s. She was not and didn’t move there until recently as my mom kicked her out.

I am sorry you had to make that choice too. It’s a really terrible one.

Unfortunately, I was still being treated poorly by my dad but he at least left me alone for the most part. I was severely depressed for a few years and he’d mostly criticize me for not doing enough around the house and for not leaving my room. I incessantly felt emotionally disconnected from him and my stepmom and as though they didn’t want me. I tried to suck up to them a lot and thanked them often for letting me stay there in the first place. They didn’t talk to me much. I felt like an unwanted stranger most of the time.

Eventually I convinced him to let me do online schooling instead of switching to yet another new public school (in a bad area) where I felt I’d likely be singled out and harassed by the other kids.

I know I’m not responsible in my mind but feeling-wise, I carry a sense of responsibility for not doing more and making better choices.