by M » Sun May 02, 2010 8:51 pm
Hi, I am fifteen years old and I live in Philadelphia. My mother left my father when I was about two and took me and my older brother with her. She left him because he was an alcoholic and was diagnosed with schizophrenia and she didn't think it was a safe environment. Around the age of 11 is when I started noticing how much my mom drank. We got in frequent fights about it, but it wasn't until my brother left for college that I felt completely helpless and alone. A couple of months ago, my mom was driving a friend and I to get dresses for winter ball. I noticed she was driving erratically and we got into a huge fight she swore on my life that she wasn't drunk. I begged her to pull over and called the cops, while I was on the phone she attempted to pry the keys out of my hands. She was arrested and my friend's family had to take me home where I spent the night alone. My mom still did not seek help and seemed to get better for only about two days. After things returned to normal and I began missing out on normal kid things because she couldn't drive me or I was afraid to leave her alone I called my grandparents, her parents, for help. They're really old and sweet so it was a hard step for me to take to tell them something so painful. When they realized how bad the situation was they sent her to rehab and I stayed with them on my springbreak off from school. Like other times, when she returned from rehab, she was okay for a little but quickly returned to her old habits. When I try to call my grandparents to let them know when shes been drinking she sometimes tries to grab me and shove her way into my room and its scary when she gets physical. It's hard for me to try to keep atop of my school work when I feel so alone. I feel as though my grandparents being involved isnt doing much considering my mom isnt getting any professional help (she claims its because she cant find the right fit for her, she doesnt like the religious stuff). I have been looking up alateen meetings in pennsylvania but I dont want to go to a church because I am not religious but it would be nice to have someone to talk to. I dont even have a question really I guess, just any advice?