My parents got divorced about halfway through high school and one day senior year, my mom asked me if I wanted her and my dad to get back together because my dad, who initated the divorce one sidedly wanted to come back. My father was always the strict one and the one at home so since he had been gone I was essentially allowed to do whatever I wanted. Because of this I said “idk he’s the one that left” and it has eaten me alive since. 6 years later and my mom has a new boyfriend and I never see my dad anymore. In the last two years ive seen him 3 times total. Because I had no supervision my grades tanked and I became such a loser. If only I had said that I wanted my dad back, maybe now I would actually be somewhere in life and happy

when i was younger (like 7-12) my dad used to hit my sisters and my mom divorced him. he rarely did it to me but he would emotionally abuse me a lot. like being manipulative and narcissistic. i’ve been to a therapist ordered by the court about it but no one ever takes me seriously because “he never really hit me” it still impacts me a lot and i try not to think about it but when i do it really messes me up. recently my moms boyfriend had asked us to move in with him and my mom said yes. my dad used to move around a lot and so the town that we’re moving to he has lived in. it’s giving me severe ptsd and anxiety and i can’t control it but my mom is telling me to get over it because hes different. well she’s had boyfriends before and they weren’t different. i can’t help feeling guilty like i’m stopping them from being happy but i’m very unsure about it. her boyfriend hasn’t given me a reason to doubt him and he’s really good to me and my younger siblings but i still worth it won’t work out.

• August 4, 2023