My dad hit my mom and I got involved.

[Guest]

Hello there i am a 12 year old girl with 4 siblings two of them are baby's a boy and a girl and the other two are boys
Today my mom got mad at my dad for always going out
And helping his friends . The fact that my mom also needs help with raising us and help with the household but my dad prefers his dumb friends

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis related laws is limited to the USA. If you are located in a country outside of the USA, you can use this link to find a youth helpline in or around your country: https://www.childhelplineinternation...pline-network/.

It seems like your dad doesn't fully realize that how his prioritization of his friends is affecting you and your mom. It could be a good idea to work with a local family counselor or have a conversation mediated by a school counselor/social worker, trusted friend, or family member to help clear the air.

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi my name is emma and i am now 14 and my mom 35 so let me tell u about my life when I'm was 4 my life was every dream a kid can ask for but i live with my grandmother and my aunt did and my brother and 2 cousins so me and my brother and cousins share one bed and my dad was never in my life and didn't call me his daughter anyways my grandmother would keep us while my mom was out or whatever then my mom met a guy let call him richer so all the way to 8 we moved out my grandmother house and had a house and cars that when my life came a living hell so all the way to 9 that when richer hit my mom when they fight and me and my brother said u touch our mom he back up with his hands up then my mom said leave and close the door then we here her crying and saying get off me we broke the door and beat him till we saw blood then he left for days one year late they back together so i am now 14 and my mom still with richer I just dk what to do

[ccsmod2]

A great resource you may want to reach out to is the National Domestic Violence Hotline. They are a confidential 24/7 support service for you and your family affected by domestic violence. They can give you one-on-one help and connect you to resources for immediate safety. Their phone number is 1-800-799-7233 and their website is www.thehotline.org. We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon. Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

My mom punched me in the face and I wonder what I’m gonna do now I don’t know if I’m going to my dad maybe go to cup with her

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to child protective services. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I am a 14 year old girl. So basically my mom took tobacco and accidentally threw the packet at the toilet flush my dad hates tobacco and scolded her saying it can block the sewage and pulled her through her clothes to show while that the front part tore and them the physical fight began. She always tell that she will leave us and go far away. I can't take dad's side or moms side . My brother is out of town for his college what should I do. These fight happens every now and then what should I do.

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,

Thanks for sharing a little bit about what's going on at home right now. It must be a bit scary and confusing to see your parents fight like that. Please know that it's not your fault and you would never have to decide between your parents.

You ask what you can do. First of all, just remember that ultimately you cannot control your parent's behavior so you never would need to feel any guilt if things don't go the way they should or the way you would like. With that said, you may want to consider simply telling your parents -- perhaps one on one or perhaps when they are together -- how their fighting makes you feel. It might be best to use "I statements" when doing this. For example you can tell them:

"When you both fight I feel [scared, sad, anxious, confused....or whatever it is you are feeling]."

You can either say this to them directly when they are in a calm mood, or you can write them a letter -- whatever feels right to you. So communicating how you feel is one idea.

Another idea is to get help from others to be able to share how you feel. Maybe talking to a friend, teacher, school counselor, relative, or anyone you trust and feel comfortable opening up to. Many people find that simply speaking their truth and expressing their feelings to another person is like lifting a huge weight off their shoulders. It doesn't always "fix" the problem outside, but it can help you feel better inside and help you cope with things. Of course you can always talk to us. You might also consider talking to someone at the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support in navigating the situation you are in (www.thehotline.org; 1-800-799-7233).

Of course, if you ever feel you or your parents are in real danger you can always dial 911 for help. And if you feel what you are going through is abuse -- and witnessing violence possibly could be considered a form of abuse -- you have the right to file an abuse report. You can do that through us or through www.childhelp.org (1-800-422-4453). You have the right to be safe and live in a safe environment.

Again, please reach out to us anytime through our confidential 24 hour hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or through our chatline via our website: www.1800runaway.org.

Take care and stay safe!
NRS

[Guest]

Hlw sir mt age is 17+ in this may I will be 18.. My mom married a men (my step dad) that time my mom dont know that my step dad already married and some years ago my mom found that my step dad already married then my mom tell to my step dad that"just leave me"but my step dad say don't worry I will care you also.. But my step dad doesn't working . My mom earn money and my step dad just drink and play grumble on my mom's monkey and now my step dad and his wife hits my mom badly and I don't feel save on my mom and grandmother. .the question is what can I do for this ?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us. We are sorry to hear there are some difficult situations at home and you are wondering how you can handle it.

Your IP address indicates you are writing to us from India. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States and we are only familiar with US laws and resources, so it would be best if you could contact a youth helpline in your country for assistance. Here is a link that lists several helplines in India, and we encourage you to reach out to them for help:

http://worldhelplines.org/india.html#Kids

If we are mistaken about your location and you are in the United States we encourage you to reach out to us by calling our 24 hour hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chatting with us via the chat feature on our website: www.1800runaway.org.

Please stay safe and take care!

NRS

[Guest]

I’m a 15 year old guy. My mother is somewhat in a toxic relationship with her husband aka my stepdad. He drinks all the time and doesn’t help us. One day he started drinking as soon as he got off work and he didn’t stop working until 1 in the morning. Keep in mind I saw him drinking in the front yard around 6:30pm. He wanted to drink more but my mom was mad and called him in at 1am. He came in and he still wanted to drink and my mom was obviously mad. I told him to shower out of anger. Also keep in mind I was taking a nap and woke up the noise of them arguing. I told him he has a drinking problem and that’s all he does. He got mad and started countering me and my mom tried to hold him back. He kept countering me and he pushed my Mother to side. He pushed her but not that hard and not to the point where she would fall. I told him “dont touch her” and he said “or what”. He continued to counter me and looked like he was going to hit me so I punched him to defend my mother and myself. I realized If he would have hit me I would’ve been weak or unconscious to the point where I can’t protect myself or my mom. I didn’t want to hit him again so I stepped back but he pushed me and was throwing his fist and I immediately punched him again. Out of self defense. He kneeled to the floor and grabbed his face and I got on him hugging him and told him to calm down and to stop. My mom told me to go away so I went on the other side of the room then again he countered me and he pushed my mom again to the side and I punched him again (not as hard but hard enough for him to leave). He told my mother I hit him and he slammed the door. My 2 year old sister was sleeping and I thought he was going to hurt her but he went to the laundry room and punched the door and started yelling at my mom that I hit him. He then left and went to the neighbors house . I acted out of fear and to protect my mother but not out of anger. I kept stepping back but he kept attacking me. I believe I could’ve threw 2 less punches, minimum 1. My mother ended up calling my grandparents. Keep in mind that when my moms husband isn’t drunk he’s actually a nice guy and helps out and is a hard worker but the minute he drinks he doesn’t care about anything or anyone.

[ccsmod15]

Thanks for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It certainly sounds like you are living in a very toxic environment currently which is unfortunate for not only you, but your mom and your little sister. At the same time, congratulations for knowing that you should walk away from a physical confrontation, as it may end up in getting people hurt!



While your Stepfather has a problem brought on by his drinking it is a comfort to know that he’s a good person when he is NOT drinking. Unless he is willing to get some help for the situation, it is hard for you and your mom to make your Stepdad stop drinking on your own. One thing you may want to do is consider contacting

Al-Anon AL-Teen in your area to see if you can attend a meeting. They will likely give you ideas on what to do should you find yourself in another situation like you described above. Information like that will also be helpful in talking to your mom about what to do should it happen so that you each know your role in hopefully cooling things off. Be sure to talk to your mom about if things get really bad so you have a plan then as well.



Thanks again for reaching out to NRS. We are here 24/7 at 1-800-Runaway and via chat. We have a lot of other resources we can look into for you to help you dealing with the situation with your Stepdad’s behavor so please don’t hesitate to call if you need to. Good Luck!

[Guest]

Hi,

I am a 13 year old girl. Ever since i have known my dad has been raising his hand on my mom. She has been suffering all this for me. At first because she wasn't financially strong to keep a living and didn't want to go to her parents cuz she didn't want to be a burden. and so its been happening. Its gotten less since I have been growing up but its still not fair. As long as my mom agrees to my dad everything its fine but if she disagrees or doesn't go with one thing he starts yelling at cursing and then she gets angry and curses back and breaks somethings and then he beats her up. Today he didn't do the dishes and my mom was annoyed cuz its his job and he hasn't done it in a few days. so she told him to and he was angry and started yelling. And then she said "fine dont do the dishes get food from outside" and he said yes and later he did the dishes. so it was lunch time and she said "bring food" and he said "no i did the dishes so i wont" and they argued about that and then my mom got angry and broke a plate. and so my dad took a bigger plate put her head against the wall and broke it on her head. and i freaked out and called the cops. and so i gave them details and then my mom came in and explained to me how i am on my dads visa and he will go to jail and we will have to go to our home country. So she made me lie to the cops that "they just had a small arguement and I assumed things" and now we arent talking to my dad but last time i stood up he slapped me and now he is cursing me. And welll idk what to do. I wanna cry but there are no tears in me. I am listening to music and acting and seeming like to not care but there is nothing.

[ccsmod15]

Hello There,



Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It takes great courage to reach out for help, and we are glad that you have decided to reach out to us. It sounds like you are going through a difficult time and we want you to know that you are not alone.

What you have described seems abusive and we are sorry that you are having to go through that. You do not deserve to be treated that way, and you do have the right to file a report. One option would be to contact Child Help at: 1-800-422-4453, and they can help you file an abuse report. Or you can always call or chat with us and we would be able to help you make a report.

Also, your mother doesn’t have to put up with your father’s abusive behavior. If she wants help, she can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at: 1-800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788, and they can help her. Another option is to call 211 and an operator can help with locating domestic violence shelters for women and children in your area. You both deserve to be safe and not mistreated!

We hope that this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any other questions or would like to explore more options please give us a call. We are available to you 24/7 to listen and to provide support through this challenging time.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.



Best of luck!

NRS

[Guest]

im 14 and last night my parents were arguing so much worse than before and I heard something bang so i ran in to there room and i saw my dad jump onto mom and choke her and hit it repeatedly, I barged in and screamed "what the ********! Get off her or im calling the police! " i ran over and pulled him off her and told him he was an embarrassment to have in the house, i started crying from fear and i ran into my room because i was always scared of my dad hurting me next.

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you're living in an abusive environment, which is toxic and not acceptable. You are within your rights to report any abuse happening inside the home, www.childhelp.org can be a great resource when looking to report abuse, and we can also assist you in filling out an abuse report if you call or chat us. If you ever feel unsafe we encourage you to reach out to law enforcement, a trusted adult, or a friend.We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by forum to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.Be safe,NRS

[Guest]

So today I hear my mom start screaming at my step father and I let it continue for like a minute or so and I hear my mom start crying in a crying voice and I hear her out of breath so I immediately run to her to see if she’s ok and I see my step father choking her and so I run and get her out of the way and he says “don’t f*king get involve piece of sh!* and I ignore and he says “oh you think your all big sh!* huh?” And then he grabs my neck and turns me around and punches my left eye (which is now bruised and red) then my mom gets in and she says “don’t you ever fu*king hit him again”
and she moves me and my step father say “he needs to start working if he’s gonna get involved and I start talking a lot of facts and he pushes me and goes back to yelling at my mother so my reactions were to get In frontt of my mother (my mom,growing up all her boyfriends use to abuse her a lot but she’s always Been strong for us) so I get in front of her and get hits my back and just starts telling me that I’m not worth anything and my mom starts cussing and he leaves I was left with a black eye and a bruised back my mom was left with marks on her neck and I am still shaking even writing it here.

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It sounds like you’re quite overwhelmed by things at home right now and you mentioned being harmed. We’re sorry you’re going through this. You don't deserve to be hurt in any way. If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. You may also be able to report any mistreatment to CPS. Child Help USA 1-800-422-4453 www.childhelp.org is an organization that helps protect minors from being harmed. They can tell you more about how CPS could respond to your situation. If you ever need assistance calling out to CPS to make an abuse or neglect report please call is at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. You are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.
If you would like to talk more in detail please chat soon through our website www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button) if you are unable to call in. We unfortunately cannot give advice as we are non-directive. You know your situation best.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Currently lying with my mom with ice on her face. My dad is a good person, he’s an amazing dad I just think he needs some help with his anger issues. He gets out of control when he’s very passionate about an issue whether it politics or anything like that. Today my parents were arguing about my sister skipping school and I was in the living room and I heard them grabbing one another. I ran to their room and I saw my dad and my mom wrestling one another. I did not recognize my dad my mom was screaming so loud and I had to get in between them I tried so hard but my mom kept yelling at my dad and my dad put his hands around her neck and she was so red. I started hitting him and jumping on him and I’m pretty sure as he was trying to hit my mom he punched my in the eye. My mom has a big lump on her forehead and a swollen lip. I yelled at him and told him to get out of the room once I shouted he hit me too. He immediately regretted it and started pacing around the living room and putting his hands in his face. I don’t even think he recognizes or can control himself. I called 911 and the cops arrested him. I still love him and my mom still loves him. But this changes everything. I hope he just gets fined but I want them to separate. They’ve been together for 18 years and this is the first time something this extreme happened. My mom is Filipino and when he was in the army they met. Just a couple weeks ago was their anniversary and my mom was telling me how they met and how in love they were. Just this morning they were together only until they started arguing I think he lost control of himself. He’s a good father that’s done a bad thing, my mom keeps blaming herself and shouted at me when the cops came. This is his first time ever doing something like this he’s been in the army for 30 years, and I truly think he has some unresolved mental issues... what do you think will happen to my dad?

[ccsmod9]

Hi and thank you for reaching out to NRS! That must have been really scary to witness and experience. I'm sorry that you and your mom went through that. It sounds like a lot to deal with and sort through. Documenting the abuse is a way to have proof that you Dad was abusive. You did call the police so they will have a record of what happened. You can also take photos of both you and your mom's injuries so that you have proof of what occurred. As far as what will happen to your Dad, it will depend on if you and your mom want to do. Your mom can get a no contact order so your Dad won't be allowed to come back home. It also may be a good idea for you to contact NRS directly through the hotline to get more information to guide you in the best way possible so you get all of your questions answered correctly. It would also be an option to contact your local police department to ask these questions if you feel comfortable doing so. To contact NRS directly, you can call 1-800-runaway or click on the chat option to talk one on one. Thank you for reaching out today. I hope these suggestions help you to figure out your situation. We are here 24/7 to help. Please reach out again at anytime! Thank you and take care. NRS

[Guest]

Till now my dad had an online affair with a lady which my mom found out...she got very angry... She always says this point in every argument as he kept chatting with the lady... Till now dad used to only say that he would hit but today..he just started hitting... today it was in the morning when mom was asked to send the pages of copy as the student was absent Do she asked me to send...my dad said that...we should not be soo helpful to someone.. And my mom said we should.. And it turned into a fight....my mom said that chatting can be done...but helping can't..!!dad got offended and started to hity mom....I didn't understood what to do...I just sat at my place...I was very scared...now I just can't do anything...I have an exam tomorrow but just can't study...I am very scared...! What to do..!
I am from India

[ccsmod0]

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are in a difficult situation, and we understand it takes courage to reach out for help. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis related laws is limited to the USA. If you are located in a country outside of the USA, you can use this link to find a youth helpline in or around your country: https://www.childhelplineinternation...pline-network/.

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.

[Guest]

This all happened last night my mom and dad were in the bathroom with my little brother (3 years old) and I'm ten so they are washing his hair and my mom wanted me in there but my dad was naked so I just stayed in my room on my computer and my mom didn't know why he wanted her in there so she asked "what do you want me to do in here with yall" and he said "keep us company" so they are going back and forth then I hear her say "whatever" then she took my little brother and they leave the bathroom and then I hear my dad get in the shower and he is calling her a ********** and then he gets out the shower goes in the room and tells me and my brother get the ******** out so I grabbed my brother and we leave then I hear him say "watch your ********ing mouth when you're talking to me or ill knock your teeth out your ********ing mouth" and I hear her starting to cry and I have an anxiety attack and then the arguing and then I'm trying to get to my mom but he didn't let me and he tells me to go back in the room so he tells her to say sorry to him and she says "I'm sorry pls just let me go calm down the kids" and he said "no you is so ********ing fake" and he let her go in the room with me and my brother then he goes in the room and slams the door be him and my mom starts crying and says "he tried to choke me with that cord" I don't feel safe what should I do?

[ccsmod15]

Thanks so much for reaching out to National Runaway Safeline. This sounds really scary and it takes a lot of bravery to reach out for help, we’re really glad you got in touch.

First off, if there is violence happening in your home and you don’t know what to do, you can always call 9-1-1 if something like that happens again. There are also services like the National Domestic Violence Hotline (https://www.thehotline.org/) that may be able to provide you with more information. Child Help (https://www.childhelp.org/) could be another helpful resource, they have a hotline and a live chat.

Additionally, there are many other resources available to you. We’d be happy to provide you with contact information for those resources if you reach out to us via live chat (1800Runaway.org) or call us via hotline (1-800-Runaway) both of which are available 24/7 & 365.

Experiencing something like that can bring up a lot of feelings, some may come up sooner and some may come up later. We encourage you to reach out to our hotline or live chat so we can provide you with any local counseling resources, or even if you just want to talk about how you’re feeling.

Good luck, and again, thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline.

[Guest]

Hi i am 12 years old i dont fell safe at home because my step dad banged my head against the wall and told me not to tell anyone that he did that. I fell like killing myself . i wishe i could just disaper. i hae been in the hospital because of my step dad he raped me onec and said h was going to kill me pls help me

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
It seems like you have reached out a few times already, just so you know we only reply to forum posts 3 times maximum. You do not deserve this treatment and we hope a rape kit was performed when you were hospitalized. If not it can still potentially be used as evidence to help build a child abuse case. You can report the abuse directly, or through us. However you might explore www.childhelp.org which specializes in child abuse. If you have more questions please reach out by phone or chat. You can talk in person by phone at 1-800-786-2929.

[Guest]

Hi,

I am a 13 year old girl. Ever since i have known my dad has been raising his hand on my mom. She has been suffering all this for me. At first because she wasn't financially strong to keep a living and didn't want to go to her parents cuz she didn't want to be a burden. and so its been happening. Its gotten less since I have been growing up but its still not fair. As long as my mom agrees to my dad everything its fine but if she disagrees or doesn't go with one thing he starts yelling at cursing and then she gets angry and curses back and breaks somethings and then he beats her up. Today he didn't do the dishes and my mom was annoyed cuz its his job and he hasn't done it in a few days. so she told him to and he was angry and started yelling. And then she said "fine dont do the dishes get food from outside" and he said yes and later he did the dishes. so it was lunch time and she said "bring food" and he said "no i did the dishes so i wont" and they argued about that and then my mom got angry and broke a plate. and so my dad took a bigger plate put her head against the wall and broke it on her head. and i freaked out and called the cops. and so i gave them details and then my mom came in and explained to me how i am on my dads visa and he will go to jail and we will have to go to our home country. So she made me lie to the cops that "they just had a small arguement and I assumed things" and now we arent talking to my dad but last time i stood up he slapped me and now he is cursing me. And welll idk what to do. I wanna cry but there are no tears in me. I am listening to music and acting and seeming like to not care but there is nothing.

[ccsmod10]

Hi, we're really thankful you reached out for help. It sounds like your home environment may have felt unsafe for a very long time, and recently some violence in your home has made you feel really worried for you and your mom's safety. It sounds like what has been going on has been very scary, and it is normal to feel scared, sad, angry, or confused. You and everyone at home's) emotional and physical safety is important, and it's good that you're taking whatever steps you can right now.

Calling the police was a good impulse, it sounds like your mother is scared about you being taken away, which is why she didn't want you to tell the truth. That can be very hard and feel conflicting.

One thing you might find helpful is the national domestic violence hotline. They are available 24/7, and are specifically trained to help in situations like yours. You (and/or your mom) could chat them at www.thehotline.org, call them at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.

We also have the option of contacting child protective services, a government agency devoted to helping children and teenagers in unsafe environments. It wouldn't necessarily mean your dad would get in trouble, but it might lead to an investigation, or people contacting your home to check in or talk with your parents. You can call them directly (you'd need to look up the number for your state), or you can contact us and we can do it for you. You can live chat us at 1800runaway.org or call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY.

It sounds like you have been taking some steps to take care of yourself like listening to music, which is good. This whole situation can feel emotionally and physically exhausting to handle, and you deserve time and space to rest and do things that feel nice for yourself. Make sure you continue to do so when you can! It can also be helpful to let out stress by talking about what's going on. If a school counselor is available, that could be a good option, or you can talk with us at the options I mentioned above. You don't have to deal with this on your own.

[Guest]

Hey I’m 14 years old and a girl. My mom is constantly getting hit by my step dad, I think the reason she only stays with him because she doesn’t want to have her kids fatherless. I think that she doesn’t want to make the same mistake that she did a long time ago with me and my sister. I always hear her crying and begging him to stop hitting her while I’m laying in bed at night. I think they start arguing when my step dad is high and my mom is drunk. My step dad gets high a lot and they both always drunk. But one time they fought and me and my sister who is 16 got up and we were upstairs and she tried to drop a heater on my step dad as he hit my mom. My mom was thankful because she was very helpless. My two little step brother who are 3 and 5 don’t ever hear these fights which I am very thankful for. I really want to stop these fights and when I try, such as just being seen, makes my step dad stop hitting her, but just keep arguing. One of them always leaves the house, but always come back. I honestly wish my two step brothers and older sister would live with my dad and three other step sisters. That would be much better than staying in a place where I feel unsafe at times. Some times I think about calling the police on my step dad but I think it would just make things worse. I would feel bad because I’ve known my step dad for about ten years now and my brothers wouldn’t have a dad in their lives. I’m not sure what to do. Usually the next day after a fight, we all pretend like it never happened which makes me feel terrible, like I didn’t hear my mom screaming for help. I hate these feeling I get while it happens. I sit there shaking and most times I cry. I just wish things were back to the way they were before.

[ccsmod0]

Hello,

You mentioned some things that raise concern for your safety and well-being. If any harm or abuse is happening at home between your mom and step dad, you have the right to report it. We are not experts on the issue, but generally once it's been reported, social services will either decide whether or not to take the case and further investigate. If they do take the case, they will send out someone from child protective services to do an investigation (interviewing people in the household) and from there they will decide the level of danger within the household. It generally ranges from no danger (the youth stays in the home, some services are given, and the case is closed), moderate danger (they will provide family services with possible temporary displacement) and high danger (they will remove the youth from the home and offer certain services).

If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help you to file a report if that’s the route you are considering.

Please be safe and reach out soon by phone or chat so that we may help.
Take care,
NRS