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See, darlin', when you say your mother isn't a child abuser... I'm inclined to disagree with you. See, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect defines emotional abuse as: "acts or omissions by the parents or other caregivers that have caused, or could cause, serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders. In some cases of emotional abuse, the acts of parents or other caregivers alone, without any harm evident in the child's behavior or condition, are sufficient to warrant child protective services (CPS) intervention. For example, the parents/caregivers may use extreme or bizarre forms of punishment, such as confinement of a child in a dark closet. Less severe acts, such as habitual scapegoating, belittling, or rejecting treatment, are often difficult to prove and, therefore, CPS may not be able to intervene without evidence of harm to the child."
The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect defines child physical abuse as: "The physical injury or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen by a person who is responsible for the child's welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby..."
So... I think you might be wrong. The horrible thing about abuse is the cycle of it: you hit someone, they cry, you apologize and say you will never do it again, they forgive you... and then you go and do it again.
I'm awfully sorry, but I really don't care HOW old you are or what you've done- no child ever deserves to be called a effing b***h. No child ever deserves to be hit. Hitting someone is a sign that you're angry and out of control. As the adult, you're the one in control.
YES, you can love the person who hits you and makes you feel like dirt. Yes, you can be best friends with her- except, of course, when she goes off. And I bet you start to worry about what you've done or said that's set her off.
Kitten... the thing is, you're still an adolescent. You're SUPPOSED to be self-absorbed, identifying who you are, what you value, what you want. That's part of growing up- internal self-reflection. By calling you out of it (and swearing at you, no less) she's interrupting that process. Sooner or later, things are going to head south.
You should tell someone that you trust. An adult, perferably, like a teacher or priest or neighbour friend or phone Child Protection Services. However, if you do, know there is a chance that you might be seperated from your mother. That's not supposed to make you NOT call CPS, but I don't want to lie and say that they'll fix everything. Also, be aware that the adult may phone CPS, and there's nothing you can do about it. In some places, it's the law.
IF YOU ARE ALMOST an adult, like- within a year or less of being old enough to make it on your own... then perhaps you should hold out and then make way. Or make way and then hold out, your choice.
You could also sit down with her (perferably with the adult you've chosen to tell) and try to figure out what the heck is the matter with her.
Either way, down the road, I advocate that you hie off to see a counsellor. Good luck, dear.
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