Hi 18/F .. I am in Gr12 this year and I have a lot of stress. My mom is a single parent and I have a younger sister and my grandmother lives with us. We have financial issues but I feel like my mom is taking her stress and anger out on us. I don't know what to do because she's constantly yelling at us. I can't talk to het because then she will be really angry. I can't take any more stress. Please help me?
adviceman49 answered Wednesday March 15 2017, 10:30 am: You are in a strange position being 18 and still in school. You are too old for social services to intervene. Your father no longer is responsible by law to pay child support for you only for your younger siblings, By law in most states you are still required to finish high school if you were younger than 18 when the school year started. This means mom is still responsible to see to it that you get to school, that you have clean clothes are healthy and well fed. All this without the financial support from you dad if dad was living up to his financial responsibilities.
Mom also has the responsibility for your grandmothers health and safety, I assume her mother, for which she is not receiving any additional funds and if you grandmother is in poor health this puts a great deal of stress on mom plus raising you siblings.
That puts things in perspective for both of us. Now what can you do. For your siblings if mom is this stressed out she must also to some degree be taking it out on them. You can call Child protective services to intervene for them. They can help mom with financial issues including getting your dad to pay his child support if that is an issue or other issues he is not living up to.
Have you thought of getting a part time job to help out? If you did maybe you could take on one of the bills for mom like the electric bill. Plus you would have your own spending money and not have to ask mom for money for things you might want.
Legally you are and adult and neither parent is legally responsible for you. Most parents don't look at it that way. We look at it as being responsible for you until you can stand on your own two feet. This mean helping you until you finish college and have a good job.
If it is possible for you to help mom out by getting a part time job you will be relieving some of her stress. Asking child protective services for help will also help relieve moms stress if the problem is lack of child support. As for grandma check and see what services are available from the county or city for the aging? These services are generally at no charge and can also relieve mom of some work load which will reduce her stress. [ adviceman49's advice column | Ask adviceman49 A Question ]
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