I’m a single mother of 2 daughters, 14 and 17. Through tons of hard work, sacrifice, and grace, I was able to pull the three of us up from poverty into a reasonably comfortable life. We literally went from being homeless to being homeowners in a very good neighborhood with great schools and all of the opportunities a family could hope for in less than 2 school years. (And by homeless, I mean I gave up my apartment at the end of a lease and moved in with my mother to pursue a new career path… but believe me, it was as close to homeless as you can get without pitching a tent. Just trust me on that)
Their abusive absentee father was released from prison this past August after serving an 8 year sentence for beating and sexually assaulting his girlfriend. My 14 year old couldn’t care less and wants nothing to do with him but my 17 year old feels that she’s missing out by not having had him around.
That was just a little background info.
Despite being in a great neighborhood and all of that good stuff, my 17 somehow managed to find the worst possible people to call her friends.. which resulted in switching her to a different high school in her sophomore year, only for her to attach herself to an even worse crowd of kids who she skips school, smokes pot, and does god knows what else with.
Yesterday I took her cellphone after catching her smoking pot in her bedroom. When I went through her phone, I discovered that she has been sneaking her “boyfriend” into our home in the middle of the night and having sex while her sister and I are asleep. Upon discovering this, I went to Walmart at 6am and purchased a pregnancy test, and a box of industrial grade garbage bags and told her to pack up her shit… and take the pregnancy test (which luckily came back negative).
There are tons more layers to this story but those are the basic facts. I’ve tried sending her to therapy but she outright told me she’s not going to tell the therapist anything… she’s been posting trashy pictures on social media… etc. all the while putting on a meek and childlike act when in the presence of myself and her sister.
I dont know, I just feel like I’ve tried everything to help her and to give her a good life and her behavior and decision making is just getting worse. I’m very approachable and make myself available to talk about anything and everything. I love her dearly and would do whatever it takes to help her but I’m at my wits end and I’m afraid it’s going to get to the point where I don’t like her or want anything to do with her. I’ve got no family that I could call on to help offer support or even ship her off to if necessary… at this point I don’t feel comfortable with her in my home.
Sorry if I’m rambling. I’m so stressed by this, I wasn’t even able to sleep last night. I should probably just go to bed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Their abusive absentee father was released from prison this past August after serving an 8 year sentence for beating and sexually assaulting his girlfriend. My 14 year old couldn’t care less and wants nothing to do with him but my 17 year old feels that she’s missing out by not having had him around.
That was just a little background info.
Despite being in a great neighborhood and all of that good stuff, my 17 somehow managed to find the worst possible people to call her friends.. which resulted in switching her to a different high school in her sophomore year, only for her to attach herself to an even worse crowd of kids who she skips school, smokes pot, and does god knows what else with.
Yesterday I took her cellphone after catching her smoking pot in her bedroom. When I went through her phone, I discovered that she has been sneaking her “boyfriend” into our home in the middle of the night and having sex while her sister and I are asleep. Upon discovering this, I went to Walmart at 6am and purchased a pregnancy test, and a box of industrial grade garbage bags and told her to pack up her shit… and take the pregnancy test (which luckily came back negative).
There are tons more layers to this story but those are the basic facts. I’ve tried sending her to therapy but she outright told me she’s not going to tell the therapist anything… she’s been posting trashy pictures on social media… etc. all the while putting on a meek and childlike act when in the presence of myself and her sister.
I dont know, I just feel like I’ve tried everything to help her and to give her a good life and her behavior and decision making is just getting worse. I’m very approachable and make myself available to talk about anything and everything. I love her dearly and would do whatever it takes to help her but I’m at my wits end and I’m afraid it’s going to get to the point where I don’t like her or want anything to do with her. I’ve got no family that I could call on to help offer support or even ship her off to if necessary… at this point I don’t feel comfortable with her in my home.
Sorry if I’m rambling. I’m so stressed by this, I wasn’t even able to sleep last night. I should probably just go to bed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.