Woke to a message from my nephew.
Poor kiddo's been kicked out at 16.
Still waiting for details, just sent him love so he knows he can talk to me.
There are times when history repeats itself - his mum ran away from our violent home at 16, had him at 19; his two aunts (including me) were driven out as teens, too - and the only thing I can lean on for difference is the fact that he's got extended family rooting for him. We didn't have that.
Some cycles are harder to break.
But we keep trying.
Still waiting to hear back - but a 4am message from a teenager suggests a really rough and confused night. I've already contacted the most reliable family member in Ontario, so we'll tag-team today to make sure he's somewhere safe and knows this isn't the end of everything.
Thanks for asking. 🫂
@MLClark I have a 16 year old; I can't imagine him on the streets. Teenagers + parents can be difficult under the best circumstances and depending on trauma, etc., it can get really bad. But: You are right, it is decidedly NOT the end of everything.
Poor kiddo's had a lot of disruption. His parents had a tough few years, broke up, mum had another surprise pregnancy with an older dude who only showed up at the birth & decided he wanted to be a dad... sort of. Enter years of my nephew with a stepdad who barely showed up for his own kids and constantly quarrelled with him. They broke up this year. Last I heard, mum had merged households with a new fellow with two girls.
Just... a lot.
Now to let the kiddo know it gets better!
@MLClark That is a lot. And 16 is young. But I hope and pray with support from you and other loved ones he can start building a stable home of his own, away from the chaos. It's not fair that he has to do it so young, but it will get better.
@MLClark Just read about this. I would have been completely lost if this happened to me at 16. Was he acting out and kicked out, or was this completely arbitrary? He's too young to be in his own either way.
It's amazing what we thought we could take on when we were kids, compared to how horrified we are as adults at the thought of being bounced around so young, eh?
I haven't received details on that part yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is a stressor from the blended household that his mum and her new-this-year partner made in May.
A quick move-in, two girls from the dad & three boys from the mum... lots of room for tensions to get high & messy.
Home life can be very hard!
@MLClark Hope he is able to find a safe place.
@MLClark
When 16, my 28yo brother asked "what do you think Dad will do, now that S is leaving for college?"
I didn't hesitate: "shoot me."
He agreed ~ so I packed two duffel bags, and left NJ with him, to Denver.
Abandoning Mom was the hardest part, but she 'escaped three weeks later.
Oh: he was a four-martini-lunch VP with the USA's largest private insurer.
@zenmudprod
Thank god for good brothers ensuring your safety. I'm sure it sucked, but I'm glad you had the chance to escape as well.
@MLClark
It saved me, yet I think my "saviour" regrets our time together ❤️ 😇🥰🤣
@MLClark Does he need anything immediately? Is he in a safe place currently?