Blog
I don’t want to live with my dad but don’t know how to tell him
Dear YouthLine,
My adopted sister just found out that she is a month and a half along..And now I feel like im gonna be the one kid that gets ignored once the baby comes..There are 4 kids that live in my house, I’m the youngest and I live with my dad..My parents are split up and I wanna live with my mom when the baby comes cause I don’t want to be the one that gets ignored and forgotten and to have a screaming baby keeping me up when I have school trying to get good grades so I can go to college…But I don’t know how to tell my dad cause I’m afraid of what he will say….
-Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Hey! Thank you for reaching out to the YouthLine. It’s totally understandable that you wouldn’t be thrilled about having a baby in the house with school and everything else going on in your life. If you think that moving in with your mom would be the best thing for you then I think you should definitely try talking to your dad about it. It sounds like you’re concerned about what your dad will think, but if you tell him why it will be best for you I think he’ll understand. Most parents have their son or daughter’s best interest in mind and want them to succeed and be happy. It sounds like it’s already hard on you living in a house with four other kids, so maybe you would be happier living with your mom all together. Maybe you could work something out with both of your parents where you lived with your mom on school day but with your dad on the weekends?
I hope everything works out for you! If you would like to talk more about this situation and maybe even role play with a teen how you could have this conversation, please to call our phone line. It is available 24/7, but teens are here to talk to you Monday-Friday from 4-9pm. The number is 1-877-968-8491. You can also text teen2teen to 66746 those same days and hours. If both of those don’t sound like good options, feel free to e-mail us again or instant message by cliking on the “Chat Now” on the website www.theyouthline.org
Best of luck,
-YouthLine
Sept 29 National Rx Drug Take-Back Day
Don’t forget that this Saturday (September 29) is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Here’s how it works: From 10:00am-2:00pm on Saturday, multiple collection sites in all 50 states are coming together under one purpose. It is an opportunity to return all unwanted and/or expired medications for safe and proper disposal in support of reducing prescription drug abuse. To find a collection site closest to you, check out this website. Spread the word to friends and family to support this awesome, national cause!
National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 9-15)
Suicide remains the tenth leading cause of death, but is the third leading cause of death among teens aged 15-24. As common as suicide is, it still tends to be a taboo subject and for that reason, many teens go a long time feeling extremely depressed, isolated, and hopeless with no where to turn for fear that if they tell someone the person will not understand and will possibly even try to lock them up in a mental institution. If you are in this position, you are not alone! Here at the YouthLine we talk to teens very regularly who are feeling suicidal and struggling with whether they should cope with what’s going on or end it all. We also talk to teens who know a friend or loved one who they think may be suicidal and are unsure of how to help the person. It is 100% normal and okay to feel suicidal. Many of us go through difficult times in life where it is nearly impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel and feel like there are options. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, there are always options and things do get better! Teen volunteers are here Monday-Friday from 4-9pm because they genuinely care and want to listen to the things that matter to you and how it makes you feel, with no judgement on our end. YouthLiners can also walk you through how to help a friend who shows signs of being suicidal.
National Suicide Prevention Week is a great opportunity to remind whoever is reading this that it is okay to talk about suicide and in fact, we encourage it! Whether you are suicidal or are concerned for others who may be thinking of suicide, as the picture reads: “SPEAK UP AND REACH OUT”
Here are the ways you can contact a teen on the YouthLine:
Call 1-877-968-8491
Text “teen2teen” to 66746
Instant Message by clicking the Chat Icon
Image: http://cecom.army.mil/