<p>My mother’s side of the family has had a long history of internal instability, and growing up that was transferred to my immediate familial situation. Consequently, I grew up knowing only my father’s side of the family (my mother hasn’t spoken to her sister in at least 25 years, and even though her parents lived in the same city I grew up in, I never knew them well). More importantly, because my mother knew no different, my family was one of constant turmoil. My sister kept her head down, so to speak, so she lived a mostly individual lifestyle and was not involved in much conflict with my mother or father- or even me, for that matter (since she graduated high school a few years ago I have never spoken to her). I, however, was in constant conflict with my parents. My mother was incredibly overbearing, and my father had no backbone and let her push him around. I had no support system in school, and whilst my friends have seemingly perfect lives, I hated grew to hate Fridays because it meant going home, I grew to hate 3:05 because it meant coming home, I grew to hate weekends and holidays because it meant extended periods of being stranded with my parents. </p>
<p>Ultimately, I was fortunate enough to be financially independent (due to an internet business I developed in secret and made enough money from to pay my tuition and living expenses) and graduated from high school early last year without needing to rely on my parents for any support. They pay $10,000 a year for my sister’s tuition, and my grandparents pay the rest. My grandparents pay the same amount for me, but I pay the rest from my own pocket. I refuse to let my parents constrict me any longer. </p>
<p>Anyway, I go to college in London, and have not spoken with my parents at all for the past 9 months or so. I called once and left a message saying that I was safe. They called me back and were cordial enough, but I did not return the call. I keep in touch with my great uncle, because he is supportive of me and checks in with my father I’m sure. I even changed my name to more or less permanently separate myself from them (first, middle, and last). </p>
<p>Does anyone else have a similar situation? Sometimes it’s hard for me, but I have good friends who support me. And in London there’s always the pub when things get low ;)</p>