I am 17 years old, and I live with my mother in a two bedroom apartment in Lokoja. I am presently done with secondary school and written jamb 2 times. I don’t like my mother’s lifestyle and I am wondering if all single mothers live the way my mother do.
My mother is always smoking, drinking and bringing different men home. She left my dad when I was 10 years old and since then, she brings different men home.
My friends mock me outside and because of this, I have decided to stop having friends and stay on my own to avoid insults and embarrassments.
I am presently planning to run away from home, because I can’t bear to see all these anymore. I am afraid that I will end up like my mother, if I don’t leave, because some of her men friends are beginning to make passes at me, I was almost raped 2 nights ago by one of them who came to see her. If not for our neighbor who came to look for my mother at the time, I would have become a victim of rape by now.
Please is there anyone who can tell me how to leave this environment and survive on my own? because my mind is made up to run away from this house.
First thing you should know is you can’t be like your mother. Children either learn from their parents mistake or replicate their character and since you don’t like I, you will not be it.
The major thing now is life is filled with challenges, you just have to take the bold step. Does she feed and cater for you? If yes get something to do and move like you want to do. Let me warn it’s tough out there. The good thing is you are strong enough to face it. Like the saying goes when going gets tougher, the tougher gets going and as such, there is always a light of the tunnel, if you have not seen the light you have not reached the end of the tunnel, just keep going.
Don’t look for comfort because what you need now is survival till it’s substantial. Just keep going and keep keeping on.
Get a spiritual backing, I will advice a Christian community (catholic is most preferred to me), they are most times ready to help if you are active.
In all that you do take responsibility for your actions and inactions. You are young but you will be fine