When My Life Flipped Upside-Down

Two and a half years ago, maybe close to three years now, I was forcibly taken from my mom by DSS and was made to live with my dad. Growing up, I was always with my mom and I made a previous post about how my dad use to act. Sure, I was happy to be able to see my dad more often, but it was a very quick and big change that I couldn't have done anything about. Although my mom did her best to take care of us and she would never do anything that wasn't good for us, there was a logical reason for this change that took place. It started with my grandparents splitting up. We were living with them before this happened and it was my grandmother's house. We were only related to her by marriage since my grandfather married her after divorcing my mom's mother. After my grandparents split up, we had to leave the house since it was her house. Luckily, a friend of my mom's (at the time, now an ex friend) was willing to take us in. At that time, my mom and this friend of hers were fighting, but my mom swallowed her pride in order to put a roof over mine and my little sister's heads. But what these friends neglected to tell us was that they hadn't paid their electricity bill. For a while (either a month or 3 months, can't exactly remember) we lived without electricity and water. It was fall at this time too so the house got cold at night. They had a small generator, but they kept it all to themselves. My mom hated this, but we had no where else to go. DSS found out and found my mom unstable to care for me and my younger sister, so we were yanked from her care and placed with my dad. This was 3 weeks before the school year ended. It took a week to have everything transferred to the new school and the new doctors, but that didn't help the fact that the school I was moved to was very advanced compared to the school I was going to. I was completely lost so I just didn't do anything in the classes. It didn't help that I was severely depressed for quite a while. In fact, I stayed depressed until the next school year started. I made new friends and I began to cope with my new life. Things were great for me (give or take how great a life can be for a 16 year old who struggled with depression and separation issues as well as high anxiety) and I was happy. A year passed after me and my sister were taken and my mom was stable enough to take care of us now. My sister chose to move back with her while I decided to stay with my dad in order to continue doing good in school (refer to my "2 year school miracle" post for more information). After graduation, I had to decide whether to continue staying with my dad or move back with my mom. I became very familiar with the town my dad lives in and it became home for me. I decided to stay with my dad again since I love the area he lives in. A lot has happened in two years, but I don't mind. Everyone says "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I agree with that, but I also believe that every obstacle, big or small, can make you stronger. Mental challenges such as deciding which parent to stay with after such a dramatic change could destroy you if you give up completely. If you get stuck with a challenge similar to the one I went through, don't give up or else you will be lost in the darkness. Find something to hold onto, whether it be a memory or a hope for the future. Also, find people who accept and love you and surround yourself with them. As that won't be able to get rid of the pain you feel, it can help fill the void of loneliness, even if just for a little bit. A little bit of love can go a long way :)