When my dad left my life, it took a part of me with him. I never knew what the arguments between my parents were about or why my dad was always acting funky and hardly ever home. I had just turned three when my mom, sister and I were kicked out. I also didn’t understand why that happened, considering I was so young.

Now that it’s been nearly 12 years since I had last seen or spoken to him, I truly understand why things were the way they were. My dad had a rough life when he was younger. His dad was an alcoholic and his parents rarely ever got along. When my dad was around my age, my grandpa’s actions had begun to spiral out of control. He ended up shooting himself in the head in my dad’s room while intoxicated; Ever since that had happened, my dad didn’t know how to control his actions, he started getting into drinking at a young age and that led onto getting into drugs.

My dad was very into drugs and alcohol when I was really young and it caused a lot of arguments between both of my parents. I remember him acting out once he had drank and got drunk, I remember that scabs building up on his arm from the constant itching caused by the drugs he was doing; I remember the hurtful things he would say to my mom, sister and me. I remember a lot of things, it tears me up inside just like it would anyone else.
Even though my dad has caused a lot of hardships in my everyday life and my mental health, I believe that I have the power to control my actions and not allow myself to let my life spin out of control like he allowed his to.