I really struggled at school, everyone including my mum and stepdad thought I was slow and lazy.
At home they would sit me at a table and make me write every word I knew, I don't even know what they were trying to achieve?
I remember once being summoned to the living room to stand there and be told that I'd be lucky if I could get a job as a street cleaner. I wonder if this speech was to motivate me, or to put me down?
I'll be honest, lessons went over my head and I did really struggle. I think school finally clicked at the age of 14 when I moved school and got away from my controlling stepdad. Living with him made me constantly on edge, I was always waiting to be punished for not being perfect.
But now just living with my mum and sister I felt more in control I guess. I had 4 things to focus on: school, work, my sister and my chores.
Without the bully there waiting for me to mess up, I feel like the fog had lifted and my mind was clear. The only downside was my Mum's temper, she could fly of the handle over nothing. I remember her throwing a carving knife in our small kitchen, and she loved to grab me by the hair and drag me round.
She was hardly at home most of the time, she was either at work or out with her boyfriend.
Those were the happiest times when it was just my sister and I, we had a TV schedule sorted and lived off packets and tins. I could finally relax!
I did alright at school in the end, went to college, moved out, and escaped the bully.
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