i need to talk about this... my parents divorce

by jodi
(bulawayo,zimbabwe)

hi dawn,
i'm 15and my parents got divorced a few months ago. it didn't really bother me too much because i saw it coming and i thought i handled it well but now that i see them in different situations, i am starting to see what kind of people they really are.

i will have to start with my dad:
he got a new girlfreind, 'D' and her daughter slept with my boyfriend. So when their relationship started i wasn't too keen on D. i knew i was being unfair and my dad really seemed to like her so i gave her a chance and she seemed nice at first but the more time i spent with her the more clear it became that she is COMPLETELY INSANE! she is constantly drunk and she diliberatly turned my bedroom into a storage room! when i left to bording school, she got everything in my room;make up, clothes,CDs EVERYTHING and gave it all to the maid! And my dad did nothing about it!

I was very stupid and let it go and forgave them all but now, everytime i see them they just slate my mom! they always try make me talk about her and they always tell me lies about her! they think i would believe that my mother is this tart that sleeps with married men! she is the most dignified person i know!


so, lets talk about my problem there. i cant tell her the things my dad and D say about her but she always asks(we live in a small town and everybody HATES D as she is 42and kissed a 17year old and so many husbands, it is horrifing!) and it really hurts the way my dad picks D and her childern over me,>they all went on holiday including the daughter and my exboyfriend and my dad said to my face he'd rather i didn't come. so when i talk to my mom about my dad, i feel as though i am betraying his trust. and my mom deliberatly tries to irritate him by going to the same clubs as him and stuff.

and they always fight over me! they are both struggling financailly and my dad hates having to pay maintenece so after he pays he will not give me a cent! and i needed so much stuff for school but my dad wouldn't pay so my mom did and i need extra lessons, my dad wont pay, i need clothes for winter, my dad wont pay, i need shampoo and he wont pay!

i live with my mom and she pays everything it costs to keep me in the house and for everything else! but when my brother lived at home(he left a month after the divorce) my dad bought him a motor bike, payed for club cricket, tours, equipment-for hockey and cricket, but i cant play a sport because nobody wants to pay, i am failing maths and geo because my mom cant affored the extra lessons and my dad wont pay! i love them both but i dont know how to handle everything! i try not to spend money on anything, i use my moms old make up, i wear her clothes that fit me i try so hard to make it ok but i just cant seem to make them happy!