Hm this should be interesting. I have never really looked back because I had a real chitty childhood and don't care to remember too much of it.

But since you asked...

I was 17 tired of my mother yelling and mentally abusing my father and myself. All I remember her doing was cussing and screaming about everything any of us did and I swore when I was 17 I was outta there. I turned 17 and 2 days later I left with $27 in my pocket. I lived in the back seat of my car for 3-4 months while still going to school and trying to graduate with a 3.9. I couldn't handle it and dropped out 68 days before graduating, I then found 2 full time jobs and within 2 weeks I had my own apartment but had to lie about my age to get moved in. I called my father a few times to let him know that I was OK. A few years later he left her and moved to Fla where he still lives and we still talk but very seldom. I tried dealing with my mother at least a dozen times because of our kids but as of now I haven't spoke to her in over 6 years. She is a very hateful and selfish person that I don't care for our kids to associate with.

I am now old as dirt and looking back I can't see how my father stayed with her as long as he did.

It was a long hard path but I have no regrets.

In the past few years we have supported and helped more than a dozen homeless/helpless teens and will continue to do so.