Last night as I was tidying up I came across a crumpled piece of what I thought was scrap notebook paper, laying on the floor in the hallway. Odd place for someone to be chucking garbage, I thought, somewhat annoyed. Opening the paper, I realized it was a “quiet note” – you remember those, right? Where you’re sitting in class, supposedly paying attention, but writing your conversation instead of speaking out loud…? Anyway, this was one of those notes, and by the end of the first sentence I knew exactly who was involved in it, and my heart was breaking.

The Teen has a friend – we’ll call her Amy – who hails from a broken home. Her mother lives in the next town over, and Amy lives with her father and Step-Monster (as the Teen and all their friends call her), 2 half sisters, and a half brother, all younger than she is. She doesn’t want to be there, and the Step Monster tells her constantly that she doesn’t want her, and doesn’t like her. Her own mother, even knowing this, has made excuse after excuse to not bring her to live with her, citing that her apartment is too small, and any number of other things. A bit of a Cinderella story there, with our neglected Amy getting the short end of the stick in pretty much every way. She isn’t allowed to do any extra-curricular activities, take lessons of any sort, go to parties, or do anything that her friends enjoy as a natural part of life. In the same breath though, they don’t seem to care WHERE she is, as long as she’s not causing them any trouble (ie asking for a ride somewhere, or anything that might cost them money). In other words, they’d rather she was a piece of furniture, or better yet, not there at all.

For most of her 16 years, Amy has been unwanted by either parent. Her few friends – the Teen included – do what they can to make her days at school happy and include her in whatever they’re doing. I imagine that is her saving-grace, because any time I’ve been in Amy’s company, she’s been sweet and polite (and not in an Eddie Haskel kind of way) and a pleasure to be around. From what the Teen tells me, Amy has not been driven to drugs, alcohol, or the seamier side of things that such neglect and negativity could bring. She has, despite her family life, a good head on her shoulders.

So imagine how my heart shattered when I read this…

I ask you; what kind of mother would abandon her child? What kind of woman could let her own child think she hates her?

I scanned the note – you can read it here. The nicer handwriting is Amy’s, and the scary scrawl is the Teen’s – I swear her regular handwriting is much nicer than that normally…

Amy refers to Kid’s Help Phone in her note – The Kids Help Phone is a service here in Canada that offers 24/7 support to all kids in any situation they find themselves. Whether it’s immediate danger, a problem at home, bullying at school, or any number of other things that can affect their lives, this phenomenal service has professional counselors available to them and can tell them how to deal with a situation or get help to them on a case by case basis. The number is taught to our kids at school, and posted in hallways.

I haven’t spoken to the Teen about this yet. I will, but she spent the night at another friend’s place last night, and she’s not home yet. In case you’re wondering; she won’t mind that I read it – we talk about Amy all the time, and we’re very open with each other – always have been. (She might mind that I put it online… but that can remain our secret, yes?) I want her to tell Amy that she always has a safe place with us if she needs it, and that I will pick her up any time, day or night. And that Amy can talk to me if she wants to, and I’ll do whatever I can to help her. That poor sweetheart needs all the people in her corner that she can get.

Now go give your kid(s) a hug… how lucky are they to know that we love them?