My mom disappeared − 20 January, 1992
At the beginning of what was to become my second foster home experience, my mother took off again, this time leaving me behind. She had been unstable for a number of weeks prior to this, but refused to seek treatment. Although I was older this time around, I still was not prepared to deal with things either before or after she left.
For two weeks, from January 20 to February 3, I lived by myself. I do not recall exactly how I managed to keep eating, although I do remember that at one point I made spaghetti on the stove, and another time turned in my saved up change to the bank for money to eat at the Merle Hay Mall food court.
My original intention was to continue to go to school (as my last experience having returned from a foster home in Arkansas was tremendously embarrassing), which I did for two days. That came to an end when one of my teachers, Mrs. Burdt, concerned with my performance in school, called asking to speak to my mother. Clearly that wasn't going to happen, and since I did not have a good explanation, I stopped going to school.
After a while, I decided I needed to do something about the situation, and resolved to go to the Youth Emergency Services Shelter downtown. I took some more change and got a bus ticket downtown, but couldn't convince myself to go to the shelter. Instead, I walked around the skywalks downtown, where I was harrassed by a group of homeless people. I called my friend's parents in defeat, and got a ride back home.
In the end, my other friend's parents called Human Services, who sent a social worker to my mom's apartment. She convinced me to go with her to the shelter at Hawthorne Hill, and there I stayed for two more weeks. On February 14, I was matched with a foster family in the city, and left the shelter.
About a month following this adventure, my mom was discovered in Denver, CO, and interred in a mental health facility. I did not see her again for seven months.
Comments:
geezypete (July 17, 2006. 09:05pm)
Wow. My condolences, but thank you for posting.
jfboyd (July 18, 2006. 12:11am)
Thank you -- it was a trying time, but you know how life is, you move on afterward. I was thinking back recently to just how out-of-control that time was, but you just cope somehow.
BrianZimm (August 31, 2006. 08:20pm)
Damn, I cannot even imagine living on my own at that age, I would have been scared to death. I'm sure the experiences of your youth has turned you into a very independent person.