COLUMNS

A response to the May 2009 column by Paulette Lewis

I decided to go back home to my family. I can’t remember the exact date, but I went back home. I wasn’t getting any help, because no places wanted me, and Paulette was frustrated. When I went back home, she said that my parents would never let me talk to her, but I told her that they would, and it was o.k.

After going back home, I tried to get in contact with Paulette, because I had been with her so long. I haven’t talked her person to person since June 17. I am getting a new phone. I am fine at home.  My parents have even allowed me to go downtown to the public library by myself, and they are o.k. with me doing things I want to do, just as long as they are sure I will be fine, because I have had some problems with places that I go.

My parents did not know all about what was going on in my younger age, even after I said what I said to my mother. When I talked to my mom when I was younger about the relative, I most likely wasn’t very clear because words were not too understandable by me. I was 11-years old, but at 10 was when I started to read better. I still sometimes have a hard time with the spoken word and would much rather just be silent at serious times, because I often say the wrong words.

My dad had once decided that he would do what he could to help me without forcing me to do anything. He took me to the doctors to make sure that I was o.k., took me to a social worker to get checked, and then took me to a counselor. All of this took a lot of time, and my dad always made sure he was off work to take me, because he wanted to make sure I was o.k.