Family Drama Stories

[Translated from Ukrainian. Reminder: IIWIARS is English only]

I stayed silent about this for a long time. A very long time. But, apparently, the time has finally come to tell the truth. Not polished, not “neat,” but real.

These two years of my relationship were not just a difficult period for me. They were two years that broke me morally, emotionally, and psychologically. And I know that many people do not even realize just how deeply.

It all started beautifully. Truly beautifully. It was happiness, joy, teenage passion, the feeling that I was needed, loved, chosen. I believed in him. I believed in us. I believed that if a person looked at you a certain way, said certain words, promised certain things, then it was not for nothing. Back then I really did love, and I gave myself sincerely.

Then I got pregnant. And from that moment, a completely different reality began.

It was not just shock. It was fear, guilt, panic, an inner rupture.

The choice of whether to keep or get rid of the child. And at the same time, his pleading to keep the baby. His words that he would stay by my side. That he would do everything for us. That he would not leave. That he would handle it. That I would not be alone. That he would be a man, a father, a support.

I believed him.

And then reality began to completely destroy me. His broken promises, betrayals, lies, screenshots of messages, unfamiliar girls in our home, while I was in labor, when I was in my most vulnerable state and was texting him about how scared and how much pain I was in. Every new betrayal tore me to pieces, every lie was another blow to my psyche.

Financial dependence was finishing me off in its own way. When you are morally exhausted, with a child who needs constant attention, and you realize that your stability depends on a person who keeps hurting you, it is a trap. You live in constant fear and tension. The fear of his outbursts of aggression, of broken things, haunted me all the time.

Taking care of the child also became a heavy burden. Because of stress, I lost my milk at six months. I felt guilt, confusion, and despair, because I wanted to give my child everything, and I could not. That only added even more inner tension and a sense of helplessness.

My inner world was collapsing. Questions kept spinning in my head: “Why am I alive?” “Maybe it would be better if I were gone?” And these were not just sad thoughts. It was the scream of a psyche that could no longer endure it.

Self-harm became a way to survive. At first it was pulling out my hair, then a failed suicide attempt, then cutting. It was despair, a scream inside myself, an attempt to let out pain that could not find a way out. And it was a real, honest feeling that shows just how deeply broken I was.

And the worst part was that in those moments there was no one who could fully accept me. I wrote to ChatGPT. It was the only way to speak out, to pour out all the brokenness, fear, betrayal, despair, nervous breakdowns, financial dependence, fear of explosions and aggression. I wrote to it when I did not know where to put all this pain, when I wanted to simply stop the whole world and feel nothing.

Every day was a battle. Every minute was a test. I was fighting him, the fear, myself, my own emotions. I was losing peace, health, inner safety. I looked at the world through stress and a constant sense of danger.

Many times I waited, many times I forgave, many times I hoped he would change. But reality was merciless. And it was not because I was “not enough.” It was because not everything can be endured, even if you give a person everything.

Now the situation feels like it is on the verge of ending. I do not know exactly what stage the relationship is in, but I feel that the end is near. And that brings both fear and relief at the same time.

These two years taught me an unbelievable amount: about myself, about pain, about boundaries, about my own strength. I understood that even among fear, betrayals, financial dependence, stress, and self-harm, it is possible to preserve yourself. And I am holding on, because I know: I will be able to live on, even after everything that happened.

P.S.

“Teenage passion” — because it started when I was 15.

I got pregnant at 16.

I gave birth just before turning 17.

I will be 18 soon.

And the scariest thing in this story is that all of this was lived through not by a grown woman.

But by me — a child.

My family is messed up. We weren’t the perfect family but we loved each other, we supported each other however everything went downhill when my father lost his job unfairly a while ago. Since then there has been constant fights, our relatives cornered us because we don’t really have any “importance” anymore. And to make matters worse our dad cheated on our mom! He swore on us that he would never do that ever again but 8 months later, me and my sibling caught him doing it again! How wonderful.

My mom can’t even divorce him and leave because my mom never really got to finish her university education and does not have the financial stability. Me and my younger sibling are still students thus we are still UPSETTINGLY dependent on him, even though I do part time jobs it can’t ever be enough to cover up the costs.

I don’t understand, he says we don’t give him time but we try despite our busy schedule as students. I have to manage scholarships + 2 tuitions + my own studies together which barely gives me time to sleep but I still try to be there for them, all of my siblings do and so does my mom. But it is never enough for him. He is a good dad but god I don’t even want to keep connections with him after I leave this household.

I feel hopeless at this point, I wish I could run away with my siblings to a happier place away from my family nonsense. I genuinely wish my parents never got married and had us, sometimes it feels like it’s making everyone miserable.

I'm 15 (almost 16) and it's been years that I see the same pattern going on with my dad. Whenever I ask for something I have to earn it, even if it's going out with friends, and as soon as he doesn't like something he will start threatening about not permitting me to do it anymore. An example is that I have been asking to go to a concert of a singer I like and after a while they finally said yes and as soon as they said yes he's been threatening to send back the ticket if he feels like I didn't study enough or that I could be disrespecting him (to him disrespect is even only raising my voice a little, huffing or not hearing him or answering immediately when he calls me). It feels like for one nice thing I get I also have to get a thousand bad ones. I searched online and it says that it's like manipulation or emotional abuse. Also tbh I'm like less excited about the concert (which would've been my first one ever) now that I'm getting threatened for every single thing and I'm starting to think maybe I shouldn't have asked at all even though I literally just got it.

I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster. Everyday literally, I feel annoyed, frustrated and angry. Now I do think the depo shot plays a huge role in my moods. But I also think it’s the life/people around me. I need to get rid of people, and situations I feel like in order to fully grow and prosper. I feel like everyone comes to me for their problems, and I hve helped and fixed so many.. with a huge pile of my own. No one is there for me the way I am, emotionally, or financially. I have endometriosis & have to take depo to stabilize my pain etc. but I do wish I can get off of it just to help me a little. My girlfriend hasn’t worked in idk how long. For a while now I have been paying every single bill plus all life expenses. Plus my own debts and tickets etc just everything. I’m overwhelmed! I express my financial struggles and just my stress to my partner and it seems like she doesn’t even listen or hear me. I have been raising my 6 year old nephew for 2 years now, because my sister just doesn’t have an interest in being a mom. She ignores him and doesn’t tend to him at all, stays on the phone all day and just rather party and drink and be outside. I took him in, then later had to take her in because she was in a domestic situation. Now I’m stuck with her, and feeling like I have 3 kids not just one. Even with her present, she still doesn’t play her role at all!!!! I do it all, from feeding him, to buying everything he needs even with her working full time, to just taking care of him overall as a whole. Then my gf I feel like just thinks I’m rich. It’s like in her head I ALWAYSSS have money. Someway somehow she just thinks always that I have somethingggg even if it’s 5$. And she has gotten so comfortable just using my card and money. I feel like she just sets me back in life and makes me back track and tbh I feel like with everyone around me, if they leave and I can be alone for a while I will flourish 10xs harder! My gf has put me in so many bad financial situations, causing me debt etc. on top of years of her talking to other woman etc. now I’m over everything and just disgusted with everyone. I stayed with her cus love. I have attachment issues. And honestly I’m just comfortable with her. It when she’s around all I feel is anger and resentment. Then her back tracking me no matter how much I say what’s going on with money etc she still doesn’t care. I’m so drained mentally and emotionally and physically by everyone around me.

Yo, so I'm really wondering, why are my parents always mad at me? Seriously, it's like no matter what I do, it's never good enough 🤷‍♀️ I'm 17 and I try sooooooooo hard to be a good daughter, like I get good grades, and I'm pretty chill. I don't party all the time or anything, I'm just focused on my studies and keeping outta trouble, ya know? School ain't even that easy but I manage to keep those grades up. Still, my parents act like I'm the biggest disappointment or something. Like, come on, cut me some slack! If I ace a test, they're like "Why didn't you get 100%?" or "You could've done better." Bruh, ever heard of the saying "Perfection is the enemy of good"? Seriously, I'm not perfect, nobody is. I've seen so many of my friends making bad decisions and I'm here minding my business and they're still not happy. It's like they're always looking for a reason to criticize me; it's exhausting. I'll clean the entire house and they'll find some tiny speck of dust and complain all day long. I swear they act like my existence annoys them sometimes. 😒 It's like they're never satisfied and it gets to me. Like dude, ever heard of positivity and encouragement? It feels like they only see the negatives. I'm not trying to be rude, but I wish they could just be nice for once. I know they mean well, or at least I wanna believe they do. But a little appreciation wouldn't hurt. Could it be that they just have high expectations or do they really not care about my feelings?? Like, I need to know, cause it messes me up. 😤 I'm seventeen, just trying to find myself and do right by them. It's frustrating cause when they only see what I don't do right, I feel like I'm constantly failing. "Failing isn't falling down, it's staying down," right? Well, I'm up and trying hard! Meanwhile, I see parents cheering on their kids for the smallest things and wish mine did the same. Sometimes, it feels like I'm living in a pressure cooker where I'm expected to excel in everything with zero room for error. People say "youth is the time of our lives," but somehow I'm stuck in a real-life drama series where I'm the antagonist in my own story. I've even thought about talking it out with them, but I know it'll just turn into another argument, and honestly, I'm not up for another showdown right now. It's not that I don't love them, I just seriously can't comprehend why it has to be this way. Can't we please find some kind of middle ground? Why is communication so hard? I mean, are our wavelengths just eternally mismatched? So you tell me...have any of you been through something like this? Or am I just overreacting? It feels like I'm constantly walking on eggshells and it's driving me nuts. But hey, things will get better, right? I'm just holding onto hope here. They say "love conquers all," so maybe one day we'll understand each other. Till then, I'll just keep doing what I do, with dreams of a day when they finally say "I'm proud of you." 😊 Life's a journey, not a destination, and maybe we're all just figuring it out as we go along.

I've been experiencing an unprecedented level of distraction lately, and it's really starting to get on my nerves!!! It feels like I'm constantly zoning out, no matter what I'm doing or where I'm at. It's like my mind decides to go on a little vacation, leaving my body behind to deal with the mundanity of everyday life. And honestly, it's annoying!!! Does anyone else feel like their brain has just decided to take a break without asking for permission??? Like dude, I get that everyone needs a break, but at least give me some warning or something!!!

My zoning out episodes have started interrupting my schoolwork, my interactions with people, and even my hobbies. It's like, one minute I'm deeply engrossed in writing an English essay, and the next, my mind is wandering to the most random things!!! The other day, I was supposed to focus on an algebra assignment, and for some inexplicable reason, I found myself thinking about whether penguins get cold feet or not. That's so random, right!? I mean, shouldn't I be thinking about x and y, instead of whether some penguin thousands of miles away is shivering in Antarctica??? My teachers keep telling me to focus, but how am I supposed to focus when my brain refuses to cooperate??? It's like trying to pilot a rogue spaceship!!!

Despite this ultra-distracting problem, I'm determined to figure out how to get my focus back on track. This can't be something out of my control forever. Maybe it's a lack of sleep or an overload of screen time contributing to this spacing-out thing... or maybe it's just a thing that happens when you have too many audio and visual inputs swirling around 24/7. Whatever it is, I'm remaining extra hopeful that things will get back to normal soon or develop a strategy to keep my mind anchored. Or is it probably because I'm just sixteen and hormones are wreaking havoc on my concentration??? Maybe opening up to more people about this could help??? Anyone else have any tips on how to stop the brain betrayal????? Would be super thankful for any input!!! 😊

All of this started when I (M23) got off from work midday. I was originally resting and called a friend to see if he's doing okay at the training camps in South Carolina. After that, I was called over by my mother (F45) downstairs to help her get of old stuff in her office. To make things clear, we just moved into a townhouse after living from an Airbnb vacation home (last month) after selling our house (December, last year). The reason why was because of a divorce between her and my so-called father, but that's something I want to keep private.

Back to the story, I was helping her take care of stuff she want to give to the thrift store. While I was finishing up putting paper into the big trashbag, Mom requested me to lay down the cardboards (which was the moving boxes), since we're going donate her old stuff out and come back. When I did just that, she started getting upset - demanding that I should take it and the others to the garage. Mind you, she didn't say anything about taking it out at first, making things both confusing and annoying. This wasn't the first time she gave out vague instructions and then yell when I misunderstood her or asking for reassurance. We arrived at the thrift store, and gave away the old stuff to the clerk. Inside the SUV, Mom was complaining about me "not listening" and that I need to be more responsible. Well said the damn fool who made a illegal U-Turn (on a non-turning lane) to get back to the road! When I called her out on it, she brushed it off as a mild inconvenience. That's one strike.

Mom remembered that she need groceries for the house. Before doing that, she need to move the SUV to the disabled parking - so we can use the car to go the supermarket. Reminder, we just moved in a townhouse and for more context, our garage is a little packed to have two vehicles inside which we got to have a routine that one has to be in the garage while the other goes to the parking lot. Once we got to the parking lot, she told me to get the car out of the disabled to a different direction to a long road (right - leading to a kids' playground). Back then, I didn't think it was possible because I parked far from another car close to ours. So I backed the car to the left. There was another car in the way, but I was careful not to hit it and driver. By the time Mom parked the SUV and got in the car, she was irritated by decision - not even letting me explain why. That's two strikes.

Here comes the third one which made reconsider our relationship as mother and son. While I was driving to the supermarket, Mom wanted me to go to a far right lane to get there. I responded that we're on the left turning lane which is another way to reach there as well. (Another thing to add, I don't like talking while on the wheel because it breaks my focus on where to go.) She continued to rant that I should listen to her and turn. When doing just that, a car was already in the way of the lane I need to turn to. To make things worse, I accidently ran over some infrastructure along the way - leading her to believe I was being reckless, accusing me of doing the same thing on my way to work. I was offended, as I was always careful when going to work. I literally had no issue driving alone, it's the fact that SOMEONE thought it was okay to continue bashing on other peoples' mistakes - making me stressed already with the previous incidents.

Once I parked, I had enough and screamed that her hissy fits, vague favors and accusatory behavior has got to stop. The more she does this, it lowers my self-esteem and can't get things right without her on my case. For the most stupidest shit that no middle-aged adult should ever get upset. Before leaving and finished shopping, she ends things off with that she doesn't care, stating she's the main provider and that I have no right to talk to her; due to her being my mother. Well I'm your damn son wanting my boundaries to be respected which you ignore - unless when it's about Dad or something else bothers me. SHIT!

To end things off, she isn't bad overall. I know she has her pros while at her best. It's her worst which not taking care of hypocrisy and being dramatic when trying to understand her ridiculousness. Forgive me for the long rant. I was a little hesitant to share this, but I have to, since I can't keep hiding this forever. Tell me what you guys think.

Sunday, 15th March 2026

I got into a little argument with lil bro(10), I hit him on his head. Then he jumped on me with all his weight and tried to choke me and punched my face. I scratched his face because that's all I could. Then elder brother(26) pulled me away, I threw a bottle at him but it hit mother instead. Then she hit me with that bottle twice. No one stopped him. No one shouted at him. No one took my side. Everyone says it's my fault. Everyone was against me. Mother was saying it's your fault that he hit you. Everyone said they should make me wash dishes so I can't keep my nails long. Middle brother(22) said call her here and make her wash dishes now. Elder brother said make her wash dishes.

And when my older brothers hit me because I tried to say what is fair and treat them with equal disrespect? Everytime it's my fault because I'm a girl, I just want to run away from here as soon as I can. I can't take it anymore. My mother is saying it's all my fault and it happened because I went out with friends the day before. She said she won't let me go out ever again. she called my friends whores.

I am 17 and I really do not get why my mom is always yelling at me, like seriously what is even happening here. I try so hard to be a good daughter, not in some fake way either, I mean for real. I clean the kitchen without being asked most days, I wash dishes, I fold clothes even when they are not mine, I help with groceries, I keep my room pretty clean, I do my homework on time, I study a lot, and my grades are very good, like I am not out here failing classes or sneaking around or doing wild stuff. I am polite too, maybe too polite, because even when she is already mad I still say okay mom and sorry mom and I keep my voice low because I do not want more drama. But still she yells. She yells if I am doing something, and she yells if I am not doing something, and sometimes I swear she yells before I even understand what she wants. Yesterday I was literally wiping the table after dinner and she came in and said I never help in this house, and I just stood there with the rag in my hand feeling so dumb and small. Like what was I supposed to say, do you see me or not. One time I got a 95 on a test and I was actually happy, like wow maybe she will be proud for once, and all she said was why not 100, and then later she got mad because I was studying in my room and not downstairs where she could “see me doing something.” How am I meant to win that. I am asking for real, what do people even do when no answer is the right answer. Do you ever feel like someone already decided you are a problem and now everything you do looks wrong to them. Because that is how it feels in my house almost every day. I wake up tense already, listening to her footsteps, trying to guess what mood it is gonna be. If I say good morning and she sounds annoyed, my whole chest just drops. If I stay quiet, then I am “cold” or “have an attitude.” If I ask if she needs help, she says I should already know. If I start helping on my own, she says I am doing it the wrong way. I am not saying I am perfect because duh I am 17 and I forget stuff sometimes, I leave a glass in my room sometimes, I get tired, I get moody, normal stuff, but the way she reacts is like I ruined everything and I do not think that is fair. It makes me doubt myself a lot, like maybe I am secretly awful and just cannot see it, but then I look at what I actually do all day and I am like no, this is too much, this cannot all be my fault.

What really gets me is that I keep trying harder and it changes nothing, which is such a miserable feeling. A few weeks ago I made sure the living room was all neat, I finished a school project early, I even made tea for her because she looked stressed, and later that night she started yelling because I forgot to move one bag from the hallway. One bag. Like that was enough to erase everything else. I said sorry right away and moved it, but she kept going on and on about how I make life harder for her, and I just wanted to cry because I honestly do not know how much more careful a person can be before they stop being a person and just turn into some nervous robot. Sometimes I think maybe she is stressed and taking it out on me, and I try to be understanding because life is hard and money is tight and adults have problems they do not talk about, so I do try to be reasonable. I am not sitting here acting like moms are not human. But at the same time, why am I the one getting hit with all the shouting when I am the one helping. Why am I the easy target just because I am there and quiet and trying. Last month I had this long school day and I came home tired but still started dinner stuff because she was late, and when she got home she yelled that the onions were cut too thick. I am not joking. Too thick. I just said okay, I can cut them smaller next time, and then she got even more mad like my calm voice annoyed her too. That happens a lot actually. It is like if I defend myself, I am disrespectful, but if I stay calm, I am “acting smart.” So tell me, what is left. Am I supposed to disappear. I love my mom, which makes this worse because I do not want to hate being around her, but lately I hear her call my name and my stomach drops right away. I keep wondering if one day she will notice I am trying, or if she already knows and just does not care because yelling is easier. Maybe she thinks it makes me better somehow, but it does not, it just makes me tired and weirdly empty. I still do my chores, still get my grades, still try to be nice, because that is just who I am and I do not want to become rude or lazy from being treated unfair. But honestly I am starting to feel dumb for hoping every day will be different. Maybe tomorrow she will be normal, maybe tomorrow she will not snap because I closed a cabinet too loud or folded towels “wrong” or sat down for five minutes after school. Maybe. But then tomorrow comes and it is the same thing again, and I sit there thinking, why is my mom yelling at me, and I never get a real answer.

Hi. I know this is all my fault I'm completely aware. but I just wanna vent because it feels suffocating.

I was stupid enough to not brush my hair for 3 months. Just keeping it in a hood all winter because I was so tired I couldn't take care of myself

Now it's so matted I'm scared to see how bad it is.

I'm scared of how my dad will react if he knew, he told me if my hair was tangled again he wouldn't take me to the salon because I'm old now and he's right. Back when I got my hair tangled a lot and went to the salon to cut it, it was fine because I was just a child. But now I'm 17 years old. It'll just be embarrassing

I don't know what to do.

My dad took me out shopping a while ago he bought me a pretty dress and I'm happy and grateful but I didn't know how to express it so he had a argument with me

I didn't want to show him what the dress looked like on me, because it meant taking off my hood and showing him my tangled hair. He got angry and closed the door really loudly

I get his anger, I'm just venting. Not blaming anyone.

I'm the idiot here for never learning my lesson and letting my sadness take over my life

Nobody and I mean absolutely nobody will ever love my parents more then the way I love them as their first born

I love them so much that I would ruin myself to the point I’ll simply evaporate if you just look at me

I’m their first born but they’ll never love me the way I love them

I’m the first born to two humans that should have never become parents

I love them so much I hate them

The moment I came to terms with that I could finally breathe

They’ll never support me

They’ll never be proud of me

They’ll never care about me

They’ll never want me

They’ll never love me

They’ll never love me the way I love them

I look like my daddy and I act like my mommy

I’ll never be happy until the day I take my last breath

I can’t put it in exact words

He’s my daddy I have two of his jackets but I’ll never have HIS jacket

She’s my mommy I have her sarcasm, her laugh, her pretty smile

He’s my daddy I wear his cologne, I have his eyes, his face, his hair

She’s my mommy she’s the first thing I think about when I wake up

He’s my daddy he’ll always be the first and last person I will ever look up to again

She’s my mommy she’ll always be my first thought

He’s my daddy he will always be my first word

I’m my parents first born

I love them so much I hate them

Nobody will ever love them the way I love them as their first born

I wish they’ll love me one day the same way I love them so I can live too

That’s the best way I can put it into words at least for now

they told me "if you fail this class you cant hang out with your friends over spring break."

now they told me that "since you gave your friend a ride home, you cant have anyone in your car for 6 weeks."

this punishment don't fit the fucking crime

this guy had no ride home and his parents couldn't get him until 8PM

it was a fucking miscommunication and theyre telling me to be fucking greatful that they didn't take my car away.

yeah fucking right

thanks a fucking lot

I just started sh again thanks to this

I was clean for a year

good fucking job

I hate myself for everything. i dont have money for college. I currently hate my life. I hate everyone and everything around me. I want to disappear into nothingness. I need someone by me, but I'm always fighting my battles alone. i NEED someone to talk to

I'm struggling a lot right now and my grades are horrible but my parents refuse to show any compassion or get me help. they're fully aware that I'm not doing well and that I harm myself but they just don't care. they took all my electronocs and money to make sure I can't do anything until I fix my grades, and we all know it can't happen if I don't get better. they have been this horrible all my life but now it's worse than it's ever been. apart from the fact that they're incredibly strict they also love invalidating me in every possible way. I can't do this muc

I've been strugglately and school is making it even worse