Growing up was always HAPPY and then SAD!!! At the age of 7 I was left without a mom due to some family problems.So that meant that my 9year old sister(at the time)would have to step up and take care of the house,me,our 5 year old brother(at the time),and help out my dad AND ALSO MY DADS SIDE OF THE FAMILY TOOK US IN AS THEIR OWN CHILDREN.I can say that it did kind of effect me as a child,but not really because everything was still the same 2 me except she wasn't there(and we just couldn't/didn't see her side of the family anymore).Then when I began to get a lil older then I started hurting because my friends would always talk about their moms,but I couldn't.My dad wouldn't let us have any contact with her.But when I got to highschool I finally got in contact with her in we started out with emailing and everyonce in a while phone calls.But now we talk just about every week,I have a beautiful step dad,and my dad has changed his ways and now he's like a great whole new dad! There's more to the story(to much 2 write) but this is just part of the main story!But in conclusion I just want to tell you that if YOu go 2 cHurch,pray,and hold on!GOD WILL WORK IT OUT!I HAD A PRAYING GRANDMOTHER THAT PUT THE FEAR OF GOD IN US AND RAISED US!AND TODAY I CAN TRULY SAY GOD WORKED IT OUT!My sister will be graduating on June 4,2008 and going 2 college..My brother will be graduating June 5,2008(going to highschool,and I am 15 and will be a junior in highschool!