Hi there,
Thank you for writing to me.
It sounds like things are really hard for at you at the moment and I think that you did the right thing writing to me. I get impression that there are quite a few different things going on for you and ChildLine would really like to support you with everything.
You have talked about being moved to a foster home because you were being abused by your mum. It can be really hard to live with a different family and it is often very helpful to talk about how you are feeling. You said that your mum was violent and I know that sometimes it can be difficult to cope with the feelings you might have around this. Please remember that ChildLine is always here to listen when ever you want to talk and the counsellors here can support you with how you are feeling and if you like, help you to think about your options. You can contact a ChildLine counsellor by calling on 0800 1111 (the number is free from all phones and doesn’t show up on phone bills) or sign up for an account and use online chat.
It sounds like you are finding things really tough with this girl that you are living with. No-one has the right to hit you or hurt you and you deserve to be safe. You have said that you are feeling sad and don’t want to live like this - that is completely understandable and it sounds like it might be really frustrating and upsetting for you to feel that you have moved away from your mum and now live with this girl who hits you.
Sometimes people behave in a way that in wrong because they are struggling to cope with how they are feeling and this might be what this girl is doing. However, that does not give her the right to treat you badly in anyway. What is happening is wrong and it is not your fault.
I am wondering how you would feel about letting your foster parents know what is happening? You might need to be prepared to tell them more than once as your foster parents would need to know if things carry on or don’t change in the way you want them to. Another option is to let your Social Worker know what is happening as they have a responsibility to keep you safe.
This might seem like a lot to think about so maybe you could get in touch with us and a counsellor could help you to think about your options and what you would like to happen.
In the mean time, it is important that you try to keep yourself safe. Does your bedroom door have a lock on it so that you can be safe from her in your room? Are you able to avoid being alone with her? Maybe spending time with your foster parents would help if she doesn’t treat you badly or hurt you when they are there and perhaps you could say that you don’t want to go into town with her. If you ever feel that you are in immediate danger from her or anything else please remember that you have the right to call 999 and ask for help.
Take care,
Sam