Becoming a survivor

Childhood

Sharnell didnt have what most would consider a normal childhood. Her mother Michelle and her stepfather Dejohn were very strict parents. She had to share everything with her younger sisters. It didnt matter how fair or nice she was to them. That never stopped them for balming things on her just so that she could get in trouble. Sharnell never complained nor voiced her opinions. Because she was taught to obey and honor her parents. From a early age she started to experience depression from the physical and verbal abuse her family caused her. She wasnt close to other family members and she didnt have friends that she could talk to about her problems. Michelle religion is pentecostal so she raised them as such. It was something that Sharnell didnt agree with. Sharnell hated wearing skirts and dresses to school because wearing such clothes almost made it impossible for her to enjoy certain activities. They never celebrated Christmas easter holloween or things of that nature. Wasnt enough money being brought into the home so that she could have nice things. Alot of Sharnell clothes were hand me downs from her older cousins. Michelle made sure to have them in church every Wednesday and sunday. While dejohn would work during the day to help pay the bills. He had a gambling problem and he didn’t mind cheating on Michelle. Although Michelle tried to hide what was really going on in her marriage. She failed to realize that Sharnell was old enough to understand everything that was going on. Sharnell would go to school where she would be bullied all the time and her cousins would stand back and laugh while other kids made fun of her. But she would never tell that her cousins didn’t have her back. One day after church Michelle decided to take the girls to the ballpark to watch a baseball game. Once they pulled up and everyone had gotten out of the car. The girls saw dejohn and ran off to him before Michelle could stop them. Slowly walking over towards them. Michelle saw her bestfriend and waved at her to come join them. Once her bestfriend walked up to them she walked over and slapped Dejohn hard across his face. Michelle was stunned to how her bestfriend had reacted until she figured out the reason behind the slap. Once she figured it out she regained her compuser gathered the girls up and returned home. She didnt want to break down in front of her children.