No place to go!!

Gosh, Heidi, I'm so sorry! I wish you were closer, I'd run you to the store, or better yet...you could stay with us.

I am willing to bet that your mom has no idea what you are dealing with. Keep trying to talk to her. Just tell her that you feel left out, and that you literally have ver little to eat this week! She won't want you in that situation.

I would also alert her to the way your sisters are treating you. She's probably too busy to notice what's going on. She'll help you, just keep trying to communicate with her.

Your post is really sad for me, too. I remember feeling that way in college because my Mom was newly remarried - my Dad passed away when I was 13. I felt like my Mom was so busy with her new marriage that she was thrilled that I lived in a dorm and was out of the way. I think that is one reason that I got married my senior year in college just a month shy of age 21. My DH felt the same way as one of 6 kids, he lost his room when he left for college. We had no food and were thrilled to have a hot pot and a package of Ramen. Fortunately, I got a job as a babysitter for a doctor's family within walking distance of campus, and they treated me kindly and generously. I think my Mom thought at 18, I wanted my independence and didn't need her anymore. She was very wrong. That was a long time ago. I graduated from college in 1985, but your post brings up that pain. One of the most poignant moments in my relationship with my Mom came a few years ago when she said she would have done things differently and given me more support in college. I don't know why, but that apology really meant a lot to me and our relationship improved tremendously.

This experience did shape my life for the better in the long run as I was forced to get a lot stronger. Now, my oldest son is a college sophomore, and we are building a new house with a bedroom just for him even though he will probably only live with us for 2 more summers. I just never, ever want him to feel the same way I did. I send him care packages of food frequently and shipped him a cheap microwave ($50) from Amazom.com. Shipping was free and it came to his dorm in 2-3 days. He is able to keep it in his dorm room. We also get groceries delivered from Peapod.com. Do you have that service in your area?

Hugs and prayers are being sent your way. If I lived in Maine, I would love to invite you over and definitely take you shopping. It would be fun.

Oh little dear here is a hug for you!!
I have never really experienced this before, as I was the youngest kid and everyone sort of moved out and I had plenty of space to myself. but now I am the mother of 4, and we all share a very tiny 3 bedroom house. my oldest dd is 19, and plenty of times I think how nice it would be for her to move out. I hope that doesn't make me sound selfish. I know she is not ready and I always tell her she can stay as long as she needs. But I know when she does go her space will be filled very quickly.so thank you for sharing your story, now I will be more sensitive to her feelings when the time comes.

It does sound like your mother is a little overwhelmed. Would you consider calling her and offering her some help. Explain that you are off this week with nothing to do and maybe she could use some babysitting or something.This will give you a chance to spend time with your family and take your mind off your own lonliness. Helping others is really great for making us step outside ourselves and get some perspective. Then while you are there helping out you may have a better chance to share your feelings, or you may realize that it wasn't so bad after all.
Hang in there, its not easy becoming independent but you can do it!!
~Annie

Whoa, hang on!

You're going to make yourself sick eating only rasin bran for a week!

I'm serious, your body needs WAY more than that, and if you try to live off it, you'll seriously make yourself ill from a vitamin deficiency. You REALLY need to get in touch with your mother/father and tell them what's going on. Someone needs to know that you need care -- food and someone (in real life, you've got plenty of online friends) to love you.

She's your mother, she'll help you out. If you don't want to feel like a burdon, offer to do some chores for her -- the idea of babysitting was a good one that I'm sure she'd like.

But honestly! Please tell us you'll make sure you get good food this week!

I'm sorry you're having a tough time right now. I would also suggest to call your mom and talk to her. Call her once she's finished putting all the little ones in bed and had a minute to breath - I would think you know their approx. bedtime. You should let her know how you feel. It can be difficult for other to see what you feel inside - especially if they have a busy family life to handle and might think you're having a good time and enjoying your college life and 'freedom'.

Sending you hugs from the other side of the big pond!

Heidi, if I lived closer you could hang out with me and my friends, we are older but fun....I would feed you and give you place to stay...we could go to Longwood gardens....Geocaching....in fact if you have problem on your next break come visit Delaware and bring a doll...there is a lot of fun stuff to do here....could you take a train and come. Please let me know I would love you to come visit

How far away is the nearest grocery store? I didn't have a car all through college, so I bought a bike and biked everywhere. I went to school in Colorado, so you'd even see me biking in the snow. [img]graemlins/sun.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/storm.gif[/img]

Man, I think I should do that now. I could stand to lose a few pounds. [img]redface.gif[/img]

I don't have much to add to the good advice here. Make sure you get some food (if you absolutely have to, you can buy more at the overpriced gas station store, and of course you can order pizza, and maybe Chinese or anything else you have around there). I hope you can get through to your parents and tell them that you need them right now. And if you have any friends with cars (or friends' friends with cars) you can just let them know that you'd like to go grocery shopping when they go, if there's room--then you're not putting them out at all. Hope things look up for you soon; if there's anything I can do (though I'm about as far away from Maine as one can get) let me know!

I talked to my parents, and they came to get me for supper and brought me back. I guess I will eat some meals there at least. My sister called, because she was going to the store, so now I have bread and some other things to get me through the week. Luckily I have this board for company, or else I'd really feel completely alone here!

Glad to hear you will get some good home cooking at least. It is good you were open to your parents about how you feel, or even if you just told them that you were lonely, it's a start.
There is always someone on this bored to hang out with!