I'm not sure what I should do.

[AnonymousTeen]

I'm about eighteen years of age and am about to leave to go to a college that is about four hours away from home.

I was raised by my grandparents and have three siblings that live with my grandparents and I. My mother and father are AWOL.

I'm faced with a huge problem that could possibly keep me from going to college and that is a crisis that is happening at my home. My grandmother is depressed and inactive and has stopped taking care of herself, the children, and the house. As a result, the house is infested with lice and the bacteria that causes Staph Infection. I am the only person currently living in this house that does not have and infestation of lice or staph on my body.

The house is filled with roaches and rotting food. I have tried my best to clean and keep everything disinfected, but everything ends up where it was before because they kids aren't disciplined enough to clean up after themselves. Problems have risen to such a crescendo that they cannot be taken care of anymore by just an eighteen year old girl.

My grandfather travels the U.S. and repairs steam boilers, so it's impossible to get him to keep things in control and make sure that everything is in working order. I'm not sure what to do about anything in the house and am faced with the responsibility of taking care of my family instead of leaving for college. I risk disease and lice infestation if I do so.

Currently, I'm not living at home and have been staying with a friend for a few weeks in order to sort things out and have been having intense feelings of guilt about all of this. I'm not sure how to handle it, knowing that it's nobody's responsibility to be taking care of my grandmother but her own. All of the children, including myself, are watching her literally waste away with no intention of helping herself and none of us know what to do.

I've entertained the idea of calling Child Services.

I'm not sure what the right answer is.

[Gumleaf]

this is a tough one. what you need to consider is what will be the best result for your family and put them first and if that means calling child services then that might be the answer. you obviously can't keep going like this and things will only get worse and not better if you don't do something. if your grandmother has reacher the "i don't care anymore" stage, then you need to decide whether you'll fulfill the role of your grandmother which would be hard work of course, or you seek help from outside. its a tough call and i feel for you, good luck in making the right decision for you.

[Mr. Smithers]

Well this may sound selfish, it some ways it is, but you are going to have to get help for your grandmother that she might not like. Which may include informing your friends parents that the house that she is living in is unsanitary, unclean, unfeasible and that it is unacceptable for children to be living in. If you can't convince her that her life is turning upside down, then you have to make an ultimate choice to do that.

Child services should be a great start. If I were in your position I would probably find help for that house. I know you care about your grandmother but the best thing to do would probably be for you to find some sort of help for her.

[Sapphire]

Wow, you are faced with a real dilemma at the moment.
Have you tried getting your grandma to go and see a therapist or someone like that? If she'll go off her own back then that would be a good start. Might it be worth you having a bit of a spring clean and then hiring a cleaner?
I'm just trying to give you some things to consider before getting social services involved. Your grandma needs you all and the kids need a clean home, so if this can be accomplished with social services then I think you should go for it.

[byee]

This is a terrible situation for you. But here's my advice: Go to college. And use the time before you leave to send out the SOS.

First, I'd start with your grandpa, he needs to be aware of the seriousness of his wife's condition and the dire environment for the others. Then, you need to contact other family members. Ask him who those are, if you aren't sure. Then, if it's just you, you need to call Protective Services. This is clearly an unhealthful situation that needs immediate intervention.

Whatever is happening with your Grandma sounds medical, she needs some medical attention, something might have happened to her that interferes with her ability to take care of things. I'm assuming she hasn't always been like this, that at some point, she was able to tend to her responsibilities, something has interferred with that. The good news is that it might be able to be treated and 'fixed'. But you have to get her to a doctor, and to do that, you need to get the SOS out to the other adults, or authorities who can assist you.

[Zan0ra]

Firstly is there money in the house? If not you will definitely have to go to college. Call a cleaner for the house and get a nanny/baby sitter to look after those kids and teach them how to be responsible. That would be the best thing to do. And also speak to your grandma and ask whats wrong.

Edit: 100 posts w00t!

[gookmique]

This is a terrible situation for you. But here's my advice: Go to college. And use the time before you leave to send out the SOS.

First, I'd start with your grandpa, he needs to be aware of the seriousness of his wife's condition and the dire environment for the others. Then, you need to contact other family members. Ask him who those are, if you aren't sure. Then, if it's just you, you need to call Protective Services. This is clearly an unhealthful situation that needs immediate intervention.

Whatever is happening with your Grandma sounds medical, she needs some medical attention, something might have happened to her that interferes with her ability to take care of things. I'm assuming she hasn't always been like this, that at some point, she was able to tend to her responsibilities, something has interferred with that. The good news is that it might be able to be treated and 'fixed'. But you have to get her to a doctor, and to do that, you need to get the SOS out to the other adults, or authorities who can assist you.

IAMSAM hit it right on que. as selfish as it may seem now, you do need to go to college. college might not be around the corner if you stick around much longer. however, before you depart for college, i would suggest you get immidient attention for your grandmother! it doesn't sound like shes in the best of health, am i right? you, aswell with your brothers and sisters, seem to be at risk with the lice and staph infection. as IAMSAM stated, you should call Protective Services. also, as you stated, you should call Child Services. i know this might seem like a rough time, but it's definatly something that can be worked out.

best of luck AnonymousTeen

[Hyper]

I'd get my friends and beat the place through with an axe.. After I have cleaned everything up..

I'd talk to my siblings and tell them how it has to be for them.. ( As in clean up after yourselves ffs )

And then I'd go to college.

Pretty simple