My name is Shirla and I'm a 23 year old female. I am multi-racial, 7 races altogether, including whites, colors and 2 types of indian. I was named after my grandmother, Doris Shirla Miranda. I am the oldest of 3 children, two girls and one boy. I have a sister named Kandice and a brother named Joseph, their nicknames are K.K. and Joe Joe.
Being the oldest child, I always felt less wanted and like I had more responsibility. I spent my childhood raising my brother and sister and trying to keep my mother in line. She had many boyfriends, some lasted weeks, others months or even a couple of years. I never knew my father, however, my brother and sister knew theirs. My mother was an alcoholic and druggie who lived off of SSI, whereas my grandmother was a hardworking woman who owned many businesses.
I don't really know about the men in my mother's life.
Almost all of my life, my mother was physically, mentally and emotionally abusive. I dropped out of school at the age of 7 to keep the house clean, raise my brother and sister and take care of my mother. My teachers were understanding, but unable or unwilling to do anything but drop my classwork and homework off on my doorstep. We were considered a lower class family, lived in poor neighborhoods and moved often, sometimes we lived on the streets.
I never remember playing much, but my favorite activity when I was a child was reading. I could always escape from my current situation with books. I would read anytime I was able, even in the dark. Holidays were often celebrated at my grandmother's and were my favorite times of the years. They were the times I was able to be a real kid. I could forget responsibilities and we could pretend to be a normal family.
When I was 12, the family courts came into our lives. I was sent to a group home, while my brother and sister were sent to their fathers. My father was in prison