A teenager is very very upset about the manner in which her stepfather is treating her mother.

The girl who attends a high school in Kingston says she cannot bear to see how her stepfather abuses her mother physically and verbally.

She disclosed that the abuses take place on a weekly basis, especially when her stepfather goes to the bar and comes home drunk.

sad and upset

"This man really does not love my mother because if he does he would not beat and curse her. There is not a week in which they are not involved in fights and this makes me very sad and upset," she says.

"I love my mother and I don't think she should be living this sort of life. I am a 14-year-old student attending a high school in the Corporate Area and I am studying very hard so that very soon I will be able to support my mother.

"My mother is a higgler but quite often she does not make enough money so she has to rely on my stepfather for support. She has two children for my stepfather and she says she is not earning enough money to take care of us.

"Last year, I told my mother that it would be much better if we went to live with her parents in Trelawny because at least my stepfather would not be around to abuse her. She said she was considering my suggestion but so far she has not made any move to leave this man.

"My mother seems to be suffering from low self-esteem and I am so sad and upset that she is not emotionally strong enough to pack her things and leave this man. The man is not even married to her although she has two children for him. My father assists me with lunch money to go to school and I am sure if my mother decides to live with her parents in the country then I could go to a high school nearby.

"If my mother decides to leave this man, do you think she could sue him for child support, because he is a tailor and earns good money," the concerned child queried.

It is very unfortunate that your mother is being abused by your stepfather. The law makes provision for parents to support their children. If she leaves the house and he refuses to give her money for the children then she could take him to court for child support.