As a little girl, I always looked up to my mother. She was beautiful, had an amazing smile, and she always made the best treats. I remember very few memories of us giggling and dancing around the house to her favorite country artist Jason Aldean. But, as you grow up you start to see the flaws in people, you start to see their bad side. I have always known addiction was a problem in the family, but I never thought it would affect my mother like it did. Once I got older, I started to notice the amount of alcohol she would consume. I started to realize how the house was constantly filled with anger and yelling. It started off with yelling, then soon enough it started to get physical. My mother would abuse my father everyday, mentally and physically. My father would let her beat him up, he would never lay a hand on her. Finally, I told her to stop. I never knew that me standing up for my father would cause my relationship with my mother to fall apart. Once I stood up for him, she began to attack me, more physically than verbally. As the days went by, the abuse got worse. Constantly, my father and I were abused. Finally, after years of abuse, my father to leave her, for his safety, my safety, and most importantly my little sister's safety, he did. Growing up with a traumatic childhood has helped me grow and become who I am today. I am proud of who I am today, because today I am stronger than I would be without growing up in a abusive household. I didn't let my past take me down a path of addiction and depression. The past doesn't define you, it helps build you.