Join our FREE personalized newsletter for news, trends, and insights that matter to everyone in America

Newsletter
New

18f Dealing With A Mom Who Protects Her Creepy Boyfriend Over Me After A Recent Restraining Order. I Need Court Advice Badly.

Card image cap

Location: New Jersey
Hey guys, I’m f18 and currently finishing up high school. I’m in a really messed up situation with my mom and her boyfriend and I don't know what to do anymore. I’m temporarily staying on my grandma’s couch, but I can’t live here permanently because there’s literally no space, and none of my other relatives have room either. I asked my dad today if I could stay with him, but he has to ask his wife first so that’s up in the air.
I’ve looked into housing options already, but everything is either completely full or way too far from my area for me to keep going to my school, so I'm completely stuck right now.
My mom’s boyfriend has been creepy toward me for years. When I was 12, he got arrested for sexual assault/lewdness after exposing himself and masturbating outside my bedroom door and was registered as a sex offender. My mom let him move right back in after the case dropped because I was young and too terrified to testify in court.

Ever since then he’s been lurking around, staring at my body, and making me uncomfortable. Last week it escalated super bad. While my mom was asleep or out, he showed up in the kitchen in just a towel while I was doing laundry, exposed himself in the living room, and then hid my phone, knocked on my door, and stood there exposed holding it. When I locked the door, he literally stood outside wiggling and rattling my doorknob for minutes trying to get in.

I got scared and ran to my grandmothers house then went to family court the next day, and got a temporary restraining order (TRO). I also told my whole family this time so everyone knows.
Instead of protecting me, my mom is making everything about herself and blaming ME. She told me it's not "fair" for him to move out of HER house (he's not even on the lease!) and that I should be the one to leave. She’s saying stuff like "now everyone thinks I'm a bad mom" and complaining about her job and bills, even though he doesn't even pay bills or help her with rent. She got mad that I didn't tell her immediately, but why would I when she stayed with him last time? She's acting totally numb to it and essentially telling me if I go back home she's gonna be mad and "have to keep checking on me at night."

I have my court date soon to make this restraining order permanent (FRO), but I’m scared out of my mind. My mom is basically threatening me and pressuring me to drop it because she doesn't want him kicked out. I also have two younger siblings living there (the youngest is his daughter) and I worry about her constantly my brother said he never did anything to him, but I’m scared to call CPS because my mom will know it was me and throw me out completely.

I don't have a job yet since I'm still in school (I have a job interview coming up hopefully I get it) I don't drive, and I feel completely trapped and like I have to go back home now since all the housing resources I called were full and far from my city.
Honestly I just need to know how to deal with the Final Restraining Order court hearing when my mom is actively pressuring me to drop the order to protect him. Also if anyone knows how to handle worrying about my younger sister in a situation like this without making my living situation even worse, please let me know.
Any advice from anyone who’s dealt with domestic violence court or a parent choosing a predator over their kid would mean everything right now. Thank you.

submitted by /u/throwaway7272037484
[link] [comments]