While living with my mother I would visit my father during the summer with my sister. There was a time when I went there and came back to my mom's different. My mom and I were talking and I asked her a question, a loaded question. "Mom, I don't want you to say yes or no right now, but what if I moved in with Dad?" Now, I was ten at the time, I must have been pretty bold to ask my mom that, or there was something even bigger involved behind that question. Around this time my Dad was offered a job in Atlanta, Georgia and was going to move there with Leigh-Anne. My mom prayed about this decision and made the choice, by herself because my father and step-father left it up to her, I would be moving in with my dad that summer after my 4th grade year.
The three of us; Leigh-Anne, Dad and myself moved into a home in Forsyth County, Georgia in August of 2000. My fifth grade year went pretty well. I did well in my classes and for the first (and last) time I made it onto honor roll. I still had an anger problem and kids did think I was pretty weird. Although, I do remember making friends for the first time that wanted to spend time with me in this school year. Things were not too bad and I cannot remember much more about this time.
Onto middle school, some of the worst years of my life. My 6th grade year is when things started to really change. Leigh-Anne and I began to find arguing a common interest. Details are pretty fuzzy for 6th grade, although I do remember getting some detentions and the parents were not too happy about that. I also remember September 11 of that year. I didn't understand what was happening but I do remember that the school wouldn't tell us much about what was going on.
7th grade year is where I found something that would change me forever. Alcohol. I remember the first time I drank. It was vodka, and I loved it. The bite of the drink and the feelings that would come after a few shots was it for me. It was almost as if I found what I had wanted for a long time. I would only try this a few times in that year, because I would be stealing my parents alcohol which you cannot do too often. Although, my nicotine habit, that I gained between 6 and 7th grade, picked up and there was a gas station close to my school that did not mind selling smokeless tobacco and cigarettes to me and a couple of other buddies. It felt pretty awesome. People would rely on the few of us to supply them with cigarettes. Felt pretty good at 13.
8th grade is where things really became interesting. I had moved on from drinking just alcohol and found something that I was even more fond of; pot. Along with that I found an interest in the meds closet of our house. I would try many different pills to get different effects. While I was in 8th grade I began to have a friend base of people who used drugs. Together we did what was uncommon to 8th graders. About half way through the last semester of 8th grade a group of students, including myself, were expelled from school for having and taking pills on campus. My parents were not happy about this and it caused many arguments in the house. I was also taken to a drug therapist to see if I could get some help. I ended up being home schooled and ground for the remainder of that year.
While I was in 8th grade my parents and I began going to church. Remember earlier when I said that my mom created a habit in me to go to church? Well this is where it became really important. Up until then we did not attend church in Georgia. We were introduced to a church on easter of that year that I will forever be grateful for. My parents have not left since. Things got a little better, although there was still much arguing in the house.
I hope you are able to track with my story thus far. There is a lot of stuff to fit in and I am doing my best to tell you the majority of it! For now, this is where I am putting the story on pause! Remember, if you have any questions for me, facebook me or email me!
brettjamesshields@gmail.com
-brett
1 comment:
You are remembering things pretty well. Our first trip to North Point Community Chuch I believe was Easter - the end of your 7th grade year. I think you started in Xtreme (Middle School environment at church) shortly after that. I remember wanting to go to the early service but you were already involved in the 10:30 - now 11:00 service - with your small group and we didn't want to move you. I think I'm seeing some stuff I really didn't know about - but suspected and didn't really want to think about now that it is over. The alchol drinking out of our supply was obviously going on way before we knew about it. There are a couple times where the RED flag should have been thrown up - and we didn't investigate those flags. I do know that your Mom's decision to let you live with your father was a huge deal and was probably one of the hardest things she ever did. That decision probably saved your life and maybe even your Dad and my life as well. That Easter - in the North Point bulletin was a preview of the next sermon series. Parent Guidance Required. We new we needed all the help we could get with and Kelly - we decided to "try" it for those 4 weeks. It stuck! All God's timing.
Keep up the story... Can't wait to see what happen's next! LOL I love you!
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