YOU'RE GODDAMNED RIGHT I WANT A FUCKING COOKIE

So Pyro and I were talking in Steamchat about our value as offspring not being appreciated and it put things into perspective for me.

I don't mean to sound conceited but fuck, mom, in relation to how I'm being treated around here, verbally abused daily about what's going wrong in your life and every little thing I don't get right, I think it's worth mentioning that you're really lucky to have me around. I care about this family, I'm the only legal link dad has to this family since the restraining order was put into place. Who do you think convinces him to pay all this child support without it even being court-ordered, who's the one who has to meet with him to pick up the cheques, because it sure as hell isn't you.

I help out financially, as much as I can afford. I've taken over cable and internet and the monthly payments over one of your damned credit cards, on top of my own expenses. My only vices consist of a screen and a keyboard/controller, and yeah, I can spend hours in front of a computer, but what do you think I'm doing? I'm connecting with people, I'm writing, I'm learning, I'm creating. I ain't just sitting here dicking around.

You never have to worry about where I am or who I'm with or what I'm doing or if I'll be home in the morning. I don't party or 'get smashed' or smoke or do drugs and if I ever call you to pick me up (which has happened once, may I point out) it's because my train back was late I missed the last bus home.

I've got four younger siblings--two younger brothers and younger twin sisters--so seriously, good luck handling the others when they get my age because I'll be long gone by then and they're going to be raised in severely different circumstances.