I don't know what to do.

My parents fight all the time anymore. My dad tells me about it like I should know, and that makes me feel sick, sad, and for some reason, guilty. I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm trapped here anymore. Is there anything I can do?

It all depends on how OLD you are. Are you a minor? Are you still in school?

If you're still a minor, gently tell your Dad that you don't want to hear about the fights between him and your Mother. Tell him that it has nothing to do with you and you shouldn't be hearing it. Then let it go. Get up and leave the room or something. But try to be respectful. Your dad probably just wants someone to talk to, but he should NOT be talking to you about his personal problems.

If you're NOT a minor, and are over 18, you should be moving OUT. Get a place of your own! If you have a job, maybe you can find a friend to move in with and share the costs, but get out of the parents home. Let them fight by themselves. You can't make them stop anyway - there's nothing you can do about that.

I wish you the very best. Take care & God bless. Hugs, Lee

I agree with Leed.

Is your dad trying to get you on his side? I hope he isn't. Do know that all couples fight occasionally. I'm sorry your parents are at this point where they just aren't getting along at all.

Is there any place you can go to get away from the din? Maybe to the library or coffee shop? I am not sure there's anything you can do personally. It wouldn't be right for anyone to expect you to be a referee.

As far as friends, we offer the chance for folks to make friends here, as a start!

I would suggest telling your father that you love both him and your mother and hearing about their private issues make you uncomfortable.

In my experience, you cannot do anything until you move out, and even then they will try to get you involved and enmeshed while talking to you over the phone. But moving out will at least reduce the amount of pain for you, to a tolerable level.

You can TRY talking to Dad, but I doubt that it will work.

So, the practical problem of having him tell you about it is, in my opinion, unsolvable, because you cannot control his behavior.

The problem of feeling guilty, however, is solvable, because your guilt lives in your head and you have at least some control over it. It is very typical of children to feel guilty in your situation, but you can fight that tendency.