Wow, Recon-UK your story and mines are so similar, it mirrors each other pretty well beside a few things, who would of thunk it. Here's the short of my story, Like you, I was in the Army (USA), mechanized infantry. Signed up for 3 years initially but got caught up and got orders to deploy on my last month of duty. 12months tour of Iraq with a 6 month involuntary extension of tour and 6 months mandatory stay when I got back stateside. Towards the end of my deployment got news back home my dad had colon cancer, before that I figured since I already did 5 years whats 15 more but came to realization that if anything was to happen to my father and I couldn't be there I would never forgive myself so I decided to leave. Came home after everything was done with the army and cared for my dad, took him to the doctors and his Chemo treatment every time, hes is doing better now they removed a third of his colon and he is responding well to the treatment and the cancer is in remission now. While caring for him I took the advantage of the GI Bill and went to college and got a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science. I enjoy computers/tech as a hobby but never really wanted it as a career only picked CS cuz I didn't know what to study in school and plus while in school the GI Bill paid for my rent so I wouldn't be homeless. Met a nice girl back home, she has three kids from a previous relationship but I don't mind, she makes me happy and they make me happy. While going to school I started driving at night delivering drugs (pharmaceutical) to hospitals and convalescent home. Made pretty decent money doing it but no benefits so I switch to being a full time driver for a Clinical Laboratory. Its been 8 years now since I left the army, still a driver, still with my girl and Pops is doing OK. I can totally relate to the things you are going through man, no matter how much struggles and bullshit we go through there's always a light at the end of the tunnel.
WOW yes i can totally see the similarities, i'm glad everything is going well on your end
I don't directly care for my mum, i live under the same roof or i would be homeless so i have respect for my parents.
Before the Army i was in Foster care since the age of 12, my dad used to beat us and was quite abusive, i also never really had friends or went out due to the overprotection of my mother.
No parents are perfect and there is no book handed out to them on how to parent, all i can do is be phenominally better than them, plus a lot of learning disability is in my family.
I would also not be who i am today without the massive influences in my life, my carers were one of a kind.
Taught me everything valuable to me.
She went through hard times, had a bunch of loons who almost sent her crazy.. some kids are just really bad people, she also had an abusive partner, punched holes through her nice house walls, when i left and went in Army he set her house on fire.
I mentioned when we caught up that i never knew what to do when he was going at it, the guy was built and strong as an ox and i'm this stick figure with no weight behind it, i wanted to help at the time but was risking my own safety, plus your job and only income source.
According to friends my carer thinks highly of me, i got to see her a couple of months back, had a drink in Blackpool with her and her fella, watched a show, went over her rough times... said i would be there anytime for her come shitstorm or heaven.
Oh and she is only 11 years older than me so we relate pretty well, i have a genuine love for her, she's my rock, will never replace my mum, but damn... family she is.
Before her i was with a lovely guy who moved to Bulgaria and i was originally set to go with him but social services would not allow it and my parents were concerned. He is now married to another carer who looked after me on respite who is also lovely, both live together in Bulgaria now and i keep in contact through Facebook.
I was also a little sht as a kid, i had issues and did not fit in with school so was bullied, tall and skinny... yeah easy target too.
I also had 1 or two carers tell me i will amount to nothing because i don't possess anything good.
On a high note due to the large female friend base i have... i easily attract females lol.
My bro lives here too and is autistic, terrible hygiene, never worked, obese. Won't listen to sense, he's a year older than me.
I lift weights and do some body weight routines, it releases stress if only for a short time.
Overall i feel there is something out there for me, something much bigger. But i have to earn it and find it.
