Find a job and move out, even if it means quitting school.

mrsconn23

Dear Prudence,

I have a lot of food intolerances. Growing up, I was constantly put down as a picky eater but screamed at for hogging the toilet (because the food made me sick). I have a select variety of food that I trust and have been buying it for myself since I was a teenager. That hasn’t stopped my sister from stealing my food and stuffing herself. She can literally put away a week’s worth of junk food in a sitting, then whining that there is “nothing” to eat in the house.

There are plenty of fruits and veggies, but my mother refuses to buy more junk for my sister. Even if I hide the food in my room, my sister will go in and stuff herself. When we fight over the theft, she whines and cries and our parents blame me. I can’t afford to move out. I can barely afford my bike repairs and college costs. Last time, my sister accused me of giving her an eating disorder, and I screamed she was starving me to be a fat stupid pig. Our mother told me to stop and I threw a toilet paper roll at her head. I screamed because they refused to take me seriously as a kid and I can’t afford to see a doctor now and I literally shit myself when I eat normal food. My father locked up my bike as punishment so I have a 40-minute walk to work and school. What should I do?

—Fed Up

charlotte989875

You find a way to move out. Put in for a dorm at school, take out loans, get another job. But your family isn’t going to protect you so you have to do it yourself. 

short+sassy

Geez!  I understand the LW's frustration, but throwing things at a person is horrible behavior also.

But what super shitty parents for a number of reasons.  I understand the OP is an adult, but they are also a college student.  Unless the parents are financially struggling, some of the food they are buying should be things the OP can eat also.  And they should definitely be reimbursing or buying replacement food for what the sister steals.  I'm assuming the sister is a younger, minor child.  And for not punishing the sister.  It's also weird they are "punishing" the LW by taking their bike.  They're an adult for ffs.  Who is working and going to school and needs the bike for that.  

I do find it odd that all this safe food is "junk food".  I'd think most junk food doesn't go well with gastrointestinal issues either.  But that is what the LW says so, idk.

Practical solutions:  I wonder if the parents would allow the LW to put a lock on their bedroom door.  If not, the LW should buy a big box they can put a lock on and keep their food in there.

climbingsingle

What a heartbreaking situation. Move out any way you can. Reach out to services provided by your school. 

VarunaTT

Is this the other side of that one Prudie letter that was super similar?

Buy a lockbox and lock it up tight.  Seek some therapy at school b/c the food relationship for this family is not right.

short+sassy

VarunaTT said:

Is this the other side of that one Prudie letter that was super similar?

Buy a lockbox and lock it up tight.  Seek some therapy at school b/c the food relationship for this family is not right.

Yes!  I thought it sounded familiar!

I think that one was the LW was still a child, though an older one, and their step sibling kept taking their special food.  I'm pretty sure it was the child's bio parent who wrote the letter and their spouse was acting like it wasn't a big deal and wouldn't punish their own child for it.