How old are your and your sister? Are there family members who can help? You can not be in this home based on what you are saying. Please contact a trustworthy adult and counselor and tell them what is happeningin your home .

Your job is to make sure there is an adult who can be trusted to take this information and take the proper steps to help you and your sister.

I'm 17, the baby is 1. My other siblings are 16, 12, 9, 4. I can tell my youth minister but I'm afraid if anyone confronts my parents they'll hurt me afterwards. I'm so exhausted, stressed and don't feel good.

I agree with pinkpony66. Please find someone you trust to talk to and soon. Today would be good. You deserve to be safe. Together you can create a plan and alert appropriate people to help you and your siblings. Maybe if you are aware of the plan, it will be easier to process and ensure your safety.

But I'm scared to tell someone. What if they bring it up to my parents? My mom won't let me hear the end of it for sure

Your fear is normal and understandable. Look past that. You deserve to be safe and not abused. There is hope. Do you have someone you trust to talk to? Maybe someone at school? Or reach out to a crisis hotline. You can do it anonymously. Explain your fears and insist on being part of the plan. Do not let them push you aside or push you into something you are completely uncomfortable with. Find the balance between fear and uncomfortable so you can be strong and advocate for yourself. Sara Bareilles' song "Brave" helps me speak up for myself. You can stay anonymous until you feel comfortable with the plan. Focus on you at all times.

The reality is that your parents will be told. But a plan can be established so that you feel safe and are safe when they are told. The system isn't perfect, but there are people who care. I do not know where you live, but look up resources in your city that you can call.

Ok. Is there anyway to report it without getting parents involved? I don't want them to know

I am not a professional, but it sounds as if you do not have anyone you trust to talk to that wouldn't go straight to your parents. I would start with the crisis hotline and talk to them anonymously. Their first question may be if you are in immediate danger. They are professionals and can guide you in the next steps and discuss options you may not be aware of at this time.

If you aren't sure of a crisis hotline, contact an Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon and ask them for one in your area. They have a website, too, if you need the local number.

I have to get off here, but will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you. That means a lot to me. I want a normal life. With normal parents.

I'm sorry for what you are going through. I agree with the others. You need to report this.

In most states there are people that are called mandatory reporters. So, for example, if you talk to a teacher or the school's social worker, they may be required by law to report this. I don't know if your youth minister is a mandatory reporter.

This does not mean they will contact your parents. Instead, they will contact the state's child protective services division, who will then investigate. Because of the legal requirements, that's what they would have to do and they would definitely not be contacting your parents directly. I don't think there's any reason why your parents would ever have to know this came from you.

Your parents will know that they are being investigated because a social worker will be sent to your home to check out the situation. This does not mean they will know that you are the person who triggered the investigation. It could be anyone--a neighbor, another family member, a friend, etc. If the social worker feels you are in immediate danger, they will remove all of you from the home so your parents can't hurt you.

Your baby sister is in danger. So are you and your siblings. Actually, your parents are also endangering their own health. Something needs to change.

Even if you and your siblings aren't in immediate danger, you are all being affected emotionally by the living situation. The sooner you all get out and into a stable environment, the less damage there will be.

You have been living in a stressful situation. You are going to need support to recover from this. Your school's social worker can help you find resources in your area. Al-a-Teen is also a good place to go, if there's one near you. It's very much like Al-Anon, except it's geared to young people living with alcoholic parents.

Good luck to you and check in with us to let us know how you are doing.

I'm really scared. :(

Every state has a center for protection of children. You can make the call and they would not tell your parents who called. The most alarming thing here is giving your baby sister alcohol.

Have your grandparents, the ones who don't drink, ever expressed concern for your parents drinking? Are they aware? You need to report this information.

I can understand why you're scared. You don't know what's going to happen when you report this.

On the other hand, you know what will happen if you don't. Your parents will continue to abuse you and your siblings. They will continue to put your baby sister in danger. Whatever happens when you report is not going to be worse than what you live with right now, and it is going to give all of you a chance at a much better life.

My grandparents are not happy that they drink. I am angered that they drink and when my grandparents bring it up they shrug it off like it's no big deal.

That's a very good sign that your grandparents are unhappy about their drinking and have talked to them about it. My guess is that your grandparents are not aware of the abuse or what's happened to your baby sister. If child protective services were to step in, would your grandparents be willing to take you? Would they be willing to file the report?

They would probably take us. But I don't want to leave my home for another state. My boyfriend already lives an hour away. If I moved in with my grandma it's be 2 hours away. I would rarely see him.