I was abused as a child ... thought it was normal behavior ...

I was abused as a child by my father, he beat me and my mom. It was just something that I always thought was "normal" behavior. I married a man just like my dad at 17. All my friends warned me not to but I was stubborn and wouldn't listen and I lived for 18 years wondering what would make him snap the next time or if I looked ok or if I was one minute too late getting home from work. These were all things that were my fault and would get me beat again. If he would come home and didn't like the way I had my hair combed or what I had the kids dressed in I would get it. There was one time he had a rifle in my mouth and told my oldest daughter to get the bullets. Thank God there weren't any or I would be dead. I left 7 years ago this Christmas Eve after coming home sick form working the night shift as a nursing assistant early to find him in bed with the 16 year old baby sitter. Her parents wouldn't even press charges, he moved in with them. He beat me so badly I had 3 broken ribs, my teeth were knocked out and i had a broken cheek bone and 2 black eyes. He did 2 days in jail and got time served. I moved out and in with a coworker and he still haunts me and makes threats. I'm still scared to death of him and I don't think I will ever get over that feeling. It gets a little better every day with the support of my new husband and my kids and prayer. You just have to be strong and keep your faith in God and yourself that you can survive anything because they are the weak ones and "we" are strong enough to beat them at their own weaknesses.

~~~ 41 WI USA

next page