I left my husband in 1999. I hid in a motel with my three kids after
telling him I was leaving, and my parents drove through the night to get
be because I was too afraid to drive away.

He did not beat me.  Surprised?  Instead, he belittled me, made me feel ugly and worthless.  He broke my spirit. 

I had three very small children aged 3, 2, 1, and each had mental disabilities.  I knew I was in for a fight.

The next 8 years were the most exhausting, frightening, and crushing
of my life.  I took only three bins of clothing when I left and never
took anything else.  I started from scratch.  I have been accused of
child abuse, adultery, bi-polar disease, and violence.  I have had to
answer all of these allegations in court.  On two different occasions,
my children have been taken and hidden from me by my ex-husband.  You
know what all this taught me?  TO FIGHT!

I am now happy and stronger for everything I have gone through.  I am grateful to be given the opportunity to be so.

-Name Withheld