Break The Cycle

I grow up in a home that had domestic voilence as my father was an alcoholic. When you would come home or he came home you would be nervous until you knew what state or mood he was in. My role model was my mum, I watch her take his abuse. I excepted that this was how women were treated, so I allowed men to treat me that way. I meet the father of my first  four children and was in a relationship for nine years from 18 years old. I wasn't  his partner, I was his property. At age 27 I grew the strength to leave with my children and do it on my own. For a few years I struggled to get by, but I enjoyed learning discovering who I was. Then I meet my second partner, I thought he was prince charming coming to my rescue. He was great until he talked me into moving up the coast away from my family and friends. Then HYDE came out, I was back in my old nightmare. I took five years and two more children to leave. So from my experiences I have learnt that alcohol and family don't mix and that we are our children's role model's. Just remember children watch everyting you say and do - your way of talking, your sense of humor and how you deal with stress, conflict  and anger and how you treat people. They take clues from us good and bad.

I spend time with my children talking about voilence, they know what is okay and not okay in relationships and that they can come to me with problem's. But in my heart I know if my boy's grow to be like their dad's or if my girls except abuse like I did. I will be to blame for not stopping the cycle.