written by Tawanna Long (Fall Intern)
Never In a million years would I have ever thought that the man who showered my mother with so much love would Inflict so much pain and abuse on her.
As a small girl, adults would always say that If a boy hit you, that meant he liked you. I would soon come to realize that was far from the truth. I had to be about seven the first time I saw my dad hit my mom. Never In a million years would I have ever thought that the man who showered my mother with so much love would Inflict so much pain and abuse on her. This abuse would continue for years without any provocation from my mother. Through all the blood and bruises, my mother would always say that she was okay. On one side, my mother had the relatives on my father's side making excuses for him, saying that we do not know what he has seen during his time in the Army, and that is probably the demons he is fighting. On the other side, my mother had her side of the family telling her to leave him. My mother loved my father and stayed for years and suffered the abuse from his hands. Eventually, my mother gained the strength and courage to pack up her children and leave.
In my head, I knew that there was no way those hits and punches meant he loved her. As a child, I wanted to help my mother, but I felt helpless and afraid. Love is supposed to be kind, and it is not supposed to hurt.
Never In a million years would I have ever thought that the man who showered my mother with so much love would Inflict so much pain and abuse on her.
Know the signs of domestic violence. You are not alone.
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that one partner uses to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, technological, or threats of actions or other patterns of coercive behavior that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone. If you or anyone you know is a victim, there is help. Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
