Hi New to all this.
Hi
It takes tremendous strength to leave an abusive relationship.
With baby steps you'll find each day gets a little better as you adjust and feel that bit stronger.
You could well find too that the friends who you became isolated from gradually come back into your life once they realise that you're situation is different.
It's amazing what strength we can get from our children. If you can, try and fit a bit of laughter into each day - I always recommend mad dancing and singing around the kitchen. It seems to work with my lot...
I know my address book is very thin.
I sent letters to everyone in my address book to say I'd moved and we'd split up - in the March - and then with Christmas cards wrote my new address in.
All those who didn't reply, didn't go into my new address book.
:D
I think that sounds like such a good idea. There wasn't a group in my area when I first became a lone-parent.
Yes, totally agree about the Christmas presents :D Although it upsets me rather that these people didn't send cards for the children either, and that includes their godparents.
Good luck with the Gingerbread. I hope you meet some brilliant people there.
yes I will be interested to know how you get on with Gingerbread, mmattock, please report back :D
Hi mmattock.
Nice to meet you! Have you heard of the Freedom Programme? I talk about it a lot because it changed my life! It is a programme for women who have survived domestic abuse and it gives you such a clear understanding of all the things that have happened within an abusive relationship. When living with an abusive person, we question ourselves constantly, this prog. answers those questions.
Have a look at the Online group called Relationships and You and then Freedom Programme to get more of a flavour! ;)
I too want to hear how the Gingerbread group goes, I joined them years ago, but I don't think there was a group running near me. I also wanted to suggest http://www.netmums.com where you can do a search for a local meet-a-mum.
Take care and speak to you elsewhere!! :)
A lot of it was quite upsetting at the time - and a surprise.
But what can you do? I have to say my lot seem to be doing ok. Their godparents actually live down the road, and I told the children that their Aunt and Uncle would be happy to see them anytime (which I know they would have been), yet the children have never called in. I used to call in a lot when I was married, so it's not as if they weren't comfortable going there...
It's blowing a gale here! (North Wales) And the rain is hammering on my back door. :roll:
Yes it is, and it is important not to let the bad days make you think you are back at square one, because you aren't, you have just slid back a tad. Each day there will be ONE positive thing to focus on, I guarantee it. Some days the only positive thing will be "the sun shone for ten minutes" and other days there will be a string of good things to dwell on. One step at a time, we gradually move forward together :D
hello mmattock you are welcome here, there are numerous people who can support you and to chat with. How old are your children? There are a number of parents on site who have had to cope with violent partners and if you have a look through all the threads please feel free to join in any that interest you.
You're right, it is a lonely job to be parenting alone, whether because mutual friends have taken the other parent's "side" or because the partner made sure that they isolated you from your foermer friends. You CAN start again and joining One Space is an important step on that journey!
best wishes