Domestic violence used to be kept very quiet, it was almost a taboo subject, but now it's very open and is a very serious crime. It only used to be women that suffered domestic violence, but now more and more men are coming forward because, they have violent partners. It's not just physical abuse that leaves scars, there's also mental abuse.

I have been a victim of both, with my first husband it was physical, it didn't start till after our daughter was born, at first I put it down to jealousy, as I was always with her. When she was older I had mobile phones smashed over my head, pushed into doors etc, never any marks on my face, he knew where to hit without leaving bruises, as he was a former soldier. It all came to a head when my daughter was seven, we had just eaten dinner, and we were clearing the table, my daughter accidentally spilt some juice, I told her to get a cloth, and my husband went to strike her, without further ado

I told my daughter to put her shoes on, and we left. Luckily my dad only lived two streets away so we were able to live with him. With my second it was mental, he was great until we got married, then he kept telling me I was thick, and an unfit mum, to my daughter and his two teenage children, I couldn't see what I was doing wrong, neither could the kids. Then I got a job, this lasted a few months as it caused too many arguments, and in the end he made me leave.

Then he'd go shopping to town on his own, he'd come home and tell me not to go out, as there were a lot of people not happy with me. I became agoraphobic, I put up with this for eighteen months and decided I couldn't take anymore I told him I was leaving, he gave me a right good kicking with his size twelve boots, I was covered in bruises, he did it in front of his kids, my daughter was at school, when she came home our cases were packed and a friend came and picked us up. I was really glad when that divorce finally came through. It has made me a stronger person and both me and my daughter are really happy, I have found someone else, we've been together for three years now, he and my daughter love each other to bits, anyone would think he was her dad.

Don't be a victim report it.

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James Brown writes about USAFIS online coupons, Rocket Lawyer promotion code and LegalZoom.com coupon