My Rights

Most of these things I had no idea were my rights. My Social Worker gave me this list and I want to share it with you. This is what an abuse-free life looks like:


Things to remember everyday:

* I have the right to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect at all times.
* I have the right to make my own decisions about the course of my life.
* I have the right to have dreams - and to work toward making these dreams come true.
* I have the right to feel good about myself as a person and a woman.
* I have the right to choose who will be my friends, whom I will spend time with, and whom I will confide in.
* I have the right to make mistakes.
* I have the right to change my mind (Have you ever heard the saying "If you haven't changed your mind lately, maybe you don't have one"?)
* I have the right to be happy.
* I have the right to ask for what I want.
* I have the right to follow my own values and standards.
* I have the right to express all of my feelings, both positive and negative.
* I have the right to say no.
* I have the right to determine my own priorities.
* I have the right not to be responsible for others' behavior, actions, feelings or problems.
* I have the right to my own needs for personal space and time.
* I have the right to be in a non-abusive environment.
* I have the right to change and grow.
* I have the right to have my needs and wants respected by others.
* I have the right to be uniquely myself.

This is New

I am at the beginning of a Single Mom road. My husband and I recently separated after years and years of abuse from him. I have finally stood up for myself and for our 2 children. I went to the Police and told them the things he had been doing to us, and they made the choice to arrest him. He is charged with assault, assault with a weapon, and uttering threats, on me and on the kids. He denied the charges and we are now forced to go to trial - that means the kids and I have to testify. They are both under 10 years of age.

That is where I am. I would like to share this journey with you - and it's a good way to document what is going on.