I had a lovely house
My children went to a local school
I enjoyed life
My children had a healthy diet
I looked forward to the future
I didn't have to avoid certain shops / cafes as he didn't like the staff or they hadn't offered him a job
I didn't have to have a telly / I would have been able to move the telly to a different room to give me more room in my lounge
I didn't have to hide my bank statements for fear of him knowing I had more money than him and wanting it off me
I didn't have anyone borrowing expensive monthly bus passes and losing them after one day
I didn't have someone telling everyone he was wonderful as he helped me with shopping then not keeping the receipts so I couldn't get refunds on faulty items
I could have the furniture where I wanted
Jobs would get done when needed rather than me leaving them as he said he would do them then finding them undone hours later
I didn't get moaned at if my house wasn't tidy (to his standards) and didn't come downstairs in the morning to find empty coke cans, crisp packets, chocolate wrappers and dirty tissues
I could do what I liked with my money and if anyone did shopping for me, I wasn't afraid to ask for the change (not that I needed to ask with them)
I wasn't too tired / depressed to enjoy my children
I could spend as much or as little money as i wanted on the children
I didn't have to worry about being messed around
I didn't stop college courses as the person providing childcare said he was taking a job, for him then to turn the job down
I didn't have someone breaking / losing everything
I wasn't too tired from being awake all night thinking about the problems he causes me to play with children or do housework.cooking, washing/ shopping
I wasn't embarassed to go out for fear of seeing the neighbours who must have heard everything
AND I didn't have to live in fear wondering when or where the next bruise would come
Thank goodness I have escaped