A happy update from TIL

[TisILeclerc]

She and the children are where they need to be now and she is very grateful for all the support and encouragement she has received. I hope very much that she will return here but for now she?s intending to lie a little bit low.

Please just be sensitive to the fact that this is a huge, life changing decision for her and I think she would like it toned down a bit wrt pompoms and congratulations. I hope very much that this will change as the days pass and she becomes accustomed to the incredulous joy of freedom. She is already sounding positive about life where she is right now.

This time they really are ?safe? in the way that everybody hoped previously.

NB I have not used any names in this for a reason. Please be aware of security as she is understandably very worried about him locating her

If he was ignorant of your state of health, then it was wilful ignorance.

I'm happy to see you referring to him in more tones GS, I always got the feeling that you were a bit scared to show your feelings before :) good for you.

I understand that you currently don't want to discuss your past with anyone other than a counsellor, but if you do ever want to open up to anyone in RL then you could always choose a time/place when your DC weren't around. They won't necessarily find out.

By the way, I was wondering - how have your parents responded? Are they at all supportive? Apologies if you've told us this before.

Good to hear from you, GS. Glad things are settling down and you are opening up to the counsellor.

I collapsed alone with 13 mo as a result of not wanting to 'stress' FWex, or leave him alone with 13 mo (by taking docs advice and going to hospital)... its because we don't think there's a choice, yes.

having begged him to stay to provide for me, he 'had' to go to work.

All these things you know, make you realise how bad he was, and how much he compromised your lives and invaded or removed your choices. It can feel confusing unravelling it all... take care xx

I think my sense of responsibility was because of the decisions I made, which still confuse me. I made the decision to stay at home, which was inherently flawed, because I was then creating a risk for my baby, a risk I was trying to avoid [from him] by staying home! how confusing.

Just spotted this thread and figured out who you are. I remember feeling so sad and worried for you. I am so happy you got out and are safe. You have been so brave.

Hi GS! Glad you are feeling the pleasure of everyday freedoms.

Hello GS. Lovely to hear from you.

And I gave a little cheer at that casual 'Ex wasn't actually there . . . ' bit of your post. Such a little word - 'ex' - but a huge one at the same time.

I have three dc and I know what you mean about trying to meet all their needs across the ages. You do feel torn, and that you can't give enough to each. But you have given them each other, and that widens their choice. Three dc can be a real positive. As children there is usually one other sibling who is willing to play, and when they are older each will have two other people who are potentially there for them. Hopefully dc1 will find life makes more sense and becomes easier as time goes by and s/he is further away from the damaging life you led before.

Hi GS. Nice to hear from you again.

I won't bang on about you not going back, because I don't think you will.
The dcs are bound to be unsettled after all that has happened, but now you can have 'the talk', apply sanctions if you see fit and know that someone will not subsequently 'up the ante' and make things worse. This can only be a good thing.

Wishing you and the DCs peace and happiness, as always.

Just found this thread after spotting your new nickname posting on another thread and wondering if it was you. Sorry I'm a bit late to the thread, I often just check my watched threads so missed it.

It is so good to hear that you and your children are safe. I'm certain that whatever difficulties you have now are not nearly as worrying as living in an unsafe place with an unstable FW where you had to be constantly vigilant of your children - even more than most mums to keep them safe.

I hope you are finding your laundry easier now that you can leave the machine, even if its one you have to share (laundrette etc).

I know it won't always be easy (life rarely is), especially dealing with the aftermath of the psychological damage he's done, and learning how to be free and responsible for everything again, but I'm sure you are up to it.

You are stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and braver than you believe.

Lots of respect from me (and all of MN as far as I can make out) for escaping his web of lies and undermining to find your strength and save yourself and your family. Take care. Thanks for letting us know you are safe, you've been on my mind since the last thread ended.

I just thought I can't complain that no one talks about women being manipulated into pregnancy despite the fact that it's supposedly common, if I then slink off and never talk about it myself. But it's hard to address it without sounding a bit bitter.

I think you could cut yourself a bit of slack here. You have only just left. There might be times when you feel a little bit in turmoil. In a little while, once all this has started to pass, then you will be ready to talk about it. I'm sure that will come.

just revisiting your thoughts around choices, this:

choices made to survive, will always necessarily be different to those made in freedom.

Don't every forget that your reality was that feeling of limited choices, thats what being abused is about, limiting your choices hun. Its our job of work, to not take responsibility for that. Awful hard sometimes, but true nevertheless. Go well. xx