Breaking the Cycle

My daughter turns 19 in just a few days. I look at the young woman she is now and I am so amazed. She is full of confidence, energy, and joy. She has a zest for living and reaching for her dreams. I think about the young woman I was at 19, and the contrast is both sad and beautiful. Sad because at 19 I felt trapped in an abusive relationship where I feared for my life but was more afraid of the world. Beautiful because at 19 my daughter does not have such fear; she embraces new challenges and is willing to grow as a person daily. She has a belief in herself and her abilities that I, at age 36, and only just now beginning to master. She has a very nice boyfriend, a wonderful and kind young man she has been dating for 2 years. He treats my daughter very well and has a great deal of respect for her.

Domestic violence often spans generations, and this is something that could have continued with my daughter. But it hasn't. The cycle started with me and ends with me. My daughter chose another way.

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This blog entry written by Trula Breckenridge. Thanks for visiting Beyond Battered!