I feel like we are being imprisoned for something we did wrong. What did we do? We are wearing our masks, staying at home instead of entertaining ourselves outside our homes, like walking through the streets watching the Christmas lights at this time of year. Going to different stores, and also seeing how other people decorated their homes for Christmas.
The shopping malls are open for shoppers, but with limited entries for a certain amount of people only. We also are limited in gathering with our families. This saddens me. I love gathering with my family during these special holidays.
I am going to miss this so much. First, it is going to be my daughter’s birthday. Then it’s my birthday, our survivor’s celebration (Survival Day), then Christmas. We would have many parties during December.
In the past, it was different. What is this Christmas going to look like this December 25, 2020?
With domestic violence already on the rise due to the pandemic restrictions, the holidays are bringing far more trouble to families across America than we ever bargained for.
It’s hard for the authorities and mental health providers to keep up with this growing epidemic, and already, we know that it is the season for increased suicide and violence among all age groups.
While I am writing this article, it is not Christmas yet. In my family, we celebrate during this time, before Christmas, because during the holiday season, many years ago, I was in one of my abusive marriages, and my kids and I escaped from this abuse during this time in December
Now, we use this as an excuse to celebrate our Survival Day. We have been celebrating this day for many years now.
We, as in my three children, their spouses, and my 5 grandchildren, sometimes invite other special people into our lives, but mainly it is, just us.
I am very proud of my children; they are finally free of their childhood trauma. Sometimes we go back and remember what we escaped from. We count our blessings.
In December, my husband had come home and he must have taken drugs because he was acting worse than ever. As I mentioned before in my writings, I would place a quarter in my older daughter’s pants pocket to escape from the house and call the police. This time, I hid all the knives from the kitchen, told them to leave and go to our neighbors’ home and call the police.
It took the police hours to find my apartment because my daughter could not remember our apt. number. Until finally, in the middle of the night, he fell asleep and as I ran out of the apartment, the police stopped me and asked me if I was the one who had called the police? I said “Yes” and started to run off, and they stopped me saying they could not go in and arrest him unless I came in with them. I was so frightened. “He was in bed asleep I told them, no weapons, I hid all the knives”.
When they placed him in handcuffs, I took my money (which he had taken from me) from his wallet and I used that money to leave him. We left with only the clothes on our backs. He used to stalk us, even with a restraining order in hand.
Now we celebrate our survival by giving gifts to each other, dinner, and having a fun time with peace of mind, knowing we are now safe to do as we please. My daughter reminded me of our situation back in the day, and how it was through her eyes.
May God continues to bless all of us who have survived, and many blessings to all.