Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence makes me sick.

The other day I was driving home from work, and I saw a man in a car ahead of me punch his wife in the head two times.  I sat there in shock, as he proceeded to punch her twice more.  I snapped myself out of my stupor, called 911, and cut off about 4 people in order to get behind him to see his licence plate.  As I did so, I noticed a little blonde ponytail in the back seat.  Their little girl was in the car as well.  I gave all the info to the police and followed them for as long as I could until they merged onto the freeway. (I would have followed them, but I was running on fumes.)  My whole body was shaking as I filled up my tank, I was so angry and stunned that people can be that horrible to those they "love." 

The sad thing is that people often stay in abusive relationships for various reasons.  Perhaps they think it's the best they can do, or they have been together so long they don't realize there are any other options.  I have never been in an abusive relationship myself, but I have been in relationships that weren't right for me, and I can totally understand how people put up blinders to certain aspects of the relationship that are not working.  A woman I am aquainted with was telling me a story about her abusive step father, and how when she got old enough she stood up to him, got beat up, but also got him thrown in jail.  Her mother, instead of being relieved that the jerk that knocked her and her daugter around all the time was behind bars, was extrememly angry with her daughter.  The mom wrote my aquaintence a letter blaming her for ratting out the only man that ever loved her.  What kind of crazy thinking is that? 


If its not physical abuse, it's something else.  I was talking to some people at work, all with kids and living with their partner, but not married.  I was telling them of some recent dating escapades, and they all said, "live it up while you can, don't settle down for as long as possible."  I said I was having way too much fun to settle down any time soon, but that my mom always told me that marriage is 10 times more fun than dating.  (which must mean its suuuper awesome, because I absolutely LOVE dating.)  They all looked at me with these looks that openly asked, "what the heck, is your mom crazy?"  They asked how long my parents have been married, and I told them 27 years.  One girl said, "wow, then your mom must really love your dad!"  It was like none of them expected to be with the one they are with now for that long.  I think that's crazy.