What Protection?
[September 16, 2020] Most people think that when a woman leaves her abusive husband with their children, the abuse stops and family court protects them. Prior to my involvement with family court during my abusive marriage, I thought the same thing. The truth almost killed me.
In reality, by voicing my concerns about my child’s safety in their father’s care, unbeknownst to me, I gave away my right to protect my child. While I can only speak for my case, there are many, many women whom I have met who have experienced similar family court trauma. By refusing to negotiate on visitation time, despite my very real concerns and proven abuse, our child was placed into the custody of their father for 80% of the week. Even though we were awarded joint custody and placement, my abuser got the majority of the visitation time.
[July 29, 2020] My name is Patricia Rivera. I am a mother of 5 children. While I was raising my children, I was experiencing abuse from their father. During these childrearing years, human services assistance helped me to get on my feet. Had it not been for the aid that I sought, I may not still be alive.
[July 15, 2020] Some say emotional abuse is the worst kind of abuse to heal from. Others say it’s not even a real thing, that the person is just weak and can't handle criticism. There's a huge stigma around it because of those views. I can tell you that EMOTIONAL ABUSE IS REAL! 
[May 15, 2020] As we are struggling to make sense of all that is wrong with the world, we as survivors can take the opportunity to reflect on what we have overcome in our lives. I personally have survived multiple decades of abuse. I have also survived many life-changing events including the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York City, severe bouts of illness, anxiety and depression, loss of loved ones and so much more. These hardships leave you feeling as if once you are in the midst of recovering from one blow, the world hands you another. At times, you are blindsided and left at a loss. This last international health pandemic has left me reeling, wondering when we will ever recover any semblance of normalcy if ever at all.