Creating a Brighter Future
Alida Book blog posts
Escaping domestic violence is harder than you think Escaping domestic violence sounds so easy to people who have not had to negotiate it, mused Sophie as she cleared up the kitchen sink after washing up the night-before dishes. She deliberated about whether to speak about the chapter that Bea had read the previous evening. Sophie … Read more
The Way Back after traumatic times is assisted by family support The way back to Sophie’s aunt’s place was more directly achieved by continuing forward, rather than turning around and retracing her route. She closed her phone photo of the computer screen showing the area she’d selected for the trip while on WIFI at Bea’s … Read more
Strangulation attempt creates fear which is control Strangulation attempt. The question Sophie put to her ex at the court hearing got absolutely no response from behind the screen between him and her. The thought caused Sophie to cover her face as it intruded. Her typing could not keep up with a tsunami of information gushing … Read more
Professional Pride prevents help seeking Professional pride often gets in the way of asking for the help we need, Sophie thought as she cycled to a large parkland marked on the map, due south of her aunt’s village. The farm houses were all built in the characteristic provincial themes, but each one was unique. The … Read more
Why women don’t just leave Abusive Relationships? Why women don’t just leave partners who control them financially, socially, and generally coerce them or become violent towards them? People just don’t understand until they’ve been there themselves, Sophie thought as she packed her picnic things and the tablet computer into the paniers on Bea’s E-bike. A … Read more
Professional counsellors need training to identify, motivate and constructively support people to leave abusive relationships Professional counsellors were only just beginning to become alert to domestic violence at the time I left my home in 2008, Sophie thought as she walked back from the supermarket with her aunt Bea’s sturdy old shopping trolley, filled with … Read more
Isolation removes a person’s support network Isolation would have been a major factor for Alida’s difficulties in Canada because she was non-English speaking, Sophie thought as she joined Bea at the lunch table. ‘You have mentioned the difficulties Alida had in Canada. A lot of non-English-speaking people’s experience in Australia has led them to awful … Read more
Sister love is a great foundation for Alida’s husband Sister love for a younger brother is something which Opa relied on to survive, Sophie thought while she and Bea cleared the lunch table. ‘Would you like me to finish translating your great-aunt Angelique’s letter?’ Bea walked to her beige leather couch and made herself comfortable. … Read more
Coercive behaviour is not always physical but pervades a victim’s daily life Coercive behaviour is being reported on the news everywhere in Australia thought Sophie as she enjoyed a warm shower. I wonder what the change in terminology is about? As soon as she returned to the kitchen, she Googled for the difference between ‘controlling’ … Read more
Controlling behaviour is central to family and child abuse Controlling behaviour is overwhelming, Sophie thought as she struggled to open her eyes. She wished she could rouse her leaden body to defend herself against the flashback she’d experienced, of her opa briefly clamping his thumb and first two fingers on the back of her neck. … Read more