Rebuilding Lives

I slowly began to believe in myself…

In September of 2006 I made one of the hardest decisions of my life, I left a five year abusive relationship. When I finally had the courage to leave this relationship, I felt like a failure. That was two year ago; since then I have graduated with honors from college, I am currently working part-time in my chosen field while attending University part-time and being a single mom to my two wonderful boys.

…had I not had the opportunity to stay at Armagh I would have gone back to the abusive relationship.

Reflecting on the decisions I made during the last two years I know in my heart that, had I not had the opportunity to stay at Armagh I would have gone back to the abusive relationship. 

The immense emotional, parenting and financial struggles that I experienced during that first year, together with a distorted and damaged sense of who I was, made me want to hide under the covers most of the time.

By the time I left Armagh, a year to the day I left my abusive partner, I was no longer the same person. With the support I received from staff and the other residents at Armagh and because for ten months I had others who believed in me, I slowly began to believe in myself. I was a confident women and mother of two who knew deep within my heart that no matter what challenges lay ahead for me and my children I would get through them.

The time I spent at Armagh was so important because it gave me a chance to rebuild a violence free life for me and my children.