Did anyone watch it?

x

I saw about 20 minutes of it until I had to wait on customers. 36 years is an interesting sentence. I'm impressed with her lawyer.

There were many bits that applied to my past situation. I totally understood how the abuse pattern progresses insidiously.

I probably could have made major problems for the X and also his current relationship. I never filed police reports.

x

I used to teach classes dealing with domestic violence and I believe that it is at least one in four women that get physically and emotionally abused. Some men are too.

I used to stand before a hundred people at a time and couldn't help but wonder which women in the audiance were being battered. Then I would wonder which men in the audiance were battering someone. I often mentioned that to the audiance and then you could see a real stir among some people. It was like an iery silence like I had their undivided attention and they were afraid that I was going to call their name out loud or something. LOL No one ever approached me directly though. But during the class I always gave assistance phone numbers and pamphlets. I also wondered if I was making a difference or just wasting my breath. I still don't know.

Why didn't you file with the police, RW? I'm surprised since I know you.

RW, the topic was domestic violence? I think we have that Tivo'd (and by we, I mean my best friend who Tivos Dr. Phil and Oprah every day). I hope she hasn't deleted it.

Monica

My yesterdays are all boxed up - and neatly put away.

Yes. It wasn't just about domestic violence. They had video of the man doing this to his wife. He had their 13 year old son film for him.

They guy is locked up with no chance of parole for 18 years.



x

What a sick, sick, man. That poor kid, I hope the damage to his poor psyche can be repaired.

Frightening.

Oprah's interviews with their 2 boys will be later in May. It ain't good.

The man was as arrogant as a peacock in the court room and gawking at female jurors.

x

"Why didn't you file with the police, RW? I'm surprised since I know you."

There are aspects of this experience that are really hard to explain. Some of the impact comes after the fact.


x

We just watched the show. Oh. My. Gosh. What an evil SOB. I found it interesting that the 51 minute video tape of the abuse would have only bought him a year in jail but hitting her with an OBJECT (a book, a shoe) is what got him the extended sentence.

The kids will be on May 24.

What a powerful show.

Monica

My yesterdays are all boxed up - and neatly put away.

Plus he would constantly accuse her of having affairs.

I remember that.

x

RW, you were accused of having affairs?

Yes. He did this 'drill' pretty much weekly, sometimes till 1-2 am.

It started about year 6 in the marriage. It was a nightmare for me, and always felt demeaning and perplexing. He'd get me on the defense when I had no reason to be. In hindsight, I never should have engaged in any of it. I should have shot him into therapy or out the door.

The 'drilling' stopped the summer of '98' and his affair began that fall. That was a blatant sign that his pattern was moving along predictably - provided you understand the pattern. It's a pretty common one.

x

This nut case on Oprah was an extreme case. My first thought was that the man had been abused as a child, perhaps by his mother. He was torqued.

I also reflected on how I've raised my son. He has been loved and cared for very well. He has older sisters. Their relationships are solid and supportive. He does not want to model after his father's drinking habit. He is kind and responsible with little children. Girls at school genuinely like him as a friend. One just asked him to be the God brother to her new little brother.

It all starts from the beginning.

Sounds like you are making great strides in breaking the cycle.

The guy on Oprah had to have been abused but I thought more by the father and watching his father be the master abuser but I think you may be right in abuse from the mother as well. Whatever it was, it was bad.

Speaking of master abuser... The nutjob made his wife refer to him as "Master". Whoa. He also made his children participate in the abuse! (He was charged with child endangerment, also). He was black, his wife was white and he made his children call her a "white ho slut". It sounds like nutjob was dealing with past abuse and a little bit of twisted prejudices??

I wonder if the older girl will be in on the interviews? The mom only mentioned the older daughter in passing but she did say that she stayed with the dad when mom took the two younger boys and bolted.

Monica

My yesterdays are all boxed up - and neatly put away.