Love Is Not Abuse
August 27, 2008 | 3 Comments
I can remember it like it was yesterday. The abuse started at such a young age. Or at least I thought it was a young age, 15 to be exact. The first punch went smack dab across my nose. It sent me bleeding to the hospital with a fractured nose. I did nothing. I told others that I had run into a door.
Did I actually think they believed me?
I can’t answer that question now, but I would have to say that they HAD to believe me. I am sure they didn’t want to announce that they had a 15 year old runaway in the ER with a broken nose from a boy she had been dating.
I now wonder how many teens, runaways or not, are living with this. I came across a wonderful website called Love is Respect. A safe place for teen, both boys and girls, to go when they feel in trouble or just want to check out certain signs of abuse. They also have an escape button should they ever encounter an incident while they are online.
They have celebrities from Jaslene Gonzalez to Camille Winbush talking about their own abusive relationships and how they escaped them.Dating abuse can happen to anyone, at any age, and even occur in same sex relationships. Teens are always looking for ways to get help. Here they provide help for them and the many different ways to find help.
I came across the Teen Dating Bill of Rights on their website. I loved them so much I had to share. These Bill of Rights should be followed by us all. Everyone of us should allow ourselves to make a promise to follow these simple steps. They are not even steps but instead a promise to love ourselves and to love others. To treat each other with RESPECT.
Teen Dating Bill of Rights and Pledge
I have the right:
- To always be treated with respect.
- To be in a healthy relationship.
- To not be hurt physically or emotionally.
- To refuse sex or affection at anytime.
- To have friends and activities apart from my boyfriend or girlfriend.
- To end a relationship.
I pledge to:
- Always treat my boyfriend or girlfriend with respect.
- Never hurt my boyfriend or girlfriend physically, verbally, or emotionally.
- Respect my girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s decisions concerning sex and affection.
- Not be controlling or manipulative in my relationship.
- Accept responsibility for myself and my actions.
Let’s all remember to love one another. Lets remember to show our teens how to love each other. Each one of us sets an example everyday by loving and respecting ourselves.
WE NEED TO TEACH OUR KIDS THIS.
If we don’t respect ourselves they certainly will not respect themselves or each other. I leave you with a video I found on Love is Respect.org. I have heard these comments, each one, so many times in my life that they are normal conversations to me. Lets make sure they don’t become “normal conversations” to our children. Time is running out.
Domestic Violence Shelters in Nevada
July 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment
If you or a loved one lives in the state of Nevada and are being victimized, please take a look at the Nevada Attorney Generals website to see the list of domestic violence shelters in the State of Nevada.
The S.A.F.E. House is also an excellent source of information. Their 24-Hour Hotline is 702-564-3227. Their Emergency Shelter number is 702-564-3227. The number to the Counseling & Advocacy Center is 702-451-4203. They supply you with a Safety Plan, ways how we can help our loved ones who are being victimized, and a Wish List that you can help supply. Please take a look and see how you can help.
Peace my Friends,
Domestic Violence Shelters in New Hampshire
June 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
If you or a loved one lives in the state of New Hampsire and are being victimized, please contact the facilities below. The following information was taken from the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
RESPONSE to Sexual & Domestic Violence
c/o Coos County Family Health Services
54 Willow Street
Berlin, NH 03570
1-866-644-3574 (domestic violence)*
1-800-277-5570 (sexual assault)
603-752-5679 (Berlin office)
603-237-8746 (Colebrook office)
603-788-2562 (Lancaster office)
The Support Center at Burch House
P.O. Box 965
Littleton, NH 03561
1-800-774-0544 (crisis line)
603-444-0624 (Littleton office)
www.tccap.org/support_center.htm
Starting Point: Services for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence
P.O. Box 1972
Conway, NH 03818
1-800-336-3795 (crisis line)
603-356-7993 (Conway office)
603-539-5506 (Ossipee Office)
www.startingpointnh.org
Voices Against Violence
P.O. Box 53
Plymouth, NH 03264
603-536-1659 (crisis line)
603-536-3423 (office)
homepage.fcgnetworks.net/voices/
Women’s Information Service (WISE)
79 Hanover St., Suite 1
Lebanon, NH 03766
1-866-348-WISE (toll-free crisis line)
603-448-5525 (local crisis line)
603-448-5922 (office)
www.wiseoftheuppervalley.org
New Beginnings: A Woman’s Crisis Center
P.O. Box 622
Laconia, NH 03247
1-866-644-3574 (domestic violence)*
1-800-277-5570 (sexual assault)*
603-528-6511 (office)
www.newbeginningsnh.org
Turning Points Network (formerly Women’s Supportive Services)
11 School Street
Claremont, NH 03743
1-800-639-3130 (crisis line)
603-543-0155 (Claremont office)
603-863-4053 (Newport office)
www.free-to-soar.org
Rape and Domestic Violence Crisis Center
P.O. Box 1344
Concord, NH 03302-1344
1-866-644-3574 (domestic violence)*
1-800-277-5570 (sexual assault)*
603-225-7376 (office)
www.rdvcc.org
Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Program (SHARPP)
UNH
Verrette House
6 Garrison Avenue
Durham, NH 03824
1-888-271-SAFE(72330) (crisis line)
603-862-3494 (office)
www.unh.edu/sharpp/
A Safe Place
6 Greenleaf Woods, #101
Portsmouth, NH 03801
1-800-854-3552 (toll-free crisis line)
603-330-0214 (Rochester crisis line)
603-890-6392 (Salem crisis line)
603-436-4619 (Portsmouth office)
603-436-7924 (Portsmouth crisis line)
www.asafeplacenh.org
Sexual Assault Support Services
7 Junkins Avenue
Portsmouth, NH 03801
1-888-747-7070 (crisis line)
603-436-4107 (Portsmouth Office)
603-332-0775 (Rochester Office)
www.sassnh.org
YWCA Crisis Service
72 Concord St.
Manchester, NH 03101
603-668-2299 (crisis line)
603-625-5785 (Manchester Office)
YWCA Derry office
6 West Broadway #22
Derry, NH 03038
603-432-2687
Bridges: Domestic & Sexual Violence Support
P.O. Box 217
Nashua, NH 03061-0217
603-883-3044 (crisis line)
603-672-9833 (Milford office)
603-889-0858 (Nashua office)
www.bridgesnh.org
Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention
12 Court Street
Keene, NH 03431-3402
603-352-3782 (crisis line)
1-888-511-mvcp(6287) (toll-free hotline)
603-352-3782 (Keene office)
603-532-6288 (Jaffery office)
603-209-4015 (Peterborough office)
www.mcvprevention.org
I hope this information can help you or your loved ones.
Peace and Safety my friends,
June 13, 2008 Weekend Challenge - Donate A Phone®
June 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment
So how many of you have old cell phones sitting in a drawer? What about your brothers or sisters? Neighbors? Cousins? What about your best friends sisters boyfriend? You get the picture. For me, I know I have two.
Why are they just sitting in my drawer taking up space and collecting dust? Well, I’m done with them. I received an email from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence yesterday letting me know about their 2008 National Conference. I spent some time around the site and the Donate a Phone Program jumped out at me. They describe it as:
NCADV has partnered with The Wireless Foundation for over seven years through the CALL TO PROTECT program which was created to provide victims of domestic violence who may encounter emergency situations with free cell phones for that use. The collection of deactivated cell and wireless phones for this purpose has literally saved hundreds of lives over the course of our partnership. In addition to phones being distributed for emergency use, proceeds from the sale of phones not utilized for emergency use help fund agencies that work to end violence in the home, such as NCADV.
So my challenge to you is to go find as many phones as you can get your hands on. Make sure the phone is deactivated, is turned off, and has a battery before mailing it off.
Sound like an easy plan?
Well, I made it even easier. You can download a free mailing label and send it on its way this weekend. Don’t forget to ask your friends and family too!
Have a great weekend.
Just Give
June 9, 2008 | 1 Comment
How simple that sounds. Two small four letter words. It is so easy to just give to someone. Some people give so much and some give just the right amount. Search inside your soul to find out if you want to Just Give. I stumbled upon Just Give as I googled Domestic Violence charities. It amazed me as it appeared before my eyes how many different options they have for you. So many to choose from. If you click Just Give Domesitc Violence Charities you can see for yourself that there are at least ten different places for you to look into. You can donate monetarily, volunteer your time or even add this charity to your wedding registry if you are about to be married. Could you imagine how wonderful your soul would feel donating something to charity instead of receiving for yourself?
I want to commit myself to working toward the day when all women and men will be safe and abuse will be no more. Violence against women, inside or outside the home, is never justified. Violence in any form—physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal is wrong.
When you give to someone the gratitude you feel is very overpowering. It will make you realize that you have just helped save another soul from the torture that they are enduring everyday.
I thank you from all the battered men and women out there. I know, I was there years ago. In my heart I know when we work together as a team, anything is possible.
So please, go visit Just Give and take a look for yourself.
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