When I left the man who tried to suffocate my two year old daughter with a pillow - when I was 19 years old - I was understandably angry and I fantasized about killing him. I was in a very bad place mentally and emotionally.

My attorney at the time, pulled me aside after our last court hearing and said to me, "The best revenge you can ever get is to be happy without him."

I took that advice to heart and was able to (mostly) let go of the anger that threatened to destroy me. I went on to have other less abusive relationships, but in the end, I have always found my own company (and the company of my four children and two grandchildren) to be the most peaceful. So I decided to take up permanent residence.

Men will continue to be men - trying to shortcut the process to finding a healthy and happy relationship - until they eventually figure it out. I've met a lot of men who seem to get it (usually of a more advanced age lol), so it will simply take the older generation teaching the younger generation some new skills.