Walk Away?!?

These words may make you cringe. Truthfully, it’s one of the best things you can do for your own sanity. No matter your situation, you can do this. People change when they can’t control you. They may go to the extremes to get you back or try to hurt you because you don’t want to be with them anymore. Here are a few ideas of things you may want to do to protect yourself and family.

Planning is key. Having an order to what you intend to do makes things move a whole lot smoother. However, you may end up in a place where you just have to leave right then and there. You need to make sure you have a safe place to go.

I cannot stress that enough. Having a place that you can go, that the person you are parting from doesn’t know about is highly recommended. You don’t want them to assume where you are, and show up there. With these days and times that we are living in, many are working from home since most businesses are closed or have very few staff members who clock in daily due to coronavirus. Use this to your advantage. If you have the choice of not going into your building where you work, that will be great. If you have to go into your building, ask your manager to change your schedule to something that will keep them from showing up at your job. If need be, get a transfer to another building. Now, look before you leap and make sure you aren’t being followed or traced. This is a good time to upgrade your phone or get a phone that you can use that they don’t know about. Turn your regular phone off. Only use your new phone to make calls. Be sure to check the area where you are staying to see if any cars look familiar. Yes, you must stay aware of your surroundings. You may want to have something with you for protection or take a self defense class. You may be able to find self defence classes on YouTube. Sometimes you are the first line of defence. I can remember watching the news or listening to the radio hearing about how someone was murdered due to domestic violence. Please do what you need to do to protect yourself. You cannot rely on the police to always help or be there. Sometimes, restraining orders do not help. Protect yourself at all cost.

Saving money can also be helpful. Having a kitty or stash is great to help with moving or sustaining you through your transition. Since most children aren’t going right back to school, you can use their uniform / school clothes money towards whatever you need to do to make ends meet. Make sure you keep your stash where only you know where it is. You want to be able to have what you need when it’s time to go.

With that being said, put important documents, like your kids birth certificates, shot records, thing like that in a place where you can grab them quickly when you need them.

Try your best not to frequent any known areas. If you have to go out to work, drive a different way. Get your groceries delivered. Even your medication can be delivered or you can pick up curbside.

These are just a few suggestions. You may or may not need to use some of these ideas. As long as you are doing whatever you need to do to be safe and free is what matters. If you feel this is a hard decision because you have invested time, years, prayer, think about what your family or kids see. If it isn’t a relationship that someone wouldn’t want to emulate, then you know what you need to do. Sometimes we wait for signs, to say go. If there is more negative energy than positive on the regular, you know what you need to do.

Have and work your support system. These are friends and family members that will be on the front lines with you through your journey. They will be there on your rough and tough days. You will need them. They will help you keep your head up. We all need someone to lean on.

Last but not least, you have to be methodical. You have to be brave. Believe it or not, you are these things and more!