[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

By the way, I never hit him. : )

[Cathryn Crawford]

You two have had your share of bad relationships. Glad I've missed out on those. :-)

Woman on man violence does happen. Think about the woman who hits her boyfriend or husband with a baseball bat and then charges her boyfriend with abuse when he restrains her. I've seen it happen.

[Scenic Sounds]

By the way, I never hit him. : )

I think he's lucky that you weren't living near your father because that's the kind of story that will drive a father to violence.

I'm sure that kind of thing is more common than we realize, especially with young couples. At least, I was more aware of it when I was younger and spent more time with younger couples. I can’t think of any violent relationships that lasted, though.

I know that every good relationship has to have some aspects of dependency, but I guess there needs to be some sort of balance to the arrangement such that each person can at least visualize the possibility of living without the other should the other become physically or emotionally untrustworthy or abusive. Maybe it's just harder for us to see that when we're younger. Maybe our earliest experiences with love are more awkward and uncertain. Like you say, “it’s complicated.”

Anyway, a post like yours should be required reading for young folks. Thanks for sharing.

You’re very special. ;-)

[netmilsmom]

Maybe you should have hit him. Or maybe you can tell me where he lives and I'll send my two nephews (both 25) and my former marine hubby to see him. The slime.
Glad you made it through ok. You could have been hurt so much more.