Debra Joseph get back on her feet
Donation protected
First, I would like to say that I am honored that you have taken the time to read my story.
I have always been too proud to ask for help and just realized that sometimes we need to step outside of the box and look at things from a different angle. This I've done and have realized that yes, I need to reach out and put the pride aside (for now :-).
I am a single mom, raising a 9 year old boy. He is the center of my universe. He is a wonderful, humorous, kind-hearted little boy. I am also one of those women who thought “I would never fall victim to abuse”. My father raised his girls to be strong, independent, kind and giving and not put up with any type of abuse . Well after being with the same man (off and on) for almost 12 years, I finally realized, with the help of a therapist, that I was indeed “one of those women”. It happened so slowly that I didn’t notice that I was being alienated by my boyfriend. This was after we had our child, so it was even harder for me to accept. My friends and family weren’t coming to visit anymore and I wasn't getting out much…he had me right where he wanted me. The first time we separated, my son was almost 5, I left because he threw me to the floor (in front of our son). This frightened me and I knew that I needed to leave, which I did. Then a couple of years later, I saw a difference in my ex. He started going to church and he seemed a different person. So, we started dating again. It was awesome, our family was back together. I soon moved in with him. 4 months later I found myself trapped again. The signs appeared sooner this time around. I found a place by the 9month, secured it then moved. It has been a transition for my son (yet again), however, he is almost 10 now and is handling it better this (last) time around. It has been almost a year since the separation/move and have found it to be more difficult than I had anticipated. This unexpected move has put me way behind. I am months behind on rent, most of my bills and piled high with attorney fees from the custody battle. I have reached out to local agencies for help but do not qualify for most government assistance. I own and operate a coffee bar and with all business’, there are down-falls, changes, etc. . However, the prize during this difficult time is our one bedroom apartment that is filled with peace and lots of love and laughter. My goal is to get back on track, not to become debt free of my responsibilities. This will help make a HUGE difference in our lives and will help get things stable once again and in turn, will help to build a better future for us. Once again, thank you for reading my story…God Bless and much Aloha!
I have always been too proud to ask for help and just realized that sometimes we need to step outside of the box and look at things from a different angle. This I've done and have realized that yes, I need to reach out and put the pride aside (for now :-).
I am a single mom, raising a 9 year old boy. He is the center of my universe. He is a wonderful, humorous, kind-hearted little boy. I am also one of those women who thought “I would never fall victim to abuse”. My father raised his girls to be strong, independent, kind and giving and not put up with any type of abuse . Well after being with the same man (off and on) for almost 12 years, I finally realized, with the help of a therapist, that I was indeed “one of those women”. It happened so slowly that I didn’t notice that I was being alienated by my boyfriend. This was after we had our child, so it was even harder for me to accept. My friends and family weren’t coming to visit anymore and I wasn't getting out much…he had me right where he wanted me. The first time we separated, my son was almost 5, I left because he threw me to the floor (in front of our son). This frightened me and I knew that I needed to leave, which I did. Then a couple of years later, I saw a difference in my ex. He started going to church and he seemed a different person. So, we started dating again. It was awesome, our family was back together. I soon moved in with him. 4 months later I found myself trapped again. The signs appeared sooner this time around. I found a place by the 9month, secured it then moved. It has been a transition for my son (yet again), however, he is almost 10 now and is handling it better this (last) time around. It has been almost a year since the separation/move and have found it to be more difficult than I had anticipated. This unexpected move has put me way behind. I am months behind on rent, most of my bills and piled high with attorney fees from the custody battle. I have reached out to local agencies for help but do not qualify for most government assistance. I own and operate a coffee bar and with all business’, there are down-falls, changes, etc. . However, the prize during this difficult time is our one bedroom apartment that is filled with peace and lots of love and laughter. My goal is to get back on track, not to become debt free of my responsibilities. This will help make a HUGE difference in our lives and will help get things stable once again and in turn, will help to build a better future for us. Once again, thank you for reading my story…God Bless and much Aloha!
Organizer
Debra Joseph
Organizer
Santa Rosa, CA