I have been on my own since I was 17 yrs old.  I put myself thru college and I have had a successful carreer for almost 20 years.  I spent 16 years with my abuser.  We were married for 8.  We have two boys 5 and 7 years old.  I finally got the courage to leave but it is at the greatest price.  My husband has figured out how to use the system to punish me.  He cares about nothing but revenge.  He is hurting me but destroying my children.  Even my older son tells me that daddy walks around with a angry and suspicious face.  He has snapped!  I fear for all of us.  He is trying so hard to alienate me from my children but in the end he will destroy his relationship with his sons.  I don't want that either.  Too much pain....the court system looks the other way.  They don't protect me or my children even with all that we know today - nothing has changed.  It has been this way in our culture for thousands of years.  It is hopeless to think that I have a chance to recover or to gain momentum.  Their are thousands of members to this sight - we should rally together, sign potitions, bombard polititians- CALL OPRAH!  Lets do something!