After 12 years of being married to my ah and being verbally abused, having my 20 something year old daughter and her son be verbally abused (to me) and then our young son.... I finally realize if I want it to change I have to change it. After having the cops here for two times in about a 6 mo. period of time and realizing I should have more often, and seeing him rip the shirt off our 12 yr old son as he readied for his first 7th grade dance, as he belittled him, I called the police. The next day I told him he needed to get out... if not he needed to stop bringing alcohol into the home, stay sober at all times, go to some counseling and AA or I was beginning a separation. I told him that Monday I was going to family court and getting an order of protection... a "refrain from" whcih means there is no verbal abuse or any other kind of demeaning words or actions or one call and he is facing up to 7 years in prison. I did it! I waws assigned a domestic violence advocate, and he has not had one drink in 7 days... now I realize history tells the tale but it is out of my hands now.... he breaks the order and he is gone.. I will not go back on my word for my son and feel so bad taht I let it go so damn long. Surprisingly he is kind and considerate and holding his own so obviously when push comes to shove he can do it... so go get 'em ladies... Nobody should live the way we do !