This week on the show, single mum Kimberley shares Part 4 of her story. 

Please note that these contain sensitive topics on domestic abuse and violence.

It is recommended you listen to Parts 1 - 3 prior to listening to Part 4, but here's a short recap of the past episodes.

In Ep 263 - Part 1, Kimberley talked about growing up in a single mum household and the relationship she had with her own father, the night she met her husband, and how (what she thought was going to be) a one night stand turned into a very toxic and abusive. She shared the story of the early days of their relationship, up until the birth of her daughter, and the red flags and abusive tendencies that started appearing.

In Ep 264 - Part 2, Kimberley's story continued. She talked about how the abusive tendencies started escalating and she shared her experience of what she would later find out was known as the cycle of domestic violence. She also talked about how she gained the courage to leave him, though it was the first of many attempts she made to leave the relationship, and how six months later he wormed his way back in.

In Ep 267 - Part 3, Kimberley shares the further violent and abusive outbursts of her ex, and the safety measures she started taking to protect herself (and how she perceived this as being normal), the financial abuse that had started getting worse, the isolation he inflicted on her and separating her from her friends and sister (her biggest support), his gambling and consequent debt that kept increasing, and his paranoia that kept getting worse. She also shares what happened when he moved out and back in again a couple of times.

In this episode, Kimberley starts sharing what happened in the final six months of them living together. 

Kimberely really struggled the day he packed his things and moved back in with her. He started drinking and commenting on her weight and telling her that he was embarrassed to be seen with her. And that was just during the car ride back to her home. She questioned what she'd done, and felt sad, scared and lost. She just wanted to protect her children. 

In this episode, Kimberley shares:

• The contentious issue of her kids' school reports and how he never coped very well with them. 
• An issue he had with their daughter's school photo and how he demanded Kimberley go to the school and ask if she’d made a mistake with the uniform.
• How he put his daughter's recovery from her eye surgery at risk.
• How when he was drunk he tried to get out of the car whilst Kimberley was driving and then proceeded to take the wheel from her.
• How he got a cat which Kimberley would later learn was another strategic move to cut her off from people.
• How he tormented Kimberley with fear prior to an operation she was having.
• How he started making the kids sleep on mattresses on the floor in the living room so that Kimberley couldn’t escape (as he knew she wouldn’t go without her kids, and so would have to get past him also on a mattress with the kids on the floor).
• How he used to tell their kids how awful their mum was.
• The impact of everything on her kids.
• How he kept the kids from her.
• How he constantly threatened to take the kids if he moved out.

Kimberley always felt like she was walking on eggshells around her ex. And then one day, he started telling Kimberley how easy it would be to kill her. He said that all he had to do was come over and strangle her. And then he taunted her – repeatedly walked towards her and then away.

Stay tuned for next week, where Kimberley shares Part 5 of her story.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Listen to Ep 263 - Kimberley's Story (Part 1) HERE.

Listen to Ep 264 - Kimberley's Story (Part 2) HERE.

Listen to Ep 267 - Kimberley's Story (Part 3) HERE.

Jump on the waitlist for Thrive Tribe HERE. 

Download the E-book – Thirteen single mothers share their struggles, top tips, and their favourite things about being a single mother – HERE.

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