Hello everyone, I would like to tell you something with adding bits from my own story.

First of all, I’ve been reading from the website for the past few days and I am very touched by what kinds of families are out there. I am not deeply knowledgeable about this, but I’ve been through and seen the same things. I thought I was the only one in this situation, but I’m very surprised by how many of us there are. Most of the families’ behavior is very ignorant in this matter and this makes me quite sad. I wish everybody were conscious about it. One time, I couldn’t take it anymore and I burst out crying on my mom’s knees at the persuading my mother attempt number 8373927383. I said I wanted to be free. I could never forget the beating I had that day; my eyes tear up whenever I think of it and I get scared of my own mother. A friend and I colored the tip of our hair with a highlighter pen once, I was only 10. My mother came up to us, I was terrified and she said, “I’ll deal with you later”. When we went back home, she was simultaneously washing me with cold water, pulling my hair out and beating me, but if someone asks, she is the best mom in the world. Anyways, I was bruised everywhere when I went to school the next day and I was terrified to tell anyone. A friend saw them, and they made fun of me by saying “Your mom beat you up, didn’t she?” I can’t tell you how embarrassed I was. My mother always beats herself up thinking what people would say, I truly pity her. I don’t remember exactly, but I said something to her, something very simple. She beat me all night since all she cared about was what her friends would say. How horrifying. Now I am in a hijab because of her, I can’t even say anything about it. I hope everyone will be happy in the future and forget about all their troubles.

(Image: Lola Gil)