#togetherwewin

[soulinkpoetry]

There’ll be roadblocks in life. It’s best to jump over them with fingers clasped together.

.

.

[m0use123]

Asami glanced up distractedly as the grand father clock chimed midnight out in the corridor.

She rubbed at her tired eyes as she looked back at her paperwork.

The next time she ripped her eyes away from yet another contract was when there was a gentle knock on the study door.

Yasuko:- Mummy?

Asami:- Hey little one, what are you doing up? It's late.

Yasuko:- (rubbing her fist over her tired eyes) I had a bad dream.

Asami:- (Looking up and giving her daughter her full attention) Ow sweetie, Mummy's sorry, was it a really bad dream?

Yasuko:- (nodding sleepily and taking a tentative step into the room) Yeah, it was about the scary story Korra told.

Asami frowned, that wasn't like her girlfriend.

Asami:- Why did Korra tell you a scary story Yassy?

Yasuko:- (blushing and stepping from foot to foot) She didn't tell me the story Mummy, she was telling Tara.

Asami:- (Nodding her understanding) You were listening to Korra telling Katara a scary story? (Yasuko nodded) Sweetheart, you're too little for stories like that. Katara's a big girl, that's why Korra was telling it too her. Baby, you have to promise me you won't listen in when Korra and Tara are having their special Sissy time.

Yasuko:- But Mummy, it's no fair, Korra and Tara have loads of fun, and I don't get to join, you said people need to share.

Asami:- (fighting to keep a straight face at her daughter's mini tantrum) I did say that Yassy, yes. But Korra and Katara need their special time together because they have no Mummy or daddy anymore, remember? You're very lucky and have both your Mummy and Daddy.

Yasuko pouted but nodded.

Asami:- Good girl, now come on, it's late, and you have school tomorrow.

Yasuko:- (asking hopefully) can I sleep with you and Korra?

Asami:- (chuckled and shook her head) Nice try, but you know Korra needs alot of room, so no-one hurts her in the night.

Yasuko:- (looking concerned) Does Korra's owie back and legs hurt again?

Asami:- (nodding) Yes Yasuko, Korra has loads of owies right now, that's why we give her gentle hugs before we go to school now.

Yasuko nodded and raised her arms up.

Chuckling, Asami stood from her desk and crossed the room to her daughter, the CEO lifted her up and rested her on her hip before she turned off the lights, locking her study door behind her.

She cradled her daughter firmly in her arms as she made her way upstairs to her daughter's bedroom.

As they passed, Asami noticed Katara's bedroom door open, she gently nudged it open with her foot, to find her girlfriend's sister crying in the dark.

Asami:- Katara? It's Asami sweetheart, I have Yasuko with me, can we come in?

Katara:- (snifferling hard) Hey Asami, yeah, you can come in.

There was rustling of the duvet so Asami could perch on the edge of the bed.

Yasuko:- Did you have a bad dream too Tara?

Katara:- (snifferling loud) Nawww, did you have a bad dream kiddo.

Yasuko:- yeah, I got mummy, she's tucking me in, she could tuck you in too, right mummy?

Asami:- (not really sure how to respond) Ow, Yassy, no sweetheart, Katara wouldn't want that.....

Katara:- actually Asami, if you wouldn't mind, my mum would tuck me in after a bad dream too. I'd normally just wake up Korra, but after her injury at work.....

Asami:- she's not as mobile as she used to be?

Katara:- (hearing the smile in her voice) something like that, yeah.

Asami:- Of course I'll tuck you in, if that's what you would like. Just let me get Yasuko settled, then I'll be right back okay? I promise.

- - - - - -

Ten minutes later and Asami was knocking on Katara's bedroom door again, the only difference this time, was the bedside lamp was switched on.

Katara looked up from the picture book she was reading.

Asami:- You ready for bed sweetheart?

Katara:- (nervous) I just want to finish the story, if that's okay?

Asami:- (smiling kindly) of course it is Tara, take your time.

Katara:- (very nervous this time) would you read it to me? My, my mum would read to me when I had bad dreams.

Asami knew this, of course. Korra would tell her stories about their parents, in the safety of their dark bedroom.

Asami:- (nodding) sure thing sweetheart, is it okay if I sat down?

Katara:- (making room for her on the bed) mum used to lie down with me.

Nodding, Asami lay down, and read the story.

- - - - - -

The story was read, lullabies were sung. Asami gently sat up and stood, she was about to tuck the young teen in, when she paused.

Katara was snuggled down with her stuffed rabbit and sucking her thumb sleepily.

Glad her girlfriend's sister felt so comfortable in her presence. Asami tucked her in, and lightly kissed her forehead, before leaving.

- - - - - -

Back in her own bedroom, Asami slipped under the covers.

Korra:- (voice thick with sleep) it's 2 in the morning, please tell me you haven't been working all this time?

Asami:- (getting comfortable) For once, the answers no. Yasuko and Katara had nightmares. I've been putting them back to bed.

Korra:- (sounding more awake) Are the kids okay?

Asami:- They're fine Baby, just relax.

Korra:- Did Katara freak that I wasn't there.?

Asami:- Korra, baby. Relax, Katara's fine, she trusts me, remember?

Korra kissed her girlfriend.

Korra:- I would like to meet the person who could meet you, and not fall in love with you.

It was silent for a while, and just before Asami fell asleep.

Korra:- (whispering) Thank-you Asami. For keeping my family together, I don't know what I would of done, if I had to put Katara into care.

Asami:- Hey, if you can deal with my hyper six year old, I can deal with a slightly teary 14 year old.

Korra:- Anything for you babe, I love you.

Asami:- I love you too baby, both of you.

And with those hushed words floating in the air, they fell asleep, dreaming of their shared future with their unique little family.

[flowpolaroid]

1,494 of 10,000 “Stay true to yourself. Life is short. Be happy ♡” -Bre Cardenas “Cool it & be happy” -Daniel Zigs #togetherwewin #electricforest #laserguidedvisions #instax #instaxmini #instaxmini70 #instantfilm #polaroid (at Electric Forest) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqWGle6v2lB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[worryfreewriter]

Your body’s puzzle pieces fit perfect

With mine.

Your logic. Questions the game.

Saturates. The beauty in not knowing.

Our pieces were made to fit.

We are born to ride the waves. Tame the tides. Defeat the rogues together.

Why fight what God already blessed?

- Like Soil to a Plant

[art4angles0]

𝒲𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉ℴ 𝓂𝒶𝓀ℯ 𝒶 ℰ𝒟 𝒮𝓅ℴ𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓎 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓎𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉

❀𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚟 𝙴𝙳 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜⬇⇩⬇︎

❀𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚢 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜 ♡♫♪

❀𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐☻

[malihamonir]

[letters-to-starlight]

A screenshot from one of Hitomi Mochizuki’s videos, circa 2020

[kiritpankhania]

Your life begins when You begin to take action.

[bold-and-whimsical]

[activelyhealingdaily]

An Uncomfortable Conversation: Suffering in Silence with Domestic Violence

Look around your girl friend group, at least 1 in 3 women are secretly or publicly dealing with some form of domestic violence (Truman & Morgan, 2014 as cited in Gavin & Krupp, 2022). Your friend, that female smiling ear to ear at the dinner table with her partner, or even your may be terrified to come forward. Many do not come forward out of fear of retaliation from the abuser, fear of public embarrassment or shame, or feeling as if no one can help. The sad reality is that so many of us (myself included) have chosen to suffer in silence because we do not feel protected in our society.

            As a counselor and someone who has access to resources or knows where to go, I did not. I was hiding the warning signs by masking my behaviors in public, self isolating from friends and family and was sure never to mix my worlds together. I think back to that last day, when I packed my stuff at 3am, mid shift to finally leave, and all I could ask myself was “why did you stay so long?” Sad, isn’t it. I did not think “good for you, you are finally doing it.” I chose to use all the negative and hurtful things I try to get others not to tell themselves. My reality was that I suffered in silence not only out of fear of the situation being escalated, but mostly out of embarrassment and shame. None of us have to suffer in silence, but some conditions in our society have made it so that we often feel like it may be our only option.

Yes, it got a whole lot worse in those first few weeks of being on my own, but I am better off now that I gave in to those embarrassing feelings. As someone who knew she had a strong support system, I know that is not the case for other women. What about those women who have no family near or have isolated themselves from the few friends they had  and now have no other friends to reach out to. What about those marginalized group of women who cannot simply make a phone call to save themselves because that phone call may lead to destroying their life. What happens to undocumented women who fear their status will cause them to forever be stuck in a violent relationship?

THE FACTS:

It was not until social science research in the 70s and 80s that indicated family violence was a serious problem (Gover & Moore, 2021).

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), “known as the cornerstone of our nation’s response to domestic and sexual violence” (Stupakis, 2019, p. 261), was not enacted until 1994.

Mental health consequences may include depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and insomnia (Campbell, 2002; Coker & Richter, 1998).

In 2015, the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) indicate that 37.3% of women experience sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime (Smith et al., 2018).

The United States has spent nearly US$3.5 trillion annually on costs associated with violence against women including medical expenses and lost wages (Peterson et al., 2018).

Survivors miss approximately 8 million days of work each year due to the violence they experience (Stupakis, 2019).

References

Gavin, S. M., & Kruis, N. E. (2022). The influence of media violence on intimate partner violence perpetration: An examination of inmates’ domestic violence convictions and self-reported perpetration. Gender Issues, 39(2), 177-197. DOI: 10.1007/s12147-021-09284-5

Gover, A. R., & Moore, A. M. (2021). The 1994 Violence Against Women Act: a historic response to gender violence. Violence against women, 27(1), 8-29.

Moore, A. M., & Gover, A. R. (2021). Violence Against Women: Reflecting on 25 Years of the Violence Against Women Act and Directions for the Future. Violence against women, 27(1), 3-7.

[katiebear777]

Time to level up..✨

[arvindkapoorsblog]

[queenwoody555]

"No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half its citizens."

"The measure of any society, is how it treats its women and girls."

-Michelle Obama

[flowpolaroid]

1,059 of 10,000 Zapata Falls Family II #togetherwewin #zapatafalls #instax #instaxmini #instaxmini70 #instantfilm #polaroid (at Zapata Falls) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmqKDW5MOsi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=