I appreciate the insight and plan to tread lightly. I have always been pretty honest with the kids about why I divorced their dad so I am hoping that if we discuss manipulation and the relationship and how it has been...does she see it changing, etc. Maybe, I can get her to see for herself that what is going on fits the pattern of abuse and the cycle is not going to change. I don't think he has ever hit her, but I am sure there has been verbal abuse and controlling behaviors. Her dad did this stuff too BEFORE the physical abuse. I also plan to talk to her about how verbal abuse can affect people. For me, I think it was worse than physical abuse because there was no visible mark and everyone in town thought my ex was a very different person than he was in private.
