Woman, kids had to leave after husband lost job
She had to take her kids and sneak out of their home in the middle of the night.
This mother of two toddlers says her husband was laid off from a job in home construction nearly two years ago, and things became increasing difficult financially, and emotionally.
"He kept applying for jobs and could only get work here and there," she said.
She said she wanted to work, but her husband wouldn't let her. He wanted her at home with the kids.
But he couldn't find work himself, and as the weeks of unemployment turned into months, and the bills piled up, she says her husband turned into someone she didn't recognize.
"He was always a happy guy, easy to be around. He stopped talking to me and seemed angry all the time," she said.
When he did talk to her, he yelled, or criticized her cooking, her looks, her parenting skills.
One night, he grabbed her and pushed her against the wall. It happened several more times. Once, he almost knocked her down the stairs, she said.
"I knew I had to get out, but I couldn't let him know. I was afraid he'd hurt all of us," she said.
With the help of a church, she found a place to go with her children. She doesn't want to say more, for fear her husband will find her.
"We had to leave everything. It's been so hard. I just want to be able to give my kids a little joy, so they don't think Santa's forgotten them," the mom said.
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