Open letter to daughters of domestic abuse victims - 2021
My mother Cathy is a victim of domestic violence. I write this for other daughters in a similar position to me. I don’t want anyone to have to live what I have lived through. But if they have, I want them to know they have a voice to speak out against domestic violence.
It has now been over 10 years, since that harrowing Summer day when I was witness to my father, Mike Rinder, viciously assaulting my mother. It was a moment of palpable hate from my father, Mike Rinder, and a moment of extreme pain for my mom. Pain that has not stopped since the day it happened. Subsequent to the extreme, harmful force he put on my mom’s much smaller, female body and the injuries she sustained she had to undergo surgery and has spent countless hours in Physical therapy. Her orthopedic surgeon informed her she will never regain full use of her arm. She is condemned to a life of pain.
It was not enough for him to cause her pain for life. He has continued since that time to shame my mom, the victim. Spreading lies about her, me, my brother, our family. Instigating and spreading hate against us.
He has not been held accountable for what he did. As a matter of fact, for a while, large institutions were even paying him to exploit his family and his 2 children. While a Walt Disney-owned company, A&E did finally see the light and stopped supporting him. Others have continued to support him. How another woman, Leah Remini – his cohort in hate – could assist a man in attacking another woman and shaming her, is beyond me. But, he is still being supported by some less-than-moral individuals who like to see other’s pain.
This isn’t the justice my mother or any victim of domestic violence deserves.
This is where we come in, as daughters.
We have voices. We are strong.
We want the best for our mothers. After all, she literally brought us into this world!
What is important for us is to tell the true story of the abuse and abuser. Make it known who they are and what they are capable of. Keep on illuminating the most important point of it all – which is: it is never, ever right to hurt someone else in a domestic violence attack. And perpetrators of domestic violence need to be known about, watched for, and not supported.
Please join me in raising awareness for victims of domestic abuse at Justice4mom.org.
Together we can shine a light on those who support and enable abusers. We must stop enablers from rewarding those who abuse women.
Thank you for your support
Taryn Teutsch