How Can I Thank You for All You Have Done for Us?
Why leaving is the greatest gift you can give your children.

As the mom and her children arrived at Control Alt Delete to pick up their Christmas, the weight of their journey was evident in every step. This wasn’t a holiday outing filled with joy and laughter; it was the first stop on their path to safety. The pain, shock, fear, and humiliation were palpable, etched into the lines of her face and the nervous glances of her children. Yet, in this moment of transition, there was also courage—a flicker of hope that this Christmas might finally be different.

Through tears streaming down her beautiful, sad face, the Survivor shared her story. It was one she felt was uniquely hers, yet tragically, it was one that so many other Survivors could tell as their own.

She spoke about how much she had poured into making Christmas perfect every year. Months of planning, selecting the perfect gift for each of her children, ensuring each package was wrapped with love and placed carefully beneath the tree. She baked an endless array of holiday treats, filled their home with the scent of cinnamon and chocolate, and even purchased matching pajamas for the family. From the outside looking in, it seemed idyllic—a picture-perfect holiday that any family might envy.

But the reality was far from the dream she created.

Every cookie baked, every gift wrapped, every string of lights hung on the tree was done with one purpose: to keep the abuser from “getting stressed.” The children, though excited by the holiday sparkle, spent much of Christmas in their rooms, staying out of the way to avoid upsetting the fragile peace. And despite all her efforts, there was no avoiding the inevitable storm. The abuser would stomp around the house, kick the carefully arranged gifts, knock over the glowing Christmas tree, and throw all the lovingly baked goodies straight into the trash.

The magic of the season, a time meant for joy and love, was twisted into yet another weapon of control and destruction.

As the Survivor recounted her story, her children stood silently, their wide eyes watching her, perhaps wondering if the holidays would always hold this kind of pain. Yet, this year was different. This was the year she chose to stop the cycle.

Control Alt Delete had prepared a new Christmas for her and her children—a Christmas free from fear and anger. The gifts waiting for them weren’t just toys and clothes; they were symbols of hope, love, and safety. This Christmas would not be about walking on eggshells but about creating new memories, filled with laughter and warmth, where the sound of stomping feet would never again drown out holiday cheer.

For the Survivor and so many others like her, the question “How can I thank you for all you have done for us?” is bittersweet. The answer lies not in words but in actions. You don’t have to thank anyone. You thank yourself by choosing safety, by walking away, and by giving your children the greatest gift of all: a life where they never have to ask, “Will it be safe today?”

Your journey is their freedom, your courage is their security, and your strength is their inspiration.

So, this Christmas, don’t go back. Don’t let guilt, manipulation, or fear of the unknown pull you into the darkness you just escaped. The lights of your future are waiting, brighter than any Christmas tree ever could be.

You and your children deserve it.