Dear Tony,

I have been married for 20 years and been with my husband over 24 years, I'm 40 years of age and I have 2 children, I had my daughter at 17 and married at 19. Then had my son at 21 years of age. I have been in an abusive relationship with my husband for as long as I've been married. If it's not been physical it's mental, and my children have seen all of this go on over the years. Now that my son is older he refuses to let it go on. When my husband got into one of his rages recently, due to drinking, my son saw my husband hitting me and he stepped in by hitting him back. The fight got to a point that I couldn't break it up. I feel as though it's time for me to move out. I realize that it's time to go and this will only get worse. I am so stressed out right know. My son doesn't deserve this and he is stressed out also. He is still in school and I want him to respect women and if I stay he will lose respect for me.