One of the most powerful lies women are told is that leaving a toxic relationship will hurt their children more than staying.
In The Place I Am Meant to Be, Evelyn Lauda shares her harrowing experience of parenting three young boys while navigating the collapse of her emotionally abusive marriage. Her partner, Jack, was never physically violent, but his control was constant. For example, he dictated the household finances, insulted her behind closed doors, and undermined her at every turn. And Evelyn, like many mothers, stayed longer than she should have, because of the kids.
But slowly, she began to realize something that changed everything. She came to know that staying wasn’t saving her children. It was teaching them what love looked like. It was normalizing silence, tension, and sadness as part of daily life.
The shift started with small steps. Evelyn began therapy. She started asking hard questions. She began saying “no” to things she used to tolerate. Eventually, she prepared to leave, not in a rush, but with care and strategy. She saved money, found legal help, and made sure she could provide stability before walking away with grace.
Her kids didn’t lose their mother when she divorced. They gained her back.
Her role as a mother was not abandoned when she left. It meant embracing it wholeheartedly, by being emotionally present, free from fear, and able to create a new home based on security and affection.
Were there hard moments? Absolutely. Evelyn describes the panic attacks, the money stress, and the endless exhaustion. But through it all, she stayed committed to herself and to her children’s future. And in doing so, she taught them a powerful lesson: you do not have to stay in pain to be a good parent.
It is possible to be both a mother and a woman who departs. Even if you have a strong love for your kids, you can still leave someone who abuses you. In fact, it may be the greatest gift you have ever given them.
If you’re in this situation or are dealing with a toxic partner. In that case, Evelyn’s book offers a roadmap to help you be brave and take a leap towards a better future, free from toxicity and an abusive relationship.
Please order your copy of Evelyn Lauda’s The Place I Am Meant to Be from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1967679843.
