There is a saying, for Fathers around the world that goes “A daughter may outgrow your lap but will never outgrow your heart.”and on the day that would have been her 25th birthday, Kristina Brown’s father, famous R&B singer Bobby Brown will be honoring her memory by having a tribute in remembrance of the daughter he had with the incomparable late Whitney Houston.
For Bobby Brown, the reason behind his cherished tribute is two-fold. Not only is it to serve as a memorial celebration of life for Bobbi Kristina, but it is to bring more awareness to the complicated social plight of domestic abuse. Bobbi Kristina’s then boyfriend Nick Gordon was found “legally responsible” for her death in 2015. Nick Gordon was Bobbi Kristina’s boyfriend at the time she was found unconscious and unresponsive in her bathtub, a condition which later worsened and progressed to her passing away in 2015. Although, he was never criminally convicted, in a civil case Nick was found responsible for her death. The heartbroken Bobby Brown came out with a statement during that time, in which he said, “In regards to the civil litigation, we believe we know who harmed Bobbi Kristina Brown, and his name is Nick Gordon.”
Bobby Brown created the charity organization Bobbi Kristina Serenity House as a way to address domestic abuse issue and to serve as a safe haven for women of domestic violence. In an interview with US Weekly Bobby Brown reverently refers to the potential star power that his daughter could have had. “She was a beautiful young lady. And what she wanted to do with her life, I wish everybody could have seen,” Bobby continues “Music, entertainment. She was better than me. She was better than her mother.” as he compares her to her megastar mother Whitney Houston.
The event called the “Celebration of Serenity Gala” was aimed to raise funds for the Bobbi Kristina Serenity House,a place that serves as a safe haven, a home where victims of domestic abuse can find refuge in the cities of Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston. It also provides a 24-hour crisis line to help with intervention and referrals to other resources of help and assistance.
The U.S. Department of Justice defines domestic abuse as controlling behavior and “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. ” Abuse may be physical, sexual, emotional, and/or financial. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, at least 4 out of 10 women and vice-versa 4 out of 10 men have experienced some type of coercive control by their partner.
Signs of Possible Abuse
Some possible warning signs of someone going through or someone committing acts of domestic abuse may include the following:
-Jealousy – being excessively possessive
-Controlling behavior
-Isolation – being cut-off from family or friends
-Sudden Mood Swings – changing a mood within minutes
-Hypersensitivity
-Rigid Roles – expecting someone to obey, or to “stay at home”.
Signs of a Healthy Relationship
The only types of relationships worth having are healthy ones. Healthy relationships are comprised of honesty, trust and good communication.
Qualities of a healthy relationship include:
-Listening and understanding
-Compromising
-Physical, emotional and sexual safety
-Share responsibilities
-Joint decision making
For help in dealing with domestic abuse contact National Domestic Violence Hotline at: 800-799-SAFE.
A Father’s Love
In helping others with the Serenity House, Bobby Brown has not only found a way to ensure that the spirit of Bobbi Kristina touches the lives of others in a positive way, but as a Dad he is forever keeping her in his heart.
