Mel Gibson's Ex: 'My Children Saved Me'

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These days, Mel Gibson's ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva considers herself a "very lucky woman."

She credits her children and her music with helping her get through her stormy past with the Oscar-winning actor and director.

"Music and my children saved me," Grigorieva, a singer and musician, told ABC News Radio's David Blaustein in an interview Monday. "I'm a very lucky woman."

Although she did not go into detail, Grigorieva was clearly referring to her highly publicized split from Gibson, followed by their bitter custody battle, during which Grigorieva accused the actor of hitting her and their daughter Lucia and verbally berating her in several phone calls that were leaked online.

In March 2011, Gibson pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor battery against Grigorieva. Instead of jail time, he received 36 months of informal probation, community service, a year of domestic violence counseling and $570 in fines.

"The path I went through, I'm meant to walk this path," Grigorieva, 43, told ABC News Radio. "It made me more spiritual. I'm much closer to God. I found some fantastic friends."

"Also through these difficult times my children has been my strength," she added, referring to Lucia, now 3, and an older son, Alexander, she had with Bond actor Timothy Dalton.

Grigorieva said her favorite thing is "being a mommy." She's hand-on, taking her children to school and other activities without the help of a nanny.

She makes her music around their schedule. Her latest release is a collection of dance music, called "Love to Dance," due out June 4.

Acknowledging that there have been "some dark moments in my past," Grigorieva told Blaustein that this is a "happy time in my life."

"I think expression through dance is the most suitable for this time in my life," she said. "Dance is a celebration."