Domestic Violence, Abuse: The Effects on Children in the Household

“Mommy, Mommy,” cried the seven year old. “You have blood on your face and in your hair,” she said in a fearful voice.
“It’s okay sweetheart. Mommy just fell in the shower.”
She was silent for a moment than said, “I heard Daddy yelling at you last night. It woke me up.
Will he hurt my sister and me too?”
Her mother lied. “No honey. Daddy didn’t do this. He loves us. You must have had a bad dream.”
For years, similar episodes occurred. The mother thought she was protecting her young but as they grew, their behavior became difficult. The youngest withdrew into her shell, staying in her room with the door closed, refusing to invite friends over when her father was home. The oldest, who had been an honor student, became belligerent. Her grades began to drop and she would refuse to go to school. In the middle of the night, she would often wake screaming for help. Her father would leap out of bed, charge into her room and demand that she stop screaming or he would get his belt and give her a spanking she would never forget!
As her oldest child (13) entered her teens, this once well-disciplined child would sneak out of the house at night when her father was away on business trips and meet boys. Both children would cry if their mother reprimanded them.
Exhausted and frightened, the mother took both children to see a psychologist. The doctor would not permit the mother in the room. After an hour session, the doctor asked the girls to sit in the waiting room and asked the mother to come in. The psychologist said: “Your children are being traumatized by their father.” She paused then asked, “Are you an abused wife?”
After a few minutes the mother lifted her head and said, “Yes. But I am trying to fix it.” The doctor told her she needed help and to get out of the house and the marriage, for her safety and the safety of her children.
When the bill came and their father saw it, he demanded she stop taking the children. “This is on my company medical insurance,” he shouted. “I won’t have my kids going to some shrink. Do you understand?” He slapped her then added, “You are causing this. Learn how to be a decent mother and this won’t be necessary!”
Similar occurrences happen in households throughout the county. According to the National Center for Children Exposed to Violence, there are 3 to 10 MILLION CHILDREN AFFECTED ANNUALLY.
You need to protect yourself and your family before it is too late. IT IS TIME FOR YOU AS THE MOTHER TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO LEAVE AND GO TO A SAFE PLACE. DO NOT WAIT, DO NOT HESITATE. YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN DEPEND ON YOUR BRAVERY TO TAKE THAT IMPORTANT STEP. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN!!
You can contact the National Center for Children Exposed to Violence @ nccev.org, or call @ 203-785-7047, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline toll free: 1-800-799-SAFE.

Please visit my website: http:/www.domesticviolencechronicle.com I was in an abusive marriage for eighteen years. My book, FOR WORSE NEVER BETTER: Diary of An Abused Wife and Escape to Freedom can help you. You can order it @ authorhouse.com (soft cover) or on Amazon/Kindle for ebook.