Domestic Violence, Physical Abuse: The Effects On Your Children

"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 then said, "I heard Daddy yelling at you last night. It woke me up. Will he hurt my baby 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 older, 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 a straight A student,became more and more belligerant.She would refuse to go to school, wake in the middle of the night screaming for help. Her father,awakened by her screams, would bound out of bed,charge into her room and demand she stop yelling or he would give her a reason to scream!
As she entered her teens she would sneak out of the house at night when he was away on business trips and meet boys. Both children would cry if their mother reprimanded them. The mother took both children to see a psychologist. However,when the bill came in and he saw it, he demanded she stop taking the children."This is on my medical insurance," he shouted. "I won't have my kids going to some
shrink. Do you understand? You are causing this. Learn how to be a decent mother and this won't be necessary!"
Similar occurences happen in households throughout the country. 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 children 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 you can call The National Domestic Violence Hotline toll free: 1-800-799-SAFE!