Children who experience domestic abuse need understanding, love, and support. Violence in any form is truly traumatising and those innocent people who witness it should be saved and protected. It should never be tolerated and as parents, you must take good care of your children all the time.
Once your children become victims of domestic abuse, you must act upon it immediately. You are responsible for protecting your children, so make sure to help them cope with such violence. It is never your children’s fault to be abused by anyone. With this, you must understand their situation fully and take actions accordingly.
Create a support system
Experiencing domestic violence makes your children feel isolated. They might feel helpless and that they are alone in this battle. However, you can change this notion by building a support system that will help them cope with the abuse. You may seek outside sources or support groups that provide child care. This way, your children can have a fun and healthy outlet and they will never feel alone anymore. You may also apply for an ADVO order to prevent further violence that may occur.
Communicate to your children
When your children finally open up about experiencing domestic violence, you have to trust what they tell you. This is a serious matter and it takes a lot of courage before they can talk about it. Therefore, you have to listen to them and tell them that what happened was not okay. As a parent, you need to make your children feel loved and never blame them for the abuse. In addition, you have to sit with them and let them express their emotions without any judgments.
Empower yourself
As parents, you must be your children’s role model. Be that person who loves and takes care of himself despite of the traumatic experiences that come along the way. Your children need you the most in times like this, thus, you have to be strong for them. When they see you empowered, they will also have the courage to get through this painful experience. A supportive and strong relationship between you and your children will be built and that’s one of the most important things you all need at this point.
Strengthen your children’s sense of security
The moment you learn that your children were abused, you must prove them that you are by their side no matter what happen. You have to show them that you are available to provide them comfort at all times, for this is what they truly need. They must feel secured always and never leave them.
Overall, domestic violence can happen to anyone. There is no need to blame one another for causing such thing, rather help your children to cope up by considering these tips mentioned above. Simply let them feel more loved and secured, despite the distressing experience that happened.