Effects On Children

Domestic Violence leaves a mark on the whole family...

Children living with domestic violence suffer emotional and psychological trauma from the impact of living in a household that is dominated by tension and fear. These children will see their mother threatened, demeaned or physically or sexually assaulted. They will overhear conflict and violence and see the aftermath of the violence such as their mother's injuries and her traumatic response to the violence.  Children also may be used and manipulated by the abuser to hurt their mother.

A child may be directly targeted by the perpetrator and suffer physical abuse, sexual abuse and/or serious neglect. It has been more than 2 decades since the overlap between domestic violence and child abuse was identified; men who abuse their partners are also likely to assault their children. The abuse of women who are mothers usually predates the infliction of child abuse. At least half of all abusive partners also batter their children. The more severe the abuse of the mother, the worse the child abuse.

You can spread a lifetime trying to forget a few minuets of your childhood..

Daughters are more likely than sons to become victims. Woman abuse is also the context for sexual abuse of female children.
There is clear evidence that abusers often increase their use of violence and abuse to stop their partners from leaving, or to force their partners and children to return home following separation. The abuser may attempt to take the children away from their mother to punish the woman for leaving and in some cases children have even been killed.  The risk to children during separation is substantial.