Suppose you’ve been enduring domestic violence in your marriage; you may be relieved by the fact that your partner hardly ever targets the children. Unfortunately, this is no cause for relief because your children can be affected by the violence as long as they witness or hear it being inflicted on you.
You will be surprised by how perceptive your children are to your suffering. Even if the violence took place in their absence, they can sense the tension in the household as soon as they walk in. You might imagine that you hide your emotions well, yet they’ll still pick up on the subtle changes in your body language each time your partner calls for you or walks by.
Domestic violence isn’t limited to physical assault
If you’re like most people, you probably assume that domestic violence is synonymous with physical assault by a romantic partner. In reality, domestic violence extends beyond visible bruises and nose bleeds. It’s a spectrum of all the behaviors your abusive partner uses to exert power and control over you and the children.
So, suppose your partner sometimes yells at the kids as a form of communication but hits you when they’re angry. In that case, both you and the kids are recipients of domestic violence. Children who are victims or witnesses of domestic violence feel intimidated by the in-control parent because the whole point of domestic violence is to instill a sense of fear in the victims.
Suppose you’re contemplating divorce because of your partner’s domestic violence; your children will be glad you’re removing them from a toxic environment even if your partner hardly assaulted them physically. By working with a trusted legal team, you can help ensure you’re not overwhelmed by the formalities of divorce.