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Domestic Violence and Youth (for caregivers)
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Feelings and thoughts from kids growing up in violent homes:
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“I felt really sad when
my parents were always fighting.”
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“I
feel like no one cares; they’re always fighting and forget me.”
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“Why
does this have to be happening to me and my family.”
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“It
would be less painful if I were dead.”
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“I
feel like I’m more evil and violent.”
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“Maybe
if I didn’t act this way, they wouldn’t fight.”
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“Is
this what being married is like?”
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“I
don’t think I can ever trust a man again.”
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“I
felt so helpless and confused, I couldn’t help.”
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“I
feel wary of guys my age, and a little older than me.”
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“I
feel apprehensive about telling others how I feel.”
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“I
was so angry at everyone and everything.”
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“I’ll
get even, I’ll run away, then maybe they’ll pay attention to me.”
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“I
don’t ever want mom to get remarried; he’d be a jerk just like dad.”
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“Maybe
if I make threats, Mom will listen to me, it worked for Dad.”
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“I
hate him; I have thought about killing him, then it would be okay.”
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“Now
everything is ruined, and I don’t know how we’re going to make it.”
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“I
can get my own way and what I want by being violent, it worked for
Dad.”
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“I
feel ashamed of my life, no one else lives this way. Do they?”
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“If
my friends find out about my life, they won’t like me.”
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“Sometimes
I get angry; I can’t control myself.”
Youth
want you to know . . .
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We need you to try to
support us and our feelings.
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Please try to be
patient with us and understand how we’re feeling; we’re hurting too.
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We’re real, we aren’t
invisible.
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Try to listen to us; we
need to talk about our feelings.
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What
happens to you affects us, it is our problem too.
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Please talk with us
about violence.
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Sometimes we don’t want
to have visitation with Dad.
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We don’t want you to
stay for us if it means getting beat…
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If we talk to Dad, we
still love you.
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We don’t want to take
sides.
Women's Rural Advocacy
Programs:
The Effects of
Domestic Violence on Children
Family Violence
Prevention Fund:
The Facts on
Children and Domestic Violence
American Bar
Association:
What is
Teen Dating Violence?
Alabama Coalition
Against Domestic Violence:
Dating Violence and Bill of
Rights
Break the Cycle:
Empowering Youth to End
Domestic Violence (click on "I might need help")
National Domestic
Violence Hotline:
Teens, Young Adults and Dating
Violence
National Women’s Health
Information Center:
Date Rape Drugs
Protecting
Yourself
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