Sometimes trauma, bad choices, or life can get in the way of our relationship with our child. As the years go by, the hours become even more precious. Your child’s well-being takes center stage in your life. Love, care, and security are the building blocks to your child’s well-being and development. When abuse enters your child’s life, it can cause permanent damage. Don’t let your child suffer more than they should. Get help to end abuse today!
When You Jeopardize Your Child’s Safety
As long as the child is in your care, given that they are safe, you can still build a lasting relationship of trust that carries over into adulthood. A custody agreement or visitation schedule may restrict your relationship; rebuilding your connection with your older child may be challenging or impossible. Sometimes, your actions may even jeopardize your child’s safety, with the most dangerous form being child abuse. Despite this horrible outcome, there is hope in this dark season of your life.
Focus on Prioritizing Your Child’s Safety: Stop Abuse Now!
If you or your child is in danger of harm, prioritize their safety first. Feeling out of control or prone to violence? Find a trusted adult where you know your child will be safe. If you cannot contact a trusted adult, call a mental health crisis line such as 988lifeline Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or contact The Child Help Hotline for Parents. The Child Help Hotline offers resources to parents who are looking to change their Unfortunately, many adults do not reach out for help for fear of losing custody of their children. While this may be an uncomfortable situation, passing on a history of family violence harms your family even more.
Preventative Measures
There are a few things you can do immediately to prevent child abuse from escalating and, in dangerous, volatile situations, finding a trusted family member to maintain guardianship of the children. In severe instances, the only way to protect your child is to involve medical assistance or social services. Be on the lookout for behaviors that trigger abuse.
Outside Factors Triggering Abusive Behavior
Identifying the triggers will help you prevent endangering children. People living with PTSD can find help through mental health centers, social services, and therapy groups. Involving your family is the first step to healing for you and your children. Contact Samhsa or 988 for substance abuse or mental health crises.
Preventative Measures when Dealing with Anger
Parents may need time to step aside and cool off even if their child destroys their home. Place your child in a safe area and leave the room to cool off. Not every situation escalates to child endangerment. Prevention upfront can lead your family away from child endangerment or removal.
- Identify triggers that cause you to overreact.
- Yelling may escalate the situation.
- Involving another reliable partner who will hold you accountable for your actions is essential. Communicate with your partner to form a cool-down plan.
- Plan for the worst scenario possible. Mentally preparing yourself for everything your child could do helps you not be surprised when it happens, whether it is disrespect or a giant mess.
- Seek professional therapy for behavioral problems.
When your Child’s Behavior Triggers You
You may feel inclined to test disciplinary limits or respond with anger. Most children will push past boundaries and create disastrous situations. Paying attention to your child’s behavior without overreacting will prevent family life from worsening. You cannot control everything your child does, but you can control what you do.
When It’s Time to Let Go so, Your Child Can Move Forward
While letting go seems counterintuitive, ask yourself why you are holding on. Failure to manage impulsive behavior may hinder your child’s ability to heal safely, necessitating their removal from your care. Their emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing are at stake. If you have lost child custody due to abuse, there is hope for your child and you. Contact Triangle Learning Center for our ministry or Focus on the Family for prayer and Spiritual guidance*. Seek Parents Anonymous for preventative parenting, and keep this thought in mind “Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21, ASV)
*Disclaimer:
Triangle Learning Center only reports any information about crime, ongoing abuse, or child endangerment to legal authorities. Triangle Learning Center cannot guarantee the privacy or disclosure of information to specific organizations or helplines listed. We only list these organizations as a source of assistance and information.
Sources
Knowing Jesus. (n.d.). American Standard Version. Public domain. Retrieved from bible.knowing-jesus.com.
https://preventionservices.acf.hhs.gov/programs/871/show