| Many people hear in the news about domestic | | | | courses to change the way you think and live. Men |
| violence. This is a growing problem. Why? Is it | | | | and women have always communicated differently |
| because our population is growing or is it that we are | | | | and each person has good and bad in them. Domestic |
| more open about it? In the 1950's, I had neighbor | | | | Violence leaves scars on the heart. Make a safety |
| friends with a mean father. He slapped and punched | | | | plan. Keep an extra set of keys hidden. Be able to |
| his small children in public. Now that was not talked | | | | get away. Stay calm. Have a child call 911. |
| about. As a child, I remember how different my | | | | Lock up weapons. When an argument starts, do not |
| Father was. He would reason with me and tell me | | | | participate. In a low voice, tell them, can we talk |
| why I needed to do things differently and made me | | | | about this later when we have had time to think? |
| think about situations. He asked me one time if I | | | | Watch for body language and you may consider |
| would have liked to be born a black person in the | | | | taking a self defense course. If you leave a bad |
| south. I told him I had never thought about it. He said | | | | relationship and are sure you would be better off |
| there is so much discrimination. So be nice to all | | | | without that person, make a list of why you left. |
| people. | | | | Refer to it often. Change your looks and address if |
| Domestic Violence affects relationships and families, | | | | you must to be safe. An abusive person cannot hurt |
| tearing up all in its mean path. It is a control issue. | | | | you if they cannot find you. See an attorney and |
| People have tempers. People get angry and if anger | | | | have pictures for a doctor on file. With no witnesses, |
| goes into rage, this is where we get out of control | | | | you will need proof. Let persons you trust know |
| of self. Drugs and alcohol sometimes are involved. A | | | | about the situation. If a person is mean to animals, |
| person who becomes drunk may go into a black out | | | | they will hurt humans. If a person is mean to children |
| and not even know what they did. Yet, taking that | | | | or the elderly, they are in desperate need of |
| extra drink was a choice. We are responsible for our | | | | immediate help. Cycle of abuse is damage, low |
| choices and how they affect others. In one state in | | | | self-esteem, feel sorry, make up, go back and do it |
| the United States, if charged with domestic violence, | | | | again. Keep telephone numbers handy. |
| whether male or female, you have to pay to take | | | | |