| This story is based on several cases from my | | | | to protect my children from harm", they provide a |
| counseling practice. | | | | safe, stable, nurturing home for their children. Parents |
| When Timmy, aged nine, arrived at school this | | | | realize it is important to find effective means to |
| morning, he was tired and stressed out. He spent | | | | communicate with each other for a positive impact |
| another night hiding under his bed with his sister until | | | | on their relationship and the lives of their children. This |
| his father passed out drunk around 3:30 A. M. Timmy | | | | prevents children from experiencing Adverse |
| and his sister helped their mother wash and bandage | | | | Childhood Experiences (ACE). |
| her face and arms before they all fell into bed. Two | | | | Teachers are challenged daily by children arriving |
| hours later the alarm went off to awaken them for | | | | unprepared to attend school. They present behavioral |
| school. | | | | problems and other issues due to domestic violence |
| Timmy and his sister barely caught the school bus. | | | | in their home. In addition to children being exposed to |
| They threw their disheveled clothes on and tumbled | | | | domestic violence, a study released October 7, 2009, |
| out the door with no breakfast. Timmy's teacher | | | | Children's Exposure to Violence - A Comprehensive |
| took one look at him and knew he just slept a | | | | National Survey" from the Office of Juvenile Justice |
| couple of hours. It would be another school day lost | | | | and Delinquency Prevention expands the types of |
| by Timmy forever. | | | | violence encountered by children 17 and under. Their |
| Domestic Violence impacts school students every | | | | broad definition of violence indicates 60% of children |
| day. Students who live with parental domestic | | | | were exposed to violence and "more than one-third |
| violence arrive at schools daily lacking sleep, meals, | | | | of all 14- to 17-year-olds had seen a parent |
| and time to focus on the most important job in their | | | | assaulted." |
| lives -- their education. "Witnessing Mothers Treated | | | | What are you doing to support parents to create |
| Violently" is one of the Adverse Childhood | | | | Safe, Stable, Nurturing Relationships with their |
| Experiences with lifetime consequences. | | | | children? |
| When parents adopt the parenting principle "my job is | | | | |