Parents are unaware of the psychological, emotional, and mental affects observing abuse will have on their children.
Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
Children’s first experience of forming relationships is observing that of their caregiver. Studies have found that a child’s reaction to the facial expressions of their mother significantly impacted the level of a child’s emotions. Therefore if the mother is sad the child reacts to this negative expression and this expression now becomes a way of reacting/responding. Noting this simple reaction are indicators professionals use to assess the emotional well-being of babies and young children unable to speak.
Parents are responsible for a child’s environment and in this arena, they are conditioned to process their emotions albeit negative or positive ones into adulthood. Experiencing or inflicting DA will be the training ground in which children will learn either to be submissive, dismissive, or aggressive when faced with an abusive situation.
How are your children starting off in life?