Dear friends,
On a recent Saturday morning, a five-year-old boy came bounding into the Shelter office full of energy and questions. “What’s your name? Do you live here? Is it too early for candy? My mom says it is, but I don’t think so. Can I watch cartoons?” After introducing myself, we enjoyed a lively conversation about the importance of a good breakfast before candy and how much we both love cartoons. Then, with a quick “bye, Anne!” he skipped toward the kitchen as spirited as any five-year-old could be. Had the setting been different, it would have been impossible to know that only a few days earlier, he had watched his dad strangle his mom.
The impact of domestic violence on children can be profound. I couldn’t have guessed that the night before our playful conversation, my new five-year-old friend had a rage-filled trauma tantrum that took his mom and two Shelter Advocates nearly an hour to defuse. Providing space for children to express complicated and overwhelming feelings is critical to their ability to understand and heal from the trauma they have experienced.
The African proverb that states, “It takes a village to raise a child” couldn’t be any truer than for children exposed to domestic violence. They need their non-abusive parent, who is dealing with their own trauma and recovery, to see, hear, and support them. They need advocates and counselors who understand the impact of trauma to embrace them as children filled with life and potential. And they need a community willing to step up when asked to provide financial and practical support.
In this issue of ReachOut, you’ll read about our friends from Calvary Bible Church who took this call to action to heart by re-invigorating the children’s and teen’s spaces at the SPAN Shelter. It is because of the compassion of community members like you, a village of SPAN supporters, that the littlest victims of domestic violence have the care and support they need to heal, grow, and thrive. We appreciate all of you!
In Peace,
Anne Tapp, Executive Director
