"I thought my kids were safe until my sister threatened to contact Child Protective Services. I was shocked and hurt as I believed I had shielded them from their dad's abusiveness to me and never suspected him of abusing them. But when I asked...

·       Noah, my seven-year-old said "I wake up at night when Daddy makes you cry and

        Daddy cracks my knuckles every day. I don't like to play with him cuz he punches my

        stomach and says I'm a baby if I cry."

·       James complained that daddy is mean and wishes he would go away forever. He

        said "Daddy cracks my knuckles until I cry and says I better not tell."

·       Lizzy said she loves daddy but doesn't like it when he cracks her knuckles. If

        she fights it, he cracks the knuckles on her feet too.

·       The twins are too young to complain, but I've always felt that my husband was

        too quick to spank them when they got out of line.

Filled with remorse, I found my way to a shelter for victims of domestic violence like Autumn and Faith House. The program opened my eyes to the impact of my husband's abuse on us. Today I can  look myself in the mirror again without guilt and shame and now have the strength and resources to protect my children.

I am making it my mission to help stop the cycle of abuse and neglect."