Dear Chrysalis

Letter from Shelter Worker

I’m working with a victim of domestic violence that I could use some support in helping. She is a Mother of 2 children, and even after being out of the abuse for some time now, doesn’t seem to want to do anything for herself or her children. She just doesn’t know how to be a Mom, doesn’t know how to live outside of the abuse, and I’ve run out of ideas in helping her. Was wondering if anyone else out there has had a case like this, and would have some tips or resources that I could look into in helping her get to where she needs to be. She has time left in the shelter, but I know that at some point, she has to be able to leave and support her and her children by herself, with no family or friends, and I want to make sure she gets to that point before she does leave. Any advice or resources that can be shared would be appreciated. At this point, no one else really knows what to do either.

Letter from Victim

I need help but don’t know what to do or where to go. My abuse is not that bad, he doesn’t hit me and doesn’t leave bruises, just yells at me a lot and scares me. I have 3 kids with him, and he is a really good Dad to them most of the time. It’s just me. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I don’t know why he yells at me so much and calls me names all the time. He doesn’t usually do it in front of the kids but I know they can hear. They act different after he yells at me, quiet.

I don’t think that I need to leave, can’t anyway, don’t have the money to. I just need to know what to do. What can I do to make it better? I’m afraid to leave, he’s always told me that I can leave, but I have to leave the kids with him. I don’t have the money to support them and haven’t worked in 8 years, and don’t want to leave my kids. I don’t want to stop being a full time Mom to them. I’m just so confused, and just don’t know what to do anymore.

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