Abusive relationship
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Every parents nightmare is to have their girl go through an abusive relationship! The first thing a parent has to cultivate when they have children is self esteem. In a girl self esteem is at it’s highest at the age of nine. Keeping the lines of communication open and being honest with your child is important. Answer questions about sex and the body in an open manner. Talk over problems with your child, and teach them to problem solve. You might want to say to her, what do you think will help with this problem? Get you child involved in sports. Sports help build up confidence, team work, and a sense of community.
Dads do not be afraid to be involved in your girl’s life, and keep the lines of communication open. In fact, as your daughter gets older, it may be important to inform her of the signs of an abusive relationship. Tell your daughter that she must love herself, and appreciate herself not to get involved with controlling people. Some of the signs that she may encounter from a boyfriend are always wanting to control, wanting to isolate her, being jealous, verbally abusive, and possibly physically abusive. If she feels that that the person she is with is starting to show these signs, tell her to get out fast!
You need to remind your daughter that she is in control of her life, and other people do not have the right to try to take over and decide matters for her. Inform her that one out of every eleven relationships are abusive, and that is no way to be in a relationship. Encourage your daughter, not to get in any relationship right away; try to get to know other people by hanging out in a group, and see how the person you are interested in interacts with others. The longer you are with anyone, even in a group, you can see if a person is quick tempered, and always has to have their way.
I truly believe that if all our daughters were armed with self esteem, knowledge, and the ability to observe someone they are interested in, in a group situation, that most abusive relationships could be avoided. Again, a strong sense of self, and education, can end abusive relationships!