how does child abuse effect family life?

[Lou]

with siblings and parents

[TokyoGirl]

It changes everything. I can't even begin to describe how it affected my life. I got abused as a kid by a family member both sexually & mentally. When I was older, I moved out to live with my mom & stepdad for a few years while I took a college couse. He was incredibly abusive emotionally. In both cases we had to basically step around things incredibly carefully, as if we were walking on land mines. You never knew what was going to set that person off.

[Ali Hall]

Every way it possibly can if you are being abused do something about it its not fun to go through...I have been through it my whole life....its not easy so dont let your chance of getting out while you can

[Kelly E]

I was mentally abused as a child, not physically. I watched my mother and older brothers and sisters go through abuse though. I can tell you from experience that even though I wasn't slapped or kicked I was still abused and to this day it still affects me. It's something you never get over. My parents had severe marriage problems. They shouldn't have stayed together and we left so many times I can't count, I went to 13 different schools if that tells you anything. We would be run out of the neighborhood because of the noise and police visits. All I can tell you is think about your kids...they have ONE childhood. You don't want to wake up someday and realize that they were miserable and hurting because you didn't want to leave. We as adults have a duty to make their lives better than our own. I don't know if your religious but I always think of what the bible says.."children are a gift from God". I hope you make the right decision.