It's been a while since I bumped this up...so I thought I'd push it up again.
I wanted to add something to those who think an abuser can just get better without seeking professional help. My now 8 year old son had witnessed his brother & sister being "manhandled" we'll call it...heard his father growl, cuss and name call...was abused by him also, still talks about the time that his dad suffocated him and the times that his dad threw him...but he was willing to forgive his dad. I heard many times last year after short visitations how his dad wasn't MEAN anymore and how he had "changed". I would smile and tell my son that it was wonderful & that I was happy for him, all while knowing that he was still abusing our daughter, not doing what was best for our sons health and just waiting & hoping that he would stop altogether. Two weeks ago he hit my son in the face. My son has had multiple health issues and had sinus surgery on halloween which was then followed by complications. He hadn't seen our son in 5 months but after having him for only two days he had already hit him in the face, called him names & cussed at him. Then he went back to the "honeymoon stage"...so what does my son think now?