Anelisse a True Story of Child Abuse - Book Report/Review Example

Anelisse: A True Story of Child Abuse “Anelisse: A True Story of Child Abuse” is a non-fictional book that assists children in healing the wounds of witnessing abuse. Witnessing domestic violence can have physical as well as emotional consequences to many children. The book deliberates on whether partners can abuse their children and remain to be good parents. More emphasis is put on whether parents should talk to their children about abuse to help them heal. This story is about Anelisse Adams who narrates the kind of ill-treatment her family is experiencing from their alcoholic dad. The book discusses emotional injury as well as emotional healing to both mothers and children who witness abuse. It introduces a world where children witness their mother being abused. Most of the abuse that is emphasized in this book is not only emotional or physical abuse but also abuse in which mothers are highly disrespected and humiliated by their husbands in front of their children It is believed that nearly 75 percent of women are mistreated by their husbands. In most cases, they are mistreated as their children are watching. This book lays a foundation to guide a mother who goes through such a life on how to become a good mother and a good wife. Domestic violence has shattered lives of victims as well as diminishes the quality of life for most people. Currently, domestic violence stands as the leading cause of family breakups leading to homelessness for children. In most cases, children who witness domestic violence become incredibly traumatic and may lose focus on their lives. In the US, more than 3 billion dollars is incurred as medical expenses due to domestic violence. Domestic violence has become one of the greatest causes of injuries in women between ages of 15 and 44 years (Bellini 113). In this book, Anelisse Adams teaches a reader how to notice a distress as a mother due to domestic violence. In most cases, children become distressed when they are helpless towards their domestic violence scenario. Children become traumatized to an extent that they do not perform well in schools. Some children end up joining criminal gangs among other illegal groups. When children grow up seeing how their dad is mistreating their mother, they may become less interested in yearning for a family set up. A significant number of girls, who grow up experiencing the brutality of their father, remain unmarried due to the fear of such mistreatment. The situation can even be worse in a situation where some children are adopted, as in the case of Maddie and Anelisse. Alternatively, some become brutal to their husbands due to the fear of experiencing domestic violence. On the other hand, majority of boys who grow up experiencing the brutality of their father yearn to be in a family set up to correct their father’s mistakes. Sometimes, domestic violence acts as a form of training to children. If victims of domestic violence, for instance, become successful individual in the society, in most cases they become pioneers of domestic violence campaign programs to ensure that no child may experience what they underwent (Bellini 138) What is difficult to agree with in this book is how a mother is patient with the kind of brutality she experiences for the sake of the family. One of the greatest reasons why women become victims of domestic violence is for the sake of their children. Some women have the feeling that if they break their family by leaving their husbands, their children will blame them forever. In some situations, it is necessary to have broken up. Despite the fact that most mothers are humiliated for the sake of their children, it is even safer to raise children from a non-comfortable background than from pleasant background where there is no peace. Essentially, children become more tormented with domestic violence than being in an unpleasant condition. The book clearly reflects impacts of domestic violence on families. Anelisse emphasizes on the trauma that she experienced as a result of domestic violence. Traumatic experiences may occur to everyone in the family set, including the man. In severe domestic violence cases, men cause long-term injuries to their women. Although some men are heartless to an extent that they may not be emotionally affected, most men who get involved in a severe domestic violence injury become traumatized too (Bellini 154). Traumatized domestic violence victims end up moving away from their house at a tender age. Girls end up engaging in illegal activities such as prostitution to earn a living. On the other hand, boys start abusing drugs, joining criminal gang, get low esteem and depression among other activities. All these activities may end up causing family separation. This book critically reflects on the causes of domestic violence in families. There are various causes of domestic violence including substance abuse and financial crisis among others. Alcohol and drug abuse are the leading causes of domestic violence. In most scenarios, a considerable number of men who appear to be violent in their families do so because of substance abuse. For some years now, substance abuse has been in the forefront of breaking marriages, as well as families. Some drugs that are used by men detach the link that exist between a husband and a wife as well as the relationship that exist between a father and his children. During such a moment, a man can comfortably degrade his wife in front of their children without any form of guilt (Bellini 138). This book could have supplemented some weight on how to help children triumph over witnessing domestic violence. Having a healthy mother-to-child relationship can help children survive witnessing domestic violence. In this book, Anelisse has a very tight relationship with their mother. Children who happen to have a strong relationship with their mothers tend to cope well with a domestic violence scenario. This is because they can understand their mother. They can also figure out why their father acts the way he does especially in a situation where the husband is a batterer. This book is a guide to various people including children who witness domestic violence challenges, moms who also experience these challenges. Most importantly, the book poses great significance to counselors. Marriage counselors can use some of these texts to advise on the impacts of family violence. In conclusion, mothers as well as children have been unable to verbalize their emotions that arise after witnessing violence and another form of abuse from their father. Majority of victims fear the situation, as in the case of Anelisse Adam. Despite the fact that their father was a batterer and alcoholic, no one in the family including their mother could go against Ed Adams. Works Cited Bellini, Adriana. Anelisse: A True Story of Child Abuse. New Jersey: Monarch Publishing House, 2013. Read More