Domestic Violence against Men and Children (328K) - Amen

4. APPENDICESa. Excerpts from letters to AmenIf I was ten minutes late coming from work, she would tear into me, often slapping me acrossthe face; I could do nothing right for her. I washed the clothes, did the ironing and vacuumedthe house before I went to work. I got up to the boys at night when they were babies while shestayed in bed. I had to leave because of the threats from her family and the beatings from mywife. I just did not know her next move. I can’t take much more, watching the pain she’s puttingthe boys and myself through.The boys need both their parents. As it is, I am afraid that I may lose my children. MartinMy wife has been beating me for years now but for the sake of the child and my home, I havesaid nothing, also because of the embarrassment of people laughing at me. I am big and she issmall. Nobody would believe that when she was pregnant, she stabbed me with a knife; but forthe sake of the child I let it go. I don’t want to lose my child but she tells me that the judge willnot believe me and he always takes the woman’s side. After speaking to a Garda and Amen, Ithink I might have a chance to get my life back. My wife is having an affair and she stays outall night. I always took my child to Mass. Now she won’t let him go with me. TomWhen the baby was about eight to ten months old, I was feeding him when she came in andsaid that she did not know why I was so fond of him as he was not even mine. I felt sick but Itold her I did not care, that I loved him and I would mind him. Now she only has time for herboyfriend; she is gone three and four nights a week with him. In the morning my young sonsays to me, “Is mammy home yet?” It is so sad to hear him say that. We would be better off onour own. She hit me across the back with the brush and said that I would soon be gone. This isa sad life. When her boyfriend sleeps with her I have to lock the door from the inside. I haveno say in my house. If the judge hears this he will kick me out and take my child from me.JimDear Amen,As far back as I can remember my Mother was the one who was physically and emotionallyabusive. I watched as she hit my father with whatever was at hand over and over again. I listenedas she cursed him to death and worse. My brothers and I were taught that he was a disgraceto humanity we were told that to bear his name was a shame. He was a weakling, a liar, asneak and any other kind of filthy name she could conjure up. If she was doing something toour Father, or angry with him, we were to side with her and deny what we saw before our owneyes. We were to defend her and to abuse him alongside her. We were subject to the sameabuses.I remember anger and arguments for the early part of my childhood. I can’t tell how manytimes my father would rush into my room in the night with my Mother hot on his trail withwhatever weapon was at hand to hit him. I remember a soup ladle landed across his head, alarge seashell, and a hurley on another occasion. I never saw my father hurt anyone. NancyThe first time she used physical violence she bit into my arm. This was significant because it14