In many domestic abuse situations, children can be caught in the middle of abusive conflicts in a household.  Help of Door County Executive Director Steve Vickman says abusers will often use tactics against their partners to get their way.  He says many times abusers will use physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse to control the other person.  Another manipulation is pitting a child against the abuse victim.

Vickman adds that children will often believe the abuser and at least go along with it for self-preservation.  He says it is best to refrain from blaming the child or badmouthing the other parent because of the confusing time it may be for the child.  October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.