While I agree with some of her points, such as the focus seems to be on the adult victim primarily, and that children who witness violence are indeed victims in their own right. Her statistics appear to be accurate, and I respect her position as a survivor. I am, however, going to challenge a few of her statements.

1. Victims of domestic violence are so caught up in their own pain, their own drama, their own fears about the future, that they sometimes forget about what the exposure to all the violence is doing to the children …

While it may appear to people who are otherwise unaware of the dynamics of domestic violence, they are not caught up in their own drama and/or fear. They are surviving, and depending on the individual situation – staying alive is paramount in an abusive environment, and it just may be that parent being the best parent they are capable of being in that time frame. Secondly, the glaringly obvious unmentioned individual who IS truly caught up in their own drama and victimizing both partner and children with their violence. Nowhere, in any sentence, is the abuser mentioned, let alone held accountable for said victimization. This whole article, while having a well-intentioned and potentially powerful message reads like any of the victim-blaming, shaming judgements that survivors of violence regularly face in our culture. It’s dismissive to word it as though the person experiencing the abuse is somehow forgetting about their children while fighting for their lives.