Warning Signs
Sometimes, mothers in love can't see the signs. One of the most important signs to look for is how your child acts when left alone with your partner. Is your child afraid every time you leave? Does he or she cry uncontrollably? Shake with fear? Has the child begun to exhibit new behaviors like bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, being clingy to mom, or crying uncontrollably when mom leaves the room?
There are other questions you should ask. Does your partner:
- Get easily irritated or short-tempered when talking to the child?
- Seem immature or have poor impulse control and need constant attention?
- Deliver harsh punishment for minor rule infractions?
- Show anger or impatience when the child cries or throws a tantrum?
- Call your child names or put down the child?
- Think it is funny to scare your child?
- Stop you from bringing your child to his family’s events?
- Make all the decisions for you and your child?
- Say you are a bad parent and not strict enough?
- Hurt your child and blame you?
- Handle guns and knives around your child?
- Call your child a nuisance?