Safety Planning For Your Children’s Safety:
You will have to determine how to begin this conversation. It may be dangerous for you to say, “This is what you need to do if your dad gets angry.” Your child may repeat that to his/her father not realizing the problem that would cause. You might instead tell them you are going to teach them what to do in case of emergency:
a. Tell them where to go in the house to be safe. If they are old enough to quietly close and lock a door behind them, have them do that (preferably a room with a phone);
b. Teach them to call 911 if they are ever scared of what anyone is saying or doing in their house;
c. Make sure they know they are not to intervene. Tell them they are too small or it is too dangerous but make sure they know the only thing they are to do is to call 911 and get to the safe place you have agreed upon;
d. If they are old enough to leave the house and go for help, teach them to go for help. You might drive the neighborhood and see if there is a police officer who lives nearby. They could leave with their cell phone and then go to the officer’s home to wait for police;
e. Create a code word or signal to say to them or give them so they know it is time to get help.
Prayerfully consider that if you are in a situation where you need this type of safety plan, you and your children are in imminent danger. Please reach out for the help you need for support as you prepare to leave.