Airdate: February 1 and 3, 2011
Tempo InDepth #311
COMING UP ON THE NEXT TEMPO INDEPTH. DO YOU HAVE A TEENAGER? AS PARENTS WE ALL KNOW THOSE TEEN YEARS CAN BE TOUGH. SO MANY THINGS FOR A PARENT TO WORRY ABOUT. THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION REPORT ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF STUDENTS NATIONWIDE HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY HURT BY A BOYFRIEND OR GIRLFRIEND IN THE PAST YEAR. WE’LL MEET PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO’VE SUFFERED TRAGIC LOSS DUE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS TO HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR LOVED ONES. ... ON THE NEXT TEMPO INDEPTH
As a single parent of three young girls (ages 13, 12 and 9) who has finally overcome the trauma of domestic violence, I believe the reason that teen girls often seek out abusive partners is due to their inherent “neediness” and their low self-esteem that is often the result of being raised in an emotionally abusive home and/or a home where the father has not provided the unconditional love a daughter desperately needs and desires (through support, encouragement and affirmation). When these needs go unmet while young girls are living at home with their parents, they have a tendency to accept any amount of love to fill this personal emptiness … even if it is with abusive love that is characterized by control, manipulation and inappropriate touch.