Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 149 Trust and Support This means that both partners: • support each other’s goals in life • respect each other’s right to their own feelings, friends, activities, and opinions Shared Responsibility This means that both partners: • mutually agree on a fair distribution of work • make family decisions together Responsible Parenting This means that both partners: • share parental responsibilities • provide a positive, non-violent role model for the children Honesty and Accountability This means that both partners: • accept responsibility • take responsibility for past use of violence • admit being wrong • communicate openly and truthfully Is it abuse? It is rare for a couple not to have an occasional argument. However, sometimes you begin to be afraid of your partner and your behaviour changes because of this fear. The line between normal conflict and abuse is not always clear. It is not easy for most of us to recognize and accept that we are being abused. Some people struggle to identify their situation as abusive. You may feel that your partner loves you, because partners who abuse often do express love toward the people they hurt. Remember that anyone can choose not to abuse, and that there are other ways to behave toward the people we love. Everyone has to take responsibility for their own behaviour. You may feel sorry for your partner, or hope you can change your partner. Perhaps your partner is insecure, has problems, or was abused. There is no excuse for abuse. We all have to learn to feel good about ourselves without putting others down. It doesn’t mean you don’t love your partner if you want your partner to change and stop abusing. Regardless of why someone is abusive, their behaviour cannot be justified. HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS Image by senivpetro on freepik.com women.novascotia.ca
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