Helping Mothers and Children Bond: Sharing Children’s Literature After Domestic Violence Experiences

This qualitative study explores how mothers attempt to bond with their children after the trauma of family domestic violence. This study was based on the use of two psychoeducational focus groups with women who are mothers and victims of domestic violence. Focus groups based on a semi-structured interview guide were held before and after a shared book experience with the group participants. Women from two Minnesota domestic violence agencies (Group A=five and Group B =eight) comprised the study sample. Findings indicated that mothers are working to create bonds with their children but have a number of roadblocks. Participants were empowered to try the practice of reading with their children to repair the damaged mother/child dyad through the process of spending time reading with their children.