Holidays “primetime” for women to go back to their abusers

For many the holidays are supposed to be a time of happiness and cheer, but for victims of domestic violence, the holidays mark a dangerous time. According to the Life Crisis Center, a center dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence, the holidays are time where abusers lure their victims back in. 

"This is the primetime for a woman to go back to her abuser trying to make that very 1950's, you know Cleaver family, a home," said Michele Hughes executive director of Life Crisis Center.

"They leave and go back to their abuser at Christmas because he's promised them it's going to change, I bought the children wonderful presents," Hughes said.

In many cases the abuser may actually believe that they've changed that they won't resort to violence again. However, statistics prove that's just not the case.

Hughes said once a victim has been abused, if they go back they will be abused again, often times the next time is even more violent.

Hughes said often times women call the life crisis hotline before they go back to their abuse and although hotline operators don't tell them not to go back,  they give them a clear warning.

"What we try to do is to say this is a dangerous relationship and you need to know what to do to protect yourself," Hughes said. 

Protect themselves means coming up with a plan of action. It includes where to go if they need to leave, having a set of car keys hidden outside the home in case their abuser takes their keys and having an escape plan for children too. 

Hughes said if need be they can always call the life crisis center and they'll provide shelter for them. An unconventional, but safe home for the holidays.