When you hear of a shelter for female victims of human trafficking you may be unaware that services extend not only to the adult female victim, but also to her children. Children who enter the BDSL shelter deserve and need just as much care and attention as their mothers. Some children suffer from trauma and abuse while their mothers are victimized. Healing for children is just as important as healing for the adult victims.
Recently, we had the privilege of serving a mother, her three year old son, and six month old daughter. The mother had suffered from severe abuse. She was tied up inside of a house, unable to leave for three years. During this time she gave birth to both of her children.
Witnessing and Suffering Severe Violence
The day this family arrived at the shelter she was worn down, tired, and desperate for help. The little girl was too young to feel the suffering that the rest of the family faced for so long. The young boy, however, grew up witnessing his mother being abused, and suffering from abuse himself. When he arrived, the little boy was frightened of everyone. During their first few weeks with us, we noticed that the young boy’s behavior was symptomatic of having
experienced trauma. He would not attach to anyone, even his mother. His play was violent; most likely reflecting behaviors he saw during his years of growing up in an abusive home.
Music Brings Healing
We began working with him and constantly showing him love. We used play therapy and creative activities to teach him and promote recovery from the abuse he experienced. All of these techniques helped some, but we quickly realized that he responded greatly to music. Every time music would play the little boy would run to the stereo so he could listen to it.
Over time he began to dance, and sing songs. He would occasionally get a shoe and pretend it was a guitar. He would dance, sing, and play his shoe guitar with the biggest smile on his face (a beautiful smile that was nonexistent when he first arrived). He could dance and sing for hours at a time. It was during these moments that we saw how much he was truly improving. He eventually learned how to play nicely and developed positive attachments to his mother, staff, and other children in the shelter.
A Family Heals Together
Part of his mother’s recovery was learning how to be a mother in a safe environment. This type of lifestyle was completely new to all three of them. As she began to heal, her parenting skills began to improve. As she began to parent her children in a positive way, they began to overcome obstacles they had been facing.
Before the entire family graduated from the BDSL Program we saw a broken, hurt, and desperate family find healing and restoration. Through receiving support, love, and teaching they learned how to overcome challenges, grow together, and set a positive foundation for a bright future. They came to us with tears and sadness, but they left with tears of joy and unforgettable smiles.