Healing the Heartache - With Paradise Kids and At The End of Holyrood Lane

Feeling unsafe in your own home is a bleak reality for many children, with family violence putting kids at risk of psychological as well as physical harm. Writing a picture book addressing this repugnant social issue is therefore no light matter.

That so many in the industries of child welfare, psycho-education and counselling have gainfully supported and applauded this story, is almost something I cannot comprehend.

Over the next few weeks, preceding the launch of my new picture book, At The End of Holyrood Lane, I hope to highlight some of the touching sentiments given so generously by those dealing with the fall out of domestic violence on the front line.

Here is the first from the woman who inspired Flick's story, Deirdre Hanna.


Paradise Kids has helped heal the heartache of children’s grief for over 20 years. Many children coming to Paradise Kids have experienced the trauma and loss of innocence of childhood from domestic violence. Children feel helpless in the face of wrath and stormy emotions and have no safe place in which feel their many strong feelings.

Dimity again dares to touch on what is normally a forbidden subject for children: the devastation of domestic violence. Children are often silent witnesses to this rampant abuse. Their little lives are traumatised and they live with a continual fight and flight response present in them which is detrimental to their body, mind and spirit health.

 With delicacy, and ultimately hope, Dimity’s lyrical words and Nicky’s evocative illustrations touch on hope in the midst of terror. With beautiful metaphors and symbolism this book brings to light awareness of children who suffer and who are vulnerable in our society.

Paradise Kids helps children emotionally regulate, even though they can’t change what is happening around them. We can help them ‘heal the heartache’ through psycho-education about the trauma process through art, story-telling, movement, nature, music and literature. We are excited to add this deeply touching story to our Paradise Kids Library.

Deirdre Hanna
Founder
Hopewell Hospice Services Inc. and Paradise Kids
Accept Reality, Feel Feelings, Adjust to a new Life, Relocate memories    

Links for further information about Domestic Violence Prevention and Support


Comments

Norah Colvin said…
What a fabulous recommendation, Dimity. It is an important book you have written.
12 August 2018 at 21:18
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