This paper discusses the experiences during COVID-19 of mothers who have young children, are survivors of domestic violence and who share parenting to highlight the further unsafe situations survivors of violence and their children were placed in during the pandemic. Part of a larger mixed methods study, these participants (n = 19) from three Canadian provinces, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, engaged in virtual individual one-on-one interviews via zoom. Using thematic analysis, four themes emerged from the data: 1) increased use of coercive controlling behaviors; 2) fear of the unknown; 3) lack of supports; and, 4) finding balance. Direct quotes are used to highlight the meaning of each theme. We outline the challenges these women have that are in addition to those experienced by many during COVID-19 times (increased stress, isolation, disconnect from supports, financial challenges). These include managing the shared parenting arrangements with a former abusive partner who used the pandemic as a further opportunity for coercive controlling behaviors under the guise of the public health order. The mothers were left to manage the difficult exchanges with a former abusive partner and unknown circumstances of the pandemic without guidance and support from legal actors. There will need to be a prioritization of the safety of mothers and their children in post-divorce parenting arrangements both during times of a community lockdown such as during the pandemic and also during non-pandemic times.

本文讨论了有年幼孩子的母亲、家庭暴力幸存者以及共同养育子女的母亲在新冠肺炎 (COVID-19) 疫情期间的经历，以强调暴力幸存者及其孩子在大流行期间面临的进一步不安全状况。作为一项更大规模的混合方法研究的一部分，这些来自加拿大阿尔伯塔省、马尼托巴省和安大略省三个省份的参与者（ n = 19）通过 Zoom 进行了虚拟的个人一对一访谈。通过主题分析，数据中出现了四个主题：1）强制控制行为的使用增加； 2）对未知的恐惧； 3）缺乏支持； 4）找到平衡。直接引用用于突出每个主题的含义。我们概述了这些女性所面临的挑战，以及许多人在 COVID-19 时期所经历的挑战（压力增加、孤立、脱离支持、财务挑战）。其中包括管理与前虐待伴侣的共同育儿安排，该伴侣利用这一流行病作为在公共卫生秩序的幌子下进行强制控制行为的进一步机会。在没有法律行为者的指导和支持的情况下，母亲们不得不处理与前虐待伴侣的困难交流以及未知的流行病情况。在离婚后的养育安排中，无论是在社区封锁期间（例如大流行期间）还是在非大流行期间，都需要优先考虑母亲及其孩子的安全。