Many children are exposed to intimate partner violence against their mothers. Countering assumptions that abused women ‘fail to protect’ their children, this paper presents the results of a Canadian qualitative study that examined the protective strategies of 18 abused mothers, most of whom are Aboriginal. Half of these women were living in a large city and half were living in remote, northern communities. Despite geographic location, abused mothers engage in acts and behaviours to not only protect their children from immediate physical violence but also to mitigate the potential emotional harms of exposure to violence and to prevent their children from continuing the violence in their own future relationships. Relying on informal supports, such as family, was especially important for mothers living in northern, remote communities, and is not surprising given the few services available. Professionals must be aware of the range of strategies and approaches that mothers use, including those that do not involve formal systems (i.e. the police or shelter). Focusing on their strengths and protective capacities will help to empower abused mothers and limit unnecessary, inappropriate, or intrusive interventions. Recognising mothers' capacities will also lead to better outcomes for children, who fare best when their mothers are appropriately supported. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ‘Abused mothers engage in acts and behaviours to protect their children from immediate physical violence’ Key Practitioner Messages Abused mothers engage in acts and behaviours to protect their children from the harms of exposure to violence, and these may differ for mothers living in remote, isolated communities. Mothers' protective acts extend beyond calling the police or going to shelter, and include informal supports. Professionals must inquire about mothers' protective strategies and incorporate into case plans. Professionals must support abused mothers so that they can help strengthen the mother‐child relationship and help children recover from violence. ‘Professionals must inquire about mothers' protective strategies and incorporate into case plans.’