I hate to say this, but have you considered calling Child Services about this? It sounds like a very horrible situation for those children to be in, and you're right, you can't solve the problem, ultimately, so why not bring people in that can?
I'm not one to jump onto calling them unless I see that something really horrible is going on, and if the parents are both hitting each other, it's worth calling and having someone go over to check out the situation. You said yourself that she and her hubby treat the kids like crap...this is something you can do about it, and remain absolutely anonymous about it...it's the law that they protect the identity of the person that called.
Now, bear in mind, like I said, I would never recommend it if I didn't see by what you wrote that it's worth doing. I'm not one to jump into calling the police or any some such right away, but I definitely would if I saw a situation like that occuring!
Hugs to you and yours...it must be so hard seeing something like that happening to those you love. My special BIG hugs and love to those little ones that are involved...I hope someone does something soon...they really can help quite a lot, and they would most likely give you and your husband temporary custody instead of taking them to a foster home. They would much rather keep the stress at a minimum in situations like that, and at least they would be safe. I just can't see two people treating EACH OTHER like that, and doing NOTHING to the kids.
If nothing else, they stand the chance of being abusive to others when they're older, and that's no good for anyone. This would curb that from happening, and help them be able to feel safe again. I'm sure they're scared out of their wits about all this, and just too afraid to ask for help.
I'm so sorry for your situation...I hope and pray their lives improve...
Please do something like that, though...protect those kids, since you can't do anything to change their parents. It's your responsibility since being involved in the situation...ya know?
Love to you!!
Be brave...it's the right thing to do! :hug2:grouphug
Edit: Okay, now that I've read what others have said, and your responses...I wanted to add a little something. What about talking to the kids (at least your neice, who seems to be quite alert and understands what you're saying to her), and letting them know that if someone comes over to their house (from Child Services, or the Police), that they're perfectly safe letting them know what's going on? Will she tell her mother that you've talked to her about it? Is there any way AT ALL to get her the information without her mother knowing?
I only ask because I lived in a very horrible situation with my own family for YEARS, and no one ever tried to step in and rescue us kids...and it was so horrible feeling that helpless without anyone trying to help. Part of the problem was that we weren't allowed to talk about our home life with anyone, and our stepmother listened to our phone conversations and proofread all our outgoing mail and incoming mail to be sure nothing like that was occurring, so we had no way to let anyone know. Since you know, maybe there's some sort of way to get a note or something to your neice (I don't know her age, but it's a thought) to let her know?