(September 3, 2016 at 1:22 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: ... or an abusive parent -- absent until displeased, inappropriately angry at the slightest misstep, controlling through fear and criticism rather than love and hope.
Agreed. I grew up in an environment where violence was never seen, heard yes, but never seen and it was probably down to my dad working hard, and coming back just a little bit pissed, and then the nagging had to start from my mum and then a series of events started. However, like I said, I always heard, but I never saw any violence and I am glad of it too. It taught me that we don't need violence to get our point of view across. So, as a parent, I am glad to say that my daughters only heard the arguments, and not seen although there were moments where my ex would initiate the violence to get a reaction (there was one instance where my ex actually broke a broom handle over my back; it was aluminium on the inside and plastic on the outside; but I never reacted.) So no, I have never had an abusive parent, but an abusive ex-girlfriend.
