Anonymous wrote:In the midst of a stressful situation, DS, 8, was sent to his room for fighting with his little brother. DH went in after him to turn a light on and DS started swinging at him, repeatedly. DH responded by grabbing DS by the neck and throwing him on his bed.
I came in on the heels of this, with DS crying and saying he put his hands on my neck, and DH saying he "had to defend himself from haymakers."
This is the first time DH has put hands on kids in the family or me. He does have anger issues and has twice in the past month screamed "f*ck you or go f*ck yourself" to the same child, who when bounding across the room or play wrestling, has hurt him. DH says these are "snap reactions" to being physically hurt when not expecting it.
Where do I go from here?
And not the last. He's escalating.
OP, many, many parents have been in stressful situations with 8 year olds hitting them and have not responded by putting their hands around their child's neck.
Make a plan to leave. If you think he will be angry and not remorseful, make the plan in secret.
https://www.thehotline.org/