Anonymous wrote:Not exactly the same... but my dad almost killed my mom. I was 16. My father used to beat my siblings and I, but as we got older we would just walk away from him and not take it. I would hide under my bed or in the closet when I was small, then as a teen I would climb out the window in my bedroom when the screaming started.
So he turned on my mom, who had watched the beatings for years, and sometimes actively encouraged it.
He attacked her, ripped the phone off the wall when I tried to grab it to call for help. He took a large heavy dog bowl and started hitting her over the head screaming “I’m going to kill you bi#$&!” I put him in a rear chokehold (didn’t know what it was called until later) and choked him until he dropped the bowl. My dad drove away... my mom drove away... I called a friend to come pick me up and stayed at her house for a few days. I didn’t tell this other family what happened, but I could tell they knew something was up. I’m glad they never asked me directly.
I didn’t speak to my dad for two years. All of my siblings forgave him rather quickly. It took me 10+ years to get over it.
I am successful as an adult. I went to college. Got a job... went back for masters... married, 2 kids, UMC life. Don’t think about it much anymore. He died a few years ago. All my siblings went on and on about what a great dad he was. It was hard to listen to them re-imagine him as a great dad when he was a child and spouse abusing a-hole. Funny thing is I probably was beat the least (good kid, quiet, knew how to run and hide). I think the memories were too painful for them so they blocked them out.
CPS was even called on us when I was 10 or so, but we all lied because we didn’t want to end up in foster care.
I’m glad things turned out well for you, pp. You’re a hero in my book.