My father was very abusive. He beat us kids regularly with a hot wheel track. It left awful welts. But he was also very loving at times. I certainly had a love/hate relationship with him. I think I just feared him, mostly. I could never understand, and I still don't to this day, why you needed to hurt someone so much if you loved them. It escapes all logic to me.
As a result of my fathers abuse I turned into a ultra-sensitive, ultra-empathetic person. I can not stand to see others in pain, physical or emotional. I hate inflicting pain on any one, including animals. As granny says- I will protect them if I can!
I never hit my daughter. Quite frankly all the crap she pulled was quite normal and none of it was bad enough to hit her.(Unlike my dad who would beat you for nothing.) She was a great kid.(but then again... so was I!) I taught my daughter not to inflict pain on others.
I don't allow a lot of anger around me.If any one pisses me off too many times, I just phase them out of my life. I don't have time for too much anger.
I think the scariest thing was the fact that my dad sober. No drugs or drinking, just this horrible, horrible anger inside.
I suppose I yell once in a while, but mostly when I'm angry I get very quiet, and if you didn't know me you might not even realize I'm mad. And then I get over it.
Lifes too short for too much anger. I'd much rather be happy!:jointsmile: