Michael's personal story

My mother mentally abused my father from whenever I was able to remember. Constant put downs of how he hadn't achieved what others had and how that impacted her in mostly a financial/possession way. She did this in front of us as kids and was accepted by the family as normal. The constant throwing out or “cleaning” of his possessions when he was not around was common place and often the stage for an argument when he came home from work. Quite often I would retrieve his things from the bin when my mum wasn't looking.

One night I was in my room and felt an uneasy thud on the family room floor. Went out to find my dad atop of my mum strangling her after a full day of verbal abuse, and I remember thinking that Dad has snapped and I don't blame him. The abuse my father suffered has affected me throughout my life as I have always since been defensive whenever I feel my partner now wife has an upper hand. With the help of a psychiatrist I am getting help. Have attempted to discuss this openly with my Mum but she has always just simply passed it off. My father passed 15 years ago and since my Mum has always spoken about him in glowing terms? Hope my sharing helps others share. Xxxx