Interesting topic, this one. Yes I was abused as a child. My dad wasn't a witness, though my mom was. On his part, I endured, physical emotional and sexual abuse while my mom acted like she didn't know it was going on. I remember when I was a little kid, him, on numerous occasions, bringing me in the room, locking it and lighting up a cig and telling me that he needed to make sure that nothing was wrong on my body. Then he would have me strip down and I'll leave the rest to your imaginations. One time he kicked my ass cause I came home from hanging with "friends" and they bought me some food- since we had no money from him squandering it on CRACK- and he beat me down cause I didn't bring back left overs from the food I got from DENNYS. Come on! After the beating, he told me that next time, if I eat out, I better not walk in the house without bringing something with me. I also remember getting my butt beat if I forgot to steal toilet paper from the bathroom at school. Again, broke from his crack activities. I also being literally in the middle of a fight between my parents cause he couldn't find my mom's purse to steal some money for drugs then he noticed that I had it (yeah i slept on the floor on this lame ass mattress with her purse under the blanket)
aaaah, fine memories, those.
On my moms part, (whos been baptized since like 82) i was emotionally and physically abused by her. Whatever instrument was within arm's reach, she used it on us kids. She had a famous thick wooden spoon which she put holes in and wrapped in electric tape that she would always pack for use at the meetings. There was also this very humiliating practice she had: If one of us fell asleep, she would make us stand up. And she was one of those that HAD to sit EVERY MEETING in the 2nd row from the FRONT. (Like she would get sooo pissed if sister kissup got there before her and TOOK her seat.) So the brother would be giving a talk and all of a sudden you'd see one of us standing up in the middle of the hall: so embarrassing. So yeah, I've been beaten with that wooden spoon, leather belts, the thick orange electric extension cords, the blinds turner thingy (ha ha), been sent outside to get a tree branch (and i better not had get a flimsy one) her hand, her fist, need I go on? The emotional abuse started as manipulation into being her little soldier dog that followed her around and did whatever she wanted, when she wanted and If I stepped out of line, thats when I got a tongue lashing and then the physical one. Then when I started to think independently from her, thats when the SHUNNING (but we know jws dont use that word) started. then I got DF'd and even though i was reinstated little over a year after that, it was never the same. I have a VERY toxic relationship with her to this day and I avoid contact w/her wherever possible. It's a shame she can't have a relationship with her granddaughters. It's her fault though, I don't need her poising my kids anymore than she already has. And I certainly don't want her beating my kids like she did me. Maybe its my fault though, since I strayed from the straight path. RIGHT...
Moe