Had a difficult relationship with my dad, or more to the point no real relationship. In 46 years I never had a proper conversation with him.
Reading some of the posts on here makes me realise things could have been a lot worse and my heart goes out to those of you who had seriously abusive parents – can’t imagine what that must be like.
My childhood was happy enough, my parents were “Victorian parents”, didn’t want us around too much, and only then on their terms. Remember thinking as a fairly young kid that they never seemed to get any joy from us.
My mum was lovely, it was dad who accepted no challenge, beat down any hint of confrontation, and was ready to shout and hit (slap, nothing more serious) at the slightest hint of insurrection.
Definitely left it’s mark, though I figure I’ve done ok in my life so far considering. Just know that with more self confidence and without the fear of confrontation life would have been / will be so much easier.
Plus side is it gave me a template of how not to be a parent. I think I have a great relationship with my two girls, we’ve been mates since pretty much the day they were born (though with the teenage years fast approaching this may not last…).
Christ, parents…..