That sounds to me like a worry dream, perhaps a guilt dream as well. You have nothing to feel guilty for. My Dad used to use a bamboo cane to beat us. With my brother it was the back of the legs, with me it was the palm of the hands. My brother got the cane more often than me... that used to make me feel guilty, everytime he was punished I felt it was my fault. Believe it or not, we get on really well with our Dad now. He went to anger management classes after our mother died, and is a much mellower man as a result. I've always admired him for recognising a problem, and getting help. So many people would try to justify their aggression... he had the honesty to face up to himself, and ask our forgiveness.

I imagine your mother didn't mean harm either, seven kids is a lot to handle. I know it was more common in the previous generation than now.