Very vain women tend to hide their age.

Unfortunately a person can be raised in a loving home and still become very narcissistic. There is a lot of insecurity and jealousy with those who have a high level of narcissism. I noticed that in my piers, I’m 66. I saw parenting styles I did not agree with and a lot of self centered behavior in my generation.

Hitting a child the way you describe? That’s deplorable and I am very sorry you experienced that.