How can you tell the difference between physical child abuse and discipline?
I vividly remember the beatings with the belt until I wet myself when I was a child (many years ago) by my father. I always considered myself lucky as my older brother got it more than I did. My yougest sister never got hit. Now from what I remember it was delt out when we misbehaved. Did we deserve it? I awlays thought it was a bit excessive. I even admitted to doing some things my brother actually did and received the beating inplace of him - this is because he pleaded with me. My brother ened up being a heroin addict. My sister has been divorced twice. I think I am OK. I have a good job - better than my father.
When I was old enough (I think it was about 12) I threatened my father by telling him if he hit me again I would go to the police and have him arrested - he never hit me again - instead he used to threaten me with throwing me out of the house. He constantly used to tell us we were nothing and useless. I would have left but I had nowhere to go.
Recently I was talking with my dad (this is some 40 years later) and I brought up how he used to beat us as children. I was amazed and somewhat stunned as he blankly denied ever having laid a finger on me. In fact he suggested that I am crazy. He is not senile or anything. I was lost for words. I know it happened. I have always been scared of him.