I never hit my mother. I hadn't intended to hit her in the first place. I was signaling that hitting me was a bad idea.
But, now, oh, my, 50+ years on, I have to wonder about their strange relationship, at that time, and after, and mostly before.
I'd give so much to talk to her now, to talk to him now.
@GeePawHill I was bullied a lot as a kid. My mother taught me that if I was bullied again that I should break their arm and walk away.
Fast forward to being 13 or 14. My mother has had a rough time separating from my adopted father. One day she was mad at me about something I don't remember. She comes over and starts hitting me. I pinned her down, stared into her eyes, and as calmly as possible said, "If you EVER hit me again, I will break your arm and walk away just like you taught me."