I am now 34yrs old, but have a memory from aged 13/14yrs old that I felt strongly was real for years - it was always brushed under the rug by my (now elderly) parents.
As a 13/14yr old teenager, I remember my mum (then working as a school teacher, driving me to school alongside her) pulling up in a supermarket car park at about 8:30am and slapping me hard in the face and telling me to 'shut the fuck up'.
I remember the car park, I remember the sting and the shock of the slap. I remember becoming completely silent.
I have brought it up with her numerous times, and she dismissed it, but finally today she admitted that she did slap me hard around the face - her explanation was that I was "a horrible, obnoxious teenager always making her late for work" and then also brushed it off talking about how much under stress she was under, it was a "one-off" etc, and how our dad (her husband) was also abusive and putting her under duress. Which I knew already, because you're not completely oblivious as a child...
But AIBU to think that this is completely unacceptable behaviour on her part? Why has she never acknowledged or apologised for this act? This has haunted me and it was the last thing I needed as a teenager already frightened of my dad, who was generally worse.
Does she deserve the benefit of the doubt? She did become quite emotional after confessing. But I'm honestly shocked it took her this long to admit to this.
Otherwise, she is a gentle, loving and compassionate lady, so I can't understand it all. Not sure how to address it further with her...