Trigger warning - reporting to SS

[Charley1988]

Another thread made me think of this as I haven't disclosed this to many people.
On one evening when I was 4 yrs old I wouldn't settle and go to sleep. I was very active, lively and had been like a lively active (normal) 4 yr old all day - repeating catchphrases from cartoons etc and bouncing around.
At night I couldn't settle to sleep and my mum after a while came in to my bedroom and started slapping me repeatedly across the face. My dad just stood in the doorway looking and not saying anything. I can remember feeling traumatised at the time but my mum was an abusive alcoholic and although this situation happened only once I grew up in a situation where abusive behaviour is normalised. My parents have both died in the past 5 yrs so obv this is a historic situation not current.
In this circs would you have called ss?
I grew up in a home where my mums abusive behaviour was normalised although this incident only happened once

Yeah of course. It’s not a maternal instinct to come in slap your chid round the face repeatedly and if I knew it was going on within a family, I would be ringing social services without a doubt! No child deserves that and I’m sorry it happened to you

I should have made it more obvious in the title that this situation is by no means current - perpetrator is deceased so is really a hypothetical question

Thank you Nc77 - with hindsight I realise she was narcissistic

Yes but it's 2019. I'm guessing you didn't grow up in this century. Violence towards children was unfortunately a cultural norm for most parents in the uk until the early 90s. I'm dealing with the aftermath myself as are lots of people. I'm sorry for what happened to you - you certainly didn't do anything to deserve it and your parents let you down badly. Was it an isolated incident or part of a pattern?

Of course you would. There is nothing you can do now though. My mum had similar erratic behaviour when I grew up and in hindsight I had a very neglected and abusive childhood. I'm sorry it happened to you. Perhaps some counselling may help you talk through your experiences.

I'm so sorry this happened and you are left with this awful memory. Both your parents let you down horribly. If I knew about it at the time then yes the right thing to do would be to let professionals know so they could keep you safe.

If I knew you, and I'd been there, I would have pushed your mum off, given you a big hug, and taken you somewhere safe right there and then.

Ruffle - yes you're right I didn't grow up this century. This incident happened only once but after that the abuse was more emotional - blaming me for the fact she had to stay married t my father when I was still in primary school - being drunk and verbally aggressive

Aw thank you all - it led to things like I absolutely hated going on family holidays etc.

I'm surprised my dad stayed married to her

Yes, like the other thread if a child at school told me this I would pass it on to the safeguard g lead. It probably wouldn't be enough to follow up on but the school would keep an eye on you and start building a picture of what was going on at home.

However, back when you were younger, before Baby P and Victoria columbia and new safeguarding laws I suspect school staff wouldn't. Alit has changed since then. It's in the press more, more people are trained through their work so are more likely to act now. Whereas before it may have been considered that what happened behind closed doors should stay there.
Sorry you grew up in such an environment