My husband reacts instinctively when woken up, usually with a huge flinch or sitting bolt upright if disturbed when in a deep sleep. As a child his brother used to wake him up with a punch or attack him in some way, and if I was to shake him awake he has in the past made the motion to punch me, but usually makes a sort of whacking motion. He is a kind and gentle man and would not do this when awake, but unfortunately in his sleep he is not really in control of himself and because of this I usually make sure he doesn’t sleep near the kids as, aside from him flailing or whacking his arms around, he can be a bit shouty until fully awake, though he doesn’t usually remember it later.
He fell asleep watching tv one night and the next morning DS aged three bolted through from his room and jumped on the sofa, and kicked/landed with one foot on DH’s balls. DH jerked up and slapped DS across the face. Not that it makes any difference, but luckily it wasn’t a hard one and DS was more shocked than hurt, though he was quite upset. I have put up a baby gate so that he can’t just run in the living room anymore, in case DH ever sleeps there again. DH feels awful about it and worried and upset since.
I’m now terrified our children will be taken from us if DS tells anyone at nursery that his daddy slapped him. What would happen if DS told anyone at nursery? I can’t sleep at night I’m so worried.