@LittlemissMama67 my mother did the hair thing. She'd pull and tug away and if I cried out I'd get hit, usually with the brush. I remember this happening when I was about 10, she hit me on the back of my head so hard I passed out.
@reesewithoutaspoon My mother is fine with you if you 'need' her. what she can't cope with is people having opinions that differ from hers or being independent and doing things their own way.
You're talking about my mother! As a child, and teen I never questioned anything my mother said. I suppose I was frightened of her. Our fall outs began when I married and had children. She also has words with my adult children when she feels they're not doing things her way. They visit infrequently because of this.
My friends always thought my mum was lovely, she has this front she shows to friends and neighbours, but for those closest to her, my father included (he was an unassuming kindly person. She was always yelling at me how like my father I was.) we'd see another personality altogether.
I'm close to my children, have had holidays together, see a show, we enjoy spending time together. I always felt my mother disapproved of our relationship, jealousy maybe?
It's very sad reading this thread, but has helped knowing I'm not alone...