sigh, why do we ever have to endure crap like that? Whenever we went to visit my dad, we'd get frequent spankings (daily)... dad would hit me 7-8 times, so it wasn't actually a spanking (I just realized this this month..funny how you just accept abuse as normal)...and I suffered awful mental abuse with my mom's ex...my mom is beginning to, 20 years later, admit we were abused by him. He molested my sister. ask me why I'm a special education teacher, I dare ya....
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.I believe it, i live it. resiliency is a huge marker for success, and abused kids need it for survival.
I'm proud that you've never given up the good fight.