Hi there,
Thank you for your letter. It sounds like the way your dad treats you and speaks to you sometimes really upsets you.
You say that he has never hit you but that you’re just waiting for the day when he does and that scares you. Your dad has no right to make you feel this way, you have a right to feel safe and be happy.
It sounds like maybe your dad blames his father for the way he treats you and whilst it’s wrong if your dad was badly treated by your grandfather, he is an adult and now responsible for his own actions. If your dad realises that he has anger problems, there are people who can help him to manage that.
You say that he’s not always this bad, I’m wondering what things are like between you when he’s not angry and whether you’re able to talk to him when he’s calmer?
You mentioned feeling like you can’t carry on living like this anymore. I’m not sure from your letter about your living situation and perhaps what you think your options are if your dad’s behaviour doesn’t change. This is certainly something that you can talk to a ChildLine counsellor some more about.
You’ve done really well to write this letter and I’m wondering how you’d feel about maybe contacting ChildLine either by calling on 0800 1111 (all calls are free and don’t show up on the bill) or by logging onto the online 1-2-1 chat on the ChildLine website (it works a bit like MSN Messenger) to talk things through some more? We’d really like to support you and help you to be safe.
Take care,
Sam.