Dad's 80th bday came with home videos of abuser

Support requested

I wasn't prepared for it, handled it ok but it shook me deeply and I don't have anyone to talk

My Dad's father abused me as a kid, when he discovered it, I was nine. It was over and we swept it under the rug

I've been on / off with therapy for three decades, I've confronted my parents on how they handled it poorly (no therapy then, still had to visit on holidays until I stopped at 16) - I have done a lot of work and I forgive them

But this past weekend was my Dad's 80th and he recently got some old super8 video digitized and was so exited to share them since my brother and I were adorable toddlers and he wanted to share the nostalgia. I've never seen video footage of myself this young it was the early 70s

I wasn't prepared to see him again, and I certainly wasn't expecting to see footage of 2 yr old me with him. My grandfather/abuser. Playing together, playfully pushing him away.

It was awful. And I said nothing. My sweet partner was there to witness and was also horrified but said nothing. It wasn't the time and I reverted to familiar patterns of fawning rather than fighting

We ate some pie and said goodnight a short while later.

support is welcome ... please be gentle if you want to offer advice.

Posted Dec 4, 2025, 2:50 AM UTC

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