Posted byu/unintentionalmemory

My kid brain created a memory to block out something it couldn't deal with, took over 20 years to learn what really happened.

Throwaway for personal reasons. I just need to share this with someone as I don't really feel like sharing this with people who might pity me but feel free to scroll on by.

Last week while I (30F) was driving a stone flicked up and did some pretty substantial damage to my windscreen. Luckily it didn't shatter but it will need replacing and the sound scared the pants off me.

Tonight I called my mum to catch up and casually mentioned this happened. The conversation continued and I mentioned this is a first for me, and the only time I ever remember it happening if when we were kids and mum was driving and a rock flicked up and shattered the windscreen all over myself (~6), my brother (~5M) and mum who was driving.

Mum went real quiet, and eventually said "I don't think you're remembering that right". Now I have some very distinct memories of how violent my step dad was, this is not something I talk about with just anyone but (obviously) it's not a secret between mum and I. Apparently what actually happened is mum was trying to escape with my brother and I and upon that discovery my step dad repeatedly punched the windscreen while my mum was trying to reverse the car away, which resulted in her and us kids being sprayed in glass.

It's been 10 years since my mum was finally able to get away, and by choice I have no contact with my step dad for longer than that. I don't blame mum for what happened at all, she tried her best in a rubbish situation but it makes me wonder, what other memories might I have blocked out or "amended".