My dad is a classic narcissist. Everyone was put on this earth to serve him. If you don’t do what he wants, you’re a worthless terrible person. It was not uncommon for him to get physically abusive, but not enough to leave suspicious marks. I went low contact with him three years ago when he yelled at my autistic, non-verbal daughter because she was being “too loud.”
My Grandma (his mom) died a week and a half ago. He demanded we all help go through her stuff on the Fourth of July. He figured we weren’t working, and couldn’t possibly have anything else to do. My older brother, myself and my younger sister said sorry we all have plans, but we’re happy to do it this weekend. He stormed off, and later told my sister that getting married to our mom and having kids was the worst decision of his life. She called me crying.
My wife and I talked things through and decided we are going no contact with him after the funeral, which was yesterday. I don’t need to have that kind of stress in my life, and I don’t want my kids to experience anything like I had to growing up.
It’s probably for the best. Have you or your family ever consider referring your father to a therapist? It doesn’t excuse anything he did, especially being physically abusive but it might be an idea.