"...there is no incident that happens between a father and a son that they cannot put behind them and carry on their relationship. "
Really Doug747?

I think my son (and his father) would beg to differ, not to mention my 4 older daughters. This incident is so similar to what my ex did to his son on a daily basis, that I won't let my son on this forum until this thread is buried. And as for "bringing them down to build them up..."? My son is 11, dad left when he was 8. All he heard in those 8 years (not just about wrestling, but EVERYTHING) was that he was: lazy, stupid, didn't try hard enough, didn't work hard enough... The poor kid still has trouble believing in himself. But with 3 years encouragement from family, friends and teachers he is getting better. But he is an angry little boy with a lot of self depreciation issues.

When anyone tried to intervene between father and son, and tell him to stop, whoever it was, was threatened. People were afraid of him. We are out of this abusive situation now. He lives in another state, far away. When he calls, no one wants to talk to him. My older daughters just don't answer their phones. I make the 2 younger ones talk to him. My son hangs up on him when he starts in on the verbal put downs. They have all refused all contact with him.

Moral of this story is: there is no grey area in abuse. Physical or verbal. It is or it isn't abuse. If you are hitting them, shoving them or grabbing them, it is abuse. If you are verbally putting them down, it is abuse. And THOSE memories will last a lifetime and WILL destroy a relationship. THOSE SCARS WON'T HEAL!