Was my dad in the wrong?

First of all kudos to your dad for controlling his anger issues for all of these years. While others will say that what your dad did is totally wrong they seem to miss the point. You say your brother is a dick, and in life guys that are dicks tend to get their a$$ beat, a lot! Your brother seems to have learned which "buttons" to push to make your dad "lose it", and that is unfortunate. I'm sure your dad feels bad about it. It is tough to maintain your cool when there is someone pushing you to extremes. So rather than totally blame your dad, your brother is at least equally to blame because his actions brought about the situation. Hopefully they can both get beyond this, and an apology from both of them seems appropriate.

I feel your pain! Most of the time I'm stuck in the middle, between my siblings! It's hard to know who to side with, because you have to go by the situation and not by who you're closer with. In your situation, I would say don't side with either of them, even though you feel that your dad is in the wrong here. Let them sort it out and remain neutral at all times. I know, your brother annoys you and you don't appreciate his behaviour, but he's only a child, yet. He'll grow up into a different person.. people change a litte everyday day, so please don't give up on him yet. You say he doesn't deserve to be hit, and you're entitled to your opinion and you're also right. Nobody deserves to be hit, regardless of the situation. Communication is key! Your father has anger issues, and sometimes these things are out of people's control. I'm almost 100% certain that he didn't plan on hitting and hurting your brother like that, but his emotions got out of control.. he's only human! We all make mistakes!

So, don't get involved and let them sort it out. A third person meddling isn't right at this point in time. Good luck to you either way! xx

It is NEVER okay for a parent to hit a child. I don't care who was in the wrong at first, but your father is the most guilty just because of what he's done. Especially if he caused your little brother to bleed, and I don't care of your brother is a brat. Your father could be arrested for this. He drew blood from his own son.

As for you, you need to stay out of it. It wasn't your fight, and it's over now. Your father can't take back the punch, and your brother can't miraculously wake up and not be a dick anymore. There is nothing you can do but to let it blow over on its own.

I think the most important thing here is that you all sit together and talk. Because when there's no communication, nobody knows what to do and is left to draw his own conclusions.

So ask your dad and brother to sit together (you maybe too to moderate) and let each explain why they did what they did. For your father to hit him and for your brother why he behaved like that to make your father react so violently.

Your father should know that while sometimes he can feel like he lost control, he needs to suppres that urge and your brother should learn that you can't just provoke someone like that. Even when it's your father, especially when it's your father (or mother or sister or brother) because family is forever, how cheesy that may sound.

I hope this helped and that you all can settle it down.

I understand some teenagers at that age start doing things they should not do ,or start behaving in a way where they don't respect their parents or their siblings anymore But , what ever your brother did had to be really bad for your father to lose his patience and punch him in the face. I know hitting is not good but if your brother deserve it he deserve it even tho your father could of fix the problem or handle it a different way for example sitting down with him and have a father son talk.

Under no circumstance is it OK for an adult to punch a child. If anyone outside of your family had seen that incident take place, they would have called the police and your father would be under arrest for battery on a minor. If you feel so inclined, or your brother does, you can still call the police. At a minimum, you should implore your father to seek counseling to learn how to cope with his anger.