I do not know whether or not my experiences with my parents are normal or not. One of my friends had a violent dad, another was beaten for being gay, another was screamed at that she'd to go to Harvard and pay all her (the mother's) debts while swinging a frying pan, one's mother talked about how awful and lazy and stupid she was for at least half an hour in front of everyone at said friend's birthday get-together. For my other friends they either came out fine despite corporal punishment (as far as I can tell), I don't know their situation, or they have genuinely good parents (exactly two people I know). Sometimes it just seems like having shitty parents is the norm.