Should children be allowed to live the blissful ignorant years of a childhood, or should they be prepared for the darker side of reality early?

It all starts with buying a brand new toy. The 'must have' of the year. You saved up for this toy for your child because things had been confusing in the household. It is tough being an adult. You truly have learnt the dark side of reality in recent months.

You walk in the door. Your wife is nowhere to be seen. You call out to her. "Babe, where are you?" You cannot wait to give her a kiss, as usual. It has been a long day and all you want to see is a friendly face. Then, you snap back to reality. It has been three months since she died in a horrible car crash.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Your child runs down the hallway with such enthusiasm. You are overwhelmed with life but the innocence your child has brings a little comfort. From behind your back, you present them with the toy. They quickly grab it from your hand and drop to the floor. Within seconds, smash...the toy obliterates in to several pieces. The toy is broken.

"What the fuck!" you yell in a fit of rage. You smack your child across the back of the head and throw the broken pieces in the kitchen bin. You slam the broken toy in the bin with such force. Your child breaks in to tears and begins screaming. You turn to them and just laugh in an almost crazed state. "Harden the fuck up...this is life!" you scream back.

Saying this reminds you of what your drunk father said all those years ago. You catch a glimpse of your reflection in the kitchen window and realise you are currently drunk. Your face is drawn out - just like your father's used to be. You are balding and it looks like you haven't slept since your wife passed. In fact, you haven't. You clench your fist enraged at the sudden realisation of what you have said, what you have done...what you have become.

You turn to your child and start yelling abusively as they cry louder. You raise your fist and threaten to shut them up for good, but something stops you - this time. You remember the first time your father beat you. You were a bloody pulp laying within the hallway. The first of many beatings, but the first was the absolute worst. You couldn't do that to your own child, could you? You make a sudden promise to yourself that you will never beat your child. Then again, that's what your father promised time and time again. "I won't beat you anymore, I promise!"

Your child stops crying and reaches for you. Your fist relaxes and you become calm. You pick your child up and tell them "Everything will be okay." You slump to the ground with your child in your arms and you whisper to yourself, "I am a monster..." Your child says, "I love you."

/r/AskReddit Thread