My step-dad had some interesting (see also: radical) ideas regarding how to parent. I think a lot of it was an attempt to kind of prove his masculinity and his power over me and my siblings. But he slowly revealed himself to all of us as a terrible person, who led us to moving 100s of miles, name-changing, etc.

Looking back on moments like the one mentioned here is always weird. I can see the good intentions in there somewhere but the idea of the response being that extreme remains weird to me. I can understand the thought that I was just being picky, I suppose, but I do think that the response was over the top. I remember many, maaany mealtimes where I would be told I had to stay at the table until I had eaten x amount of a food I wouldn't go near, and sitting for literal hours sometimes with half-chewed food sitting in my cheek. Not great memories. But I get it, I guess. Just a rough-handed approach - hurt people hurt people, etc etc. I'm working on being more forgiving and accepting of all of that, but it takes time :) Plenty to work on mentally, always