My dad was horrible growing up. Mum was ineffective most of the time. I always thought life would have been easier if she'd left him, but she probably thought like you, that two parents were better. I don't know. They stayed together until he died a few years ago. I'm still licking wounds, but trying to focus on the present, which is good. It's difficult when a partner is tyrannical and abusive, always right, and you don't want to anger him.