@poster, i can very well associate with your post.
My dad is same too(ie. kinda wealthy, a bully & also violent)
esp towards my mum, which is partly why they are separated now.
for us the kids, we try very much to be far from him so the violence doesn't extend to us.
i think you should try that too. also if you mum is being physically abused by him
i suggest you should get her out of there asap, cos you will eventually blame yourself if anything happens to her.
@Ivynwa, trust me, there is no sitting down and trying to reason with someone like this.
i should know we have tried it severally in my family (even getting elders & preists) to no avail.
either the man gets so upset he is shouting everyone down or he storms off
this is because he thinks he is "almighty" can can do no wrong and is above reproach.
I guess, for people like this they allow whatever small wealth they have to get to their heads
and feel, if you are cut of from them you cant do anything.
one thing am grateful for is that my Dad saw me and most of my siblings through school (Yes he believes Education is key)
so, now we are trying to move on without his influence in our life, it hasn't been easy but we will get there.
the most important thing is that my mum isn't afraid anymore of physical abuse from him.