Is this abuse?

by Confused Wife
(PA)

My husband and I were getting into a heated argument, and insults were flying back and forth. He said something really degrading and I slapped him in the face. He slapped me back and pushed me to the ground. I told him to stop, considering our children were home but he seemed unable to. He had a scary look in his eye that I hadn't seen before. He then took me by the shoulders and tried to push me out the front door, obviously against my will. I left the house, sought help from my family, but didn't have any scars to show for our scuffle.
When I spoke to my mother-in-law about her son's aggressive behaviors, she dismissed it by saying "if he wanted to hurt you, he would have." I feel he was abusive, but my mother-in-law's comments along with my guilt over my original slap to him makes me question it. Was his behavior abusive?