I feel sad that I gave dc this man as a father. He’s not interested in anything that they’re doing. He doesn’t engage with them on anything. He’s literally spent the entire day watching TV and doing his own thing in our bedroom. Hasn’t seen dc all day; but they’re driving me nuts. Thoughts? TIA.
When I clicked not his post, I thought I was going to read something as lot worse than this. He doesn't sound like an "awful" father as much as a socially awkward or disengaged one. People have different abilities to relate to others. Does he literally ignore them? Or just doesn't engage in the way you think he "should"? At 10 and 12, the kids shouldn't need much "babysitting,' since they are more independent. Do they say they wish their father would do more with them? If so, maybe arrange something for them to do together, like watch a video or have a video game tournament or something.
what was his father like? what sort of a relationship did his father have with him? do you have any friends where the dh is an involved father? maybe you could all do something together with the children?
Sadly this type of DH non engagement with the kids is extremely common— see it in at least half the families we know.
I was going to post this the other day but thought I’d get flamed.
My DH has been out of work since March and I've been WFH. I know there's not much to do with DC, but he literally spends all day laid out on the couch while DC play on their iPads. He orders out nearly every meal and doesn't clean. I wish our roles were switched.
Mine is a good father and a lousy husband (not abusive but similarly dis-engaged). Which is worse?
have you talked to him about this? how old are the kids?
Is he depressed?
Men suck.