…and I thought my comment directly highlighted that, but…
yes, you did
Simple: I’m a father, I have a daughter, who I mostly raised by myself for the first 5 years, and ‘remotely’ for the rest; her growing up years were..troubled.
If I had received a letter like that from her, I’d have taken it as PROOF that I’d screwed up in the most fundamental and important ways possible, and I’d have tried to make amends. I didn’t *have* to make amends for anything I did - to, for, or about her; she *KNOWS* I’m on *her* side, no matter what, because I’ve always BEEN on her side. NO MATTER WHAT.
We talk, text, and chat often. IT was HARD, it changed me, and it was worth it.
Some people should *never* be parents. Or pet owners.
A parent who *ALLOWS* things to degenerate into a power struggle with a child - and never comes up with a better/different strategy or perspective - simply isn’t fit for the job, IMO: an asshole who ‘provides things’ but acts like a tyrant to their children isn’t much of a *parent* - just another immature, emotionally-stunted asshole who wants to be “paid back” by the people who (must) live under their rule. TONS of bosses just like that - and plenty of parents, too.
yeah, a LOT of people should never be parents, but they are...
a lot of people should never be politicians, but they are,
a lot of people should never be a lot of things, but they are...and talking about what should be is exactly as productive as shitting in your hand...
so what you wanna do about it all? got some solutions? or just more self righteous verbal diarrhea?
and of course that guy fucked up, but i'm betting he's a lot more typical parent than you are, which is unfortunate, but how do you intend to stop practically the entire world from having children till they're emotionally able to take care of them? and financially able?
magazines, websites, television...it all influences kids, and republicans are concerned that teachers are teaching the truth, and DEMAND that parents have more of a say in their children's curriculums at school, when the parents have no idea what should be taught, why any of it should be taught, how to teach anyone anything effectively...it is exactly the same as demanding that the mechanic fixing your car take your advice on how to fix your car...if you had the faintest fucking idea what you were talking about, you'd be doing it yourself....
this isn't really a tangent, one thing leads to another, and they're all interconnected...he failed as a parent, but so do at least half the parents out there...you seem like a better parent than average (judging from your own description, but you seem sincere) but the average parent is tired, has some small resentment of their own children (or else the jokes about the cost of children in never attained boats, motorcycles, house additions, travel...wouldn't be funny to anyone) is probably a little financially stressed, is working more hours than they want to to take care of a family they never planned to have...
so i'm not condoning his behavior, but try to look at it from the perspective of someone who isn't as good a parent as you are, but is still trying...