DH not interested in DD’s sport

I'm sure you adore washing his scuzzy underpants and sweaty socks @Palsof as you spend hours doing laundry every week. Do you enjoy spending time doing those little things that make his life easier & nicer that have absolutely no benefit to you?
Maybe you should follow his directive & only spend time doing things that interest you?

My dad, bless him, would sit with me and listen to ALL MANNER OF CRAP in terms of music. Miles away from his own tastes.

Because that's what it takes to show an interest in your child.

Yes, it's lovely when you can share your interests, but now with my son, I see my mum sneering at me singing silly baby nursery rhymes to him BECAUSE HE'S A TODDLER, and I double down on doing things my son loves. I enjoy all sorts of rubbish because I see the joy it brings my baby.

He needs to understand it's nothing to do with his enjoyment of it - but if he leans into it, he SHOULD be able to find interest in, say, when she masters something she's been trying hard at.

OMG this is so sad. How on earth could op have let this go on for so long already?

Two separate points:

1. Football is a much simpler game to watch. Two teams playing simultaneously. One objective - score more goals. Relatively few rules to understand.

Gymnastics is a much harder watch. Many disciplines. Scoring based on subjective judgement of style and ability. Competitors doing their thing one after another.

There is a reason that football is a massive TV sport and gymnastics isn't. Football is better competitive entertainment. It has a simpler, easier to understand narrative.

2. Being a parent means sucking up the tedious gymnastics training / ballet shows / chess tournaments / martial arts / orienteering / swimming practice.

TL:DR - Of course football is better but your husband is being a dick.

We have 2 dds but DH was never interested in ballet, when one of them did that, could never seem to remember where or when it was. When dd swapped to badminton different story. He was much more enthusiastic about picking up and dropping off.

I can imagine DH would like watching the football matches more because he loves football- even at a low level. The trouble with gymnastics is that you're sitting around for hours watching other ppls kids perform .

His reason is that he’s no interest in gymnastics so why would he go.

That's not how parenting works! He's an absolute dickhead.

I'm just trying to imagine my life if I only took my kids to activities I was interested in. Nativity play? No thanks not really my thing. Soft play? I don't enjoy the ball pit. Playground? I'm too big for the slide.

That's really sad. What does your DD say about this?
If they have otherwise a good relationship, I would have a word with DH about supporting his DC equally. And really home in on the fact that it's not about the type of sport, but being there as a parent.

The football stuff is bad enough who only watches select games or if they’re not on the bench. That’s terrible. Then the gymnastics. What an absolute arse. My DH is the coach so does go to every game of our DS as do I to support I don’t have to be there. Our DD not sporty but into gigs so he’s driving 2.5 hours each way to a concert next week of someone who’s in the charts he’s never heard of but she loves and has bought him a jumper to wear. It’s just what dads do isn’t it?

I think it's more likely that (a) gymnastics is as boring as fuck and/or (b) he might feel uncomfortable being a bloke in a room full of young girls in leotards (or whatever they wear).

Having said that, I agree he should feign an interest simply on the grounds of good parenting.

That’s rubbish! I have a DP who has no interest in DDs sport but shows up enough to disguise the fact! Not a sexist thing as DP is a woman, but DS plays same sort as DP so more of a natural affinity there.
Our DD also does dance which I have ZERO and I mean ZERO interest in. Find it boring as fuck! I haven’t missed a performance yet. It’s about supporting your child’s interests.
All anyone has to say is I love to see you perform, play, run, etc easy

What an asshole

DD and DS both play football. I have absolutely no interest in football. DH loves it. When they both had Saturday fixtures, we alternated who went with each child so it was fair. Now one has a Saturday fixture and one a Sunday, DH goes to both of their games and, depending on what else is on that weekend and the weather, I will go too as I want to support my DC. By going on a regular basis, I have learned more about the game, can appreciate what is involved and sometimes manage an insightful question or comment. I still don't enjoy it - but I do enjoy seeing my DC do something they love, share their joy when they have done well, share their frustrations when they've had a bad day and see them develop and grow. I say this despite the fact that, due to a combination of it being half term and DH being away with work, I have spent between two and five hours on the side line every day of the past week other than Thursday, either in the freezing cold or the rain and have more to look forward to this weekend. Perhaps if your DH had bothered to attend some of your DD's comps he would have come to understand it and been able to derive joy from it.

Simple equation - if you don't invest in anything you get no return

He doesn't have to be interested in gymnastics, he has to be interested in his daughter.

Cricket bores me to tears, but I have spent hours and hours watching my dc play. Quite nice in the summer. Less so in unheated sports halls in the winter!

Horrible man

This was my FIL. Today my DH is a (retired) pro sportsman. FIL very proud. My SIL has never forgotten was a misogynist crap dad he was. She runs ultra marathons and is amazing. He gives her no support or praise. He rings DH every week to discuss the sport they like. Be very very careful. He’s going nowhere good with this behaviour. It says an awful lot about him to be honest..

You're right.
Unfortunately, I don't think there's anything you can do about it.

If I'm brutally honest... I don't like going to DDs rugby matches or training. I'm grateful that DH does as many as possible (which is good as he's the coach!) And I go when he can't. I go because she loves it. Thats more important than my feelings about cold damp muddy fields.

Your husband is a dick. Thats it really..

I played for the D team in hockey.... my dad turned up to watch regularly. I was a terrible player but I often look back on those years and my parents' commitment to supporting me with a great deal of gratitude.

You have a massive dh problem. And I suspect the fact that this has gone on so long is a sign that really, this is the tip of the iceberg. It's clear you know it's not ok but for whatever reason you haven't been arguing and fighting about this for 10 years. So I wonder how controlling and abusive he is in other aspects of your lives.

If he doesn't understand that it's about supporting his daughter rather than enjoying the sport, then he's a moron and there's nothing you can do.