Disclaimer to say that this is probably going to be a load of word vomit. I'm just so unhappy and confused I really don't know what to do.
But the problem is, we are on completely different wavelengths when it comes to parenting. I was brought up with lovely but bordering on neglectful parenting. I always thought they made us independent but looking back, too much responsibility was put on me as a child because of different things. They were very loving and genuinely did the best they could. I knew I didn't want to replicate their parenting with my own kids, but ultimately me and my brother turned out ok.
DH on the other hand I think had a very heavy handed upbringing. His dad worked away a lot but when he came back he was the ultimate authoritarian parent. DH remembers having a games console smashed in front of him as a 12/13 year old for not keeping his room tidy enough. FIL has children from a previous marriage that don't speak to him. FIL had a lot of counselling years ago because of mental health problems and has apologised profusely for the way he was. He has also tried to build bridges with his other children. But DH idolises his dad, ironically FIL is the best grandad to our kids and is the softest/calmest person I know.
So, the crux of the matter. We have a 7 year old and a nearly 4 year old. DH (I think) has completely unrealistic expectations of them, in terms of behaviour, tidiness, attitude etc. he says I'm too soft, I think he's too harsh and completely out of touch with normal kid behaviour. He's never tolerated the whinging or moaning that kids do, any expression of an opinion is often labelled as 'ungratefulness'. I've realised that any kind of day out that involves things like waiting or queuing (Legoland for example) usually end badly with DH moaning about how ungrateful they are. I think they are normal, tired, hot, worn out etc. and a degree of moaning is to be expected, it's for us to manage and accommodate that surely?
We've plodded along this long without many issues, but now our 7 year old is full of attitude (which I think is normal) she's having problems with friends and is nervous about moving up to junior school. I'm trying to teach her better ways of communicating how she's feeling and encouraging her to tell us what she needs. Where as DH won't stand for the attitude and thinks threatening to 'smash up' toys or tablets will resolve the issue. Actually, all it's doing is making dd dislike her dad. But apparently I'm wrong.
I've told DH tonight that I won't have them raised living in fear of him or on egg shells about upsetting him. I've tried talking to him about this but he gets straight on the defensive about it, plays the victim, tells me I'm a control freak and that he's not allowed to parent them. For info he does miss a lot of the day to day stuff because he works long hours, he also worked shifts for a long time that we did get used to it being just me at home with the kids.
And don't get me wrong, I'm far from perfect. I get overwhelmed and frustrated sometimes but I'm really trying to do better than my own parents. I hate seeing DH's relationship with his kids deteriorate but I think it's been happening for a long time, I just hadn't noticed/realised.
I've told him tonight that this is a non-negotiable, I think he needs some kind of counselling/support and we possibly need some kind of parenting support maybe to get us on the same page. But I just got a flippant comment again that basically I'm wrong. I'm already making plans to leave. I don't think I realised how much I've been accommodating his moods/approach to parenting. When he's in 'fun dad' mode he's wonderful, but that fact there are noticeable 'sides' to him worries me. And it worries me what sort of example this is setting for our girls of what a partner looks like.