AIBU? DH is quite competitive at games and doesn't believe in 'letting them win'. DCs are early secondary school. DS has ASD and is by no means stupid, but sometimes struggles with understanding things, and can get a bit upset when he's stressed.
DH is pretty good at draughts - which is a game where it's more about skill then luck. Mostly we play other games where luck plays a part, so we all get a chance to win - such as card games, ludo etc. Other things like Cluedo and Monopoly are also fine. But DH likes to play draughts and will never give an inch with the kids - he feels they need to learn by their mistakes. His Dad 'never let him win' so he thinks it's fine.
Last night he played with DS (12) for about 3 hours, and I was busy elsewhere but every time I came into the room DS was upset or crying, or trying not to cry. DH was trying to teach him how not to make the mistakes that were making him lose, but DS kept saying 'I don't want your advice I want to do it myself'. I tried to intervene but DH said he used to get upset at that age too - ha ha!
I have to admit that neither DD or I bother playing DH as we will lose so what's the point. It's a binary game - you win or you don't. But surely a caring Dad would let their child win a few times to give them the incentive to carry on? Or would at least pretend a few bad moves to let them think they were doing well? It's not all about lecturing? DS is really only just learning the game.
Or should he teach them the hard knocks approach from the start? I agree they need to learn to lose, but isn't there a balance? I have to say it broke my heart to see DS so upset - and DD said later that she stopped playing with him years ago for the same reason....
I mentioned it to him tonight (not the first time) but he just shrugged.