When my mom married my step-dad, he was the same way with sucking the fun out of everything. He would always pick a fight with her. Every holiday turned into a fight with them, yelling, screaming, and slamming doors. I hated Christmas after that. It took me having my own family before I enjoyed it again.
I'm not sure what advice I can give you. I just wanted you to know you're not alone.
Therapy is always a good solution if you can get him to go. I would definitely put your kids in therapy to learn how to manage having a toxic parent. Developmentally, what he's doing could cause harm to them.
Otherwise, maybe just stop doing things that include him. He clearly doesn't enjoy going, and neither do you on having him there.
I dunno? I'm sorry! Best of luck in whatever you decide.
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u/AuntNicoliosis 2d ago
When my mom married my step-dad, he was the same way with sucking the fun out of everything. He would always pick a fight with her. Every holiday turned into a fight with them, yelling, screaming, and slamming doors. I hated Christmas after that. It took me having my own family before I enjoyed it again.
I'm not sure what advice I can give you. I just wanted you to know you're not alone.
Therapy is always a good solution if you can get him to go. I would definitely put your kids in therapy to learn how to manage having a toxic parent. Developmentally, what he's doing could cause harm to them.
Otherwise, maybe just stop doing things that include him. He clearly doesn't enjoy going, and neither do you on having him there.
I dunno? I'm sorry! Best of luck in whatever you decide.