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Disney Dad???

sloopysgrl's picture

I keep reading about this, sounds very familiar from home that is. Who can point me in the right direction to get the info needed to stop this Disney dad syndrome in my home?

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Kes's picture

This is something we laugh about on ST, but as a SM whose DH has been a terrible Disney Dad at times, I know it is not funny. The difficult thing about it is drawing the line between wanting your kids to have a nice time with you because you don't see them often, and completely spoiling them and putting unrealistic expectations in their heads.

Over time, I have found that the way that works best for me, is making my point in a clear, rational way, not screaming and shouting. I point out to my DH that he is not teaching his daughters to value things, and money, by overspending on them. He is not providing them with a good basis for adulthood if everything comes to them too easily.
I haven't yet found any books or articles on Disney Dad syndrome - someone should write one.

alwaysanxious's picture

The only thing that worked was me saying on numerous occasions that he'd better be careful, his kids "could" become spoiled. Not his kids!

One day while I was disengaged, his daughter finally showed her father true spoiled nature. He's backed off a lot. Still a bit of a disney dad, but its better than it used to be. In the old days, they went to the mall-movies-mall every visit. The shopping was ridiculous.

i've managed to get him to make the kids more active (at the gym) and stay home and do things. Now I kinda wish they would just leave me alone at the house and go somewhere. Go figure.

sloopysgrl's picture

Ok this is my husband and his kids. He will spend every bit of his gas $ and leave us in a bind if they call and want to do something. His youngast (8) will waill all over the floor of walmart or any store for that matter if she can not get atleast one thing from any store she walks in...He of course caves because if the kids go hme and tell MOM she calles and screams like a crazy person " YOU DONT LOVE YOUR KIDS ITS ALL THAT WOMANS FAULT!" She left him not the other way around...