gherkin2pickle
November 7th, 2016, 07:18 PM
I'm a 15 year old girl, with a good life. I have great friends, married parents, and I really shouldn't be complaining about anything right now. I have so much to be thankful for. However, I am feeling very confused.
My dad is a good man. He was once a pastor, with his own church just a few houses down our road. My childhood was great. Because he worked so close to home, he had lots of down time to spend with my mom, older sister (9 years older than me) and myself. I remember it well. And I loved it.
The church, however, began to die after a few years. He was forced to resign, and got a job at Meijer. He still works there now. His hours aren't the best. He goes to work anywhere from 12am-6am, and doesn't get home until afternoon. Then he normally goes to bed after supper. He has days off twice a week. Sometimes only once.
Anyway, I understand that his work schedule isn't flexible. I know he's always tired because of waking up so early. But... Still. Shouldn't he at least make an effort to spend time with my mom and I on his days off (my sister lives with her boyfriend now)? He always stays at home then, hardly ever going outside. He's always on the computer, playing games or arguing intensely with other religions on Facebook. Right now he's in a heated battle with Catholics (We're of the United Brethren denomination). I just don't know what I should do. I feel like this isn't a big deal, that I shouldn't be selfish and say he's in the wrong, but... I still feel like I'm invisible to him. Just five minutes ago, I asked him if he wanted to sit down and watch his favorite movie, Gladiator, with me. He said no, and sounded frustrated, even though this is the first time I've asked. He's on the computer. Doing what, I cannot say. He always yells at me to go away if I try to see what he's doing. I can only ever coerce him into doing something with me if my mom comes along. Other than that, I have to beg him. And by then, he's so mad about my continuous asking, that he's in a bad mood, so neither of us enjoy ourselves doing whatever it is we do.
Please. Tell me what to do? I just want things to go back to how they were, with the picturesque family spending time together. Not yelling and ignoring each other for the sake of arguing with others on the Internet.
My dad is a good man. He was once a pastor, with his own church just a few houses down our road. My childhood was great. Because he worked so close to home, he had lots of down time to spend with my mom, older sister (9 years older than me) and myself. I remember it well. And I loved it.
The church, however, began to die after a few years. He was forced to resign, and got a job at Meijer. He still works there now. His hours aren't the best. He goes to work anywhere from 12am-6am, and doesn't get home until afternoon. Then he normally goes to bed after supper. He has days off twice a week. Sometimes only once.
Anyway, I understand that his work schedule isn't flexible. I know he's always tired because of waking up so early. But... Still. Shouldn't he at least make an effort to spend time with my mom and I on his days off (my sister lives with her boyfriend now)? He always stays at home then, hardly ever going outside. He's always on the computer, playing games or arguing intensely with other religions on Facebook. Right now he's in a heated battle with Catholics (We're of the United Brethren denomination). I just don't know what I should do. I feel like this isn't a big deal, that I shouldn't be selfish and say he's in the wrong, but... I still feel like I'm invisible to him. Just five minutes ago, I asked him if he wanted to sit down and watch his favorite movie, Gladiator, with me. He said no, and sounded frustrated, even though this is the first time I've asked. He's on the computer. Doing what, I cannot say. He always yells at me to go away if I try to see what he's doing. I can only ever coerce him into doing something with me if my mom comes along. Other than that, I have to beg him. And by then, he's so mad about my continuous asking, that he's in a bad mood, so neither of us enjoy ourselves doing whatever it is we do.
Please. Tell me what to do? I just want things to go back to how they were, with the picturesque family spending time together. Not yelling and ignoring each other for the sake of arguing with others on the Internet.