Spyke

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I second this. We have a very similar situation. I will note that I've begun using a "carrot" approach as well as the stick. I now keep relatively cheap and fun crafts and electronics around. Cleaning a room and helping out will earn them a fun craft and that seems to work REALLY well lately. If you know how to solder you can buy a bunch of cheap but fun kits that you can do with them and reward them with as prizes. Today's (if they are compliant and helpful) is an FM radio. I do bigger ones if they do more, and I expect more on a weekend.

Daddit

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Current dads who grew up with terrible fathers of their own - how have you done things differently?

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I'm sure you'll be fine. My therapist actually showed me what a great template I had. It sucked to live through and I don't speak to my folks, but "literally doing everything different" is a super viable plan that freaking works man. I was at the library with my 8 year old the other day thinking "damn, I never once went to a public library. Sure honey, get another 5 books. Comic books too."

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How do some people "read lips"?

Hearing loss my dude. Army. Necessity is the mother of invention. It makes date night fun with my partner though. I can read and sign remote convos to her and sometimes that's spicy/fun. It's not perfect but I can usually follow the thread. More so if the target is animated/angry/excited. Unfortunately the best ones are the hardest. We love the first date awkward convos, the public breakups, and admissions of guilt but those tend to be subdued and difficult. When you get them though it is choice.

Daddit

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Current dads who grew up with terrible fathers of their own - how have you done things differently?

I've done the opposite. I actually had a great template for parenting, I just didn't appreciate it. Cheating on my wife? Nah. Coaching baseball and getting involved? Yes. Playing games? Yes. Drunkenly abusing everyone I know? Not so much. I take special interest in my kids interests. I teach them what I know. When they're older I plan to help them financially. Just because your parents sucked doesn't mean they didn't show you what to do. And the best part is: I know what drove me far away from them. I plan to foster an environment where my kids want me around when I'm old. Turns out parenting is kinda fun when you're not a complete piece of shit.