Time2Talk reply Unloved Child

Dear Time2Talk

I’m scared that my father doesn’t love me.

I’m his only child, and I am now 16. He never tells me he loves me though I’ve never told him I love him, and I don’t think that I want too.

I do love him though.

He always buys me whatever I need and want, but money doesn’t buy you love and he doesn’t seem to show that he cares.

He used to love me as a child, now I don’t think that he does. My parents don’t live together and he owns his own business.

What can I do?

Thanks

Unloved Child

Dear Loved Child

I’m sure that your dad does love you.

Some parents don’t tell their children often that they love them, and some do. I think it can depend on their upbringing too.

It maybe that your dad wasn’t told very often by his parents? And so it has become learned behaviour. It could also be that your dad feels that you are older now, and doesn’t feel the need to say it.

Sometimes, parents are so busy taking care of the day to day things and he is busy running his own business that they forget about the important things. Also, the majority of men don’t always say how they feel, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.

He probably doesn’t realise how you feel, but it is bothering you, so I would suggest that you just ask your dad outright if he loves you. Tell him how you feel and see what happens. Or just tell him that you love him and if he doesn’t say it back, make a joke and say “don’t you love me then dad?”

Gemma