Is this normal?

Throwaway account. I (16) have a kind of complicated relationship with my dad. I'm probably going to take this down if I actually post it, but I guess I want advice. Also sorry in advance, it's kind of long because I need background info and a vent, I guess and it's a bit complicated. Also, please let me know if this isn't really the right sub and I can move it.

It's a bit of a joke with my friends that I'll get into screaming match with my dad involving politics. My go to example is the one time we got in an argument about trans people in sports. Just basically imagine this grown adult man asking his teenage child if "Five 6ft muscular men with beards" (His words) playing against a bunch of women is fair. I'm not going to get into it but basically, I ended up full on sobbing while still trying to argue back while he's at the tone of just almost yelling. My younger sibling (10) could hear us from upstairs, and my mom came down and told him to stop. (He is adamantly against the idea he's transphobic btw) I use it casually just as like an add on to conversations when we're discussing our parents. But it's kind of what happens when we disagree/talk about politics.

Anyways, it's not just that, he just refuses to admit he's wrong ever and also gets into arguments with my younger sibling in which I have to mediate if my mom isn't there. His arguments with my younger sibling also usually end in crying. I have to literally parent my own dad and explain why maybe my sibling is upset and tell him what to do to have a civil conversation with them. I hate my mom being gone when I have to hang out with them because they butt heads so much. I've had to literally do the "whoever is holding this is the one who's talking, ok? Listen to each other and say why you're upset." 50+ YEAR OLD MAN AND A TEN-YEAR-OLD IN CASE YOU FORGOT. He's incredibly petty against his own children and my mom. It literally feels like arguing with a toddler sometimes.

Also, this is a smaller, but it has bugged me ever since it happened. He did take my door handle off once because I kept doing something he kept telling me not to. I can elaborate more if anyone wants but it's kind of complicated. I remember being so upset. I think I said I had a right to privacy and he said I didn't because it's his house, but I might just be remembering wrong. I also might have deserved it because I did stop doing it once he put my door handle back but is it wrong to feel like I deserve not to have that taken away?

I know it makes him sound really bad, but I am just giving examples of what frustrates me and he's not like this all the time. I think that's what makes me so frustrated. It's a constant thought in the back of my mind that I can't wait to move out as soon as possible and not have to live with him and have my own space. But again, he's not always like this. He spoils me a lot and I usually love hanging out with him because I know he loves me and I love him too. He's my dad. I have a ton of college sweatshirts he'll always bring me back when he travels, I always know he'll go out of his way to do something for me, and I usually ask him if we can do something or he can get something for me because he almost always says yes. We have special events we like to go to together because it's a tradition and I do love hanging out with him. But I'm typing this because we've been doing a deep clean of my room today and I know he's probably just stressed because he's having to monitor me and do a bunch of other things but he was snapping so much and I don't remember why but I do remember thinking I wish he would slap me so I'd just have a definite answer or feel like what I'm feeling is justified. That's not normal, right? Any answers or I guess advice on how to handle it would be helpful. I am also a teenager, and this might just be me being angsty and overreacting lol, but I'll still ask. Thanks!

Posted Mar 30, 2026, 6:08 AM UTC

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