Maybe it is some sort of attachment disorder from being post war babies that is causing the issues? Who knows ... but interesting to think about anyway ...
I think that this is a good point. My dad was born right after WW2 and I know that my grandmother was very very religious and strict. Also, from what I heard, she had a severe case of Gender Disappointment when my dad was born as she already had a son and really, really really wanted a girl (when my eldest cousin was born my grandmother refused to call her by her given name but instead called her by the name she had wanted to name my dad had he been a girl). I think it must have been hard for my dad growing up knowing that he was a disappointment just for being a boy, so that's probably where his issues stem from...

NaeNae - I'd love to read your story, but as I am a DONF not a DONM, I don't feel right joining that forum...

I am going to San Francisco to my brother's wedding on Monday. For the best part of a week DD and I will be living in a motel room with my parents. I hope my dad will be busy enough with my brother not to pick on me too much. I used to be able to handle it, but when he starts on DD ("I don't like her, but it's not her fault she's so horrible - it's all her mother's fault"), I just lose it...

ETA - Astrid - that is just awful. My dad says similar things to me. He doesn't like the work I do and has previously said that he would prefer me to have a "real" job that I hate rather than me being happy, because my current job has no status...