Did you ever get the feeling your parents don't love you?

Asked by Sunshinegirl11 (1110) August 16th, 2017 from iPhone

I’ve never felt this way with my mom. She’s always spoiled me, is eager to spend time with me, when I’ve been gone and come home she tells me that she missed me, etc.

My dad on the other hand, I don’t know. I have so many fond memories of us when I was a little girl. My parents divorced in my teens and my dad got a new girlfriend a few years ago. Ever since she came into our lives things haven’t been the same with my dad.

We don’t really talk, and when we do it’s just small talk and he never really responds to me. But when he’s with his girlfriend and her daughter, they talk about anything and everything. If I make a slight mistake on anything, my dad will say “you should know this by now!” And make me feel stupid. When ever I bring up my dreams he used to be so excited for me, now he doesn’t respond when I want to talk about my future.

I can’t be around him and his girlfriend because they just drain my energy and make me depressed. I feel like he loves his new family more, and I see how happy they make him. I’m always trying to compete. I try to make myself smarter, funnier, more outgoing. Anything to make him proud. But he only seems truly happy around his girlfriend.

Has anyone else felt this way about a parent? How did you get over it? I don’t know if it’s all in my head or what.