[chrisvineup]

First off you say this was an emotional case to sell a book, you then use an emotional case to justify the Dads actions.

"Perhaps his wife had just died?"

A child's early development is MASSIVELY different to that of an adult, the way they are treated at a young age acts as a template for their future relationships, habits and personality.

You cannot treat a child as if they were an adults or versions of yourself, children are continually learning how to deal with new feelings and emotions, they struggle to concentrate sometimes and are almost always aloof.

Yes children learn to manipulate, but you are the adult, deal with it, ignore their requests, remind them of your earlier conversations...

Children become a reflection of their caretakers emotions, you treat them like shit, they will argue with you more and the cycle continues...