What is Disneyland Dad?
1.
Term used to describe the role that some divorced fathers fulfill, whereby they tend their biological children during certain prescribed times during the year (much like a vacation) rather than be a father full time.
Maria: You can take the children weekends during the summer.
Ted: No way! I'm not going to be a Disneyland Dad!
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2.
A biological father whom, after divorce, treats the kids like they're on the ultimate vacation every time they're in his custody, but does little to no actual parenting.
IE: no or few rules, not observing the child's accustomed routine or bedtime, buying the child whatever s/he wants, letting the child eat whatever s/he wants, letting the child watch age-inappropriate media, etc- basically trying so hard to be the kid's friend/hero/favorite that they neglect to be a real, adult, responsible parent.
I'm not saying that a parent shouldn't ever loosen up and just have some fun with his kids or let the rules slide once in a while, flexibility is fine, but Disneyland Dads take it to extremes.
My son's Disneyland Dad let him watch PG-13 movies when he was two years old, buys him toys all the time even though he's out of work and says he can't afford to pay any child support or contribute 20 measly bucks a month towards his son's sports classes, and feeds him nothing but junk food and sugar when he has custody (even though my son actually likes veggies!).
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