Parenting is TOUGH

During a mountain-and-yakiniku outing, his girlfriend’s daughter resisted waking, cried, then abruptly became cheerful; he felt powerless as a non-parent. He questions whether a playful adult can discipline children, fearing leniency, bribery, tantrums, and awkwardness between mother and daughter. Hotel confinement makes him miss England; after drinking alone, he reinstalls Vainglory and quickly becomes absorbed for hours daily.

Family enjoyment repeatedly flips into awkward conflict, while isolation revives solitary gaming as escape.