Is it normal to wish to have a loving father?

I wish I had a loving Mother.

I have a verbally abusive father who was never proud of me through the years even though I have always been far beyond my age, I went to college at 16, got a job, and straight A's. never gave a shit and screamed at me calling me an idiot.

Yes, this is indeed normal since I wish for that exact same thing, OP. My biological father was a Super-Dick that abused my mother, my twin, and my older brothers. My mom and them claim that I was his "Favorite" because he never beat me like he did them. Yeah right. If I was his favorite, he would've actually been there for me the past 21 years. But no, he didn't do anything for me. Zilch. Nada. If mom had stayed with him, I believe that I would've been abused too eventually. Because of Monty's piss-poor "Fathering", I have been dreaming of having a loving, caring dad eversince I was 10/11 (somewhere around there) and I still do to this day despite being an adult. I wish desperately and pray everyday that one day, I'll be with the father figure in my dreams as well as the godfathers I have in it. To me, getting a woman pregnant a father does not make. A father is the person who loves you unconditionally and cares about you until the very end of time. Because the man in my dreams does both, he is my real father (He's a better dad than Monty COULD EVER BE) and Monty can go fuck himself if he even DARES to call himself a "Father". Hope he dies horribly. The fucking son of a bitch.

On a lighter, happier note though, maybe this lack of a good father is only a test for people such as you and I. Maybe it's a test that (if we pass and sucessfully cope without one in our lives), we'll be rewarded that loving, caring father in the afterlife and he'll never, ever leave us. I'll pray for us both and every other father-less person that's only the case. :)

I travelled half way round the world to meet my Father...waste of time.

After 64 years of being an inconvenience to a man who hated the very idea of being a father, I do understand. He had a vasectomy the day after I was born. But in my case, the old bastard is dead and gone, so all the wishing in the world ain't gonna change a fucking thing.
Only good thing about it was that it was impossible to disappoint a man who didn't give a shit if you were alive or dead.

I know my dad loves me, but he can be such a dick. His idea of parenthood is being the harsh force of nature that bashes an oak to make it stronger and it sucks sometimes. He has called me things I can't forgive him for, and I honestly can't see why my mom puts up with him (I think it is mostly a money partnership now than a marriage).

I really want to marry a guy who will be a tender loving father. I think that will suffice. And if the OP is a guy, then let that inspire you to love your kids.

That'd be weird.

actually my dad is super nice and loveing as all hell dont get me wrong i wouldnt trade him for anybody but once and a while i wouldnt mind him being a bit more strict

its weird for me my dad is really loving and nurturing of me and and my talents where my mum exercises tough love and is generally resentful of my generation compared to how it was when she grew up so she's bitter and twisted. It's weird having these two forces, negative and positive in my life. I too often fill myself with the self doubt influences of my mother's side but I suppose it keeps me grounded in a funny way.

My dad left when I was 8... Huff... I've lived a LONG time without him... I wish I could see him and stuff. Everyday, I pray for him to come back, but it doesn't work. I don't call it a waste, I think it may work. All I need is hope, patience, and positive thoughts. I always wonder what's going on with his family...

I don't know my dad very well, but it doesn't bother me at all.