My father feels like a stranger.

some guys just aren't good at parenting. they just do what they remember being done to them. it doesn't make it right. kids "love" the parent who takes care of them, so it's normal to love your mom more.

Awww, I'm sorry to hear that. The abuse you got probably made you emotionally detached from him. Its okay and 'normal' in this type of situation.

Its like me and my mother, I never lived with her or anything, she never hit me. She has done terrible things to me and my family though and I just don't feel love for her.

Your father was physically abusive to you when you were growing up. I'm also guessing he kept you at arm's length emotionally. Now that you're not a little child who is dependent upon him for all your needs, he wants a more normal father-child relationship without having put in the foundational work necessary to build and nurture such a relationship - not likely to happen. It's like throwing a seed into dirt, completely ignoring it - except to stomp on the seedling from time to time - and then expecting that plant to bear nourishing fruit for his enjoyment later on. You don't owe such a person your love simply because he planted the seed that, in spite of his abuse and neglect, became you. You are your own person now, and you need to do what is best for your life - not his.

Sounds a little like my sister. Our dad was crazy around us. He left when I was a teenager but my little sister was just a kid. He is calmer now but they don't even know each other and I know her feelings toward him are pretty neutral. I always wonder who will walk her down the aisle on her wedding day--her father...or her stepfather.

**think you have to

For some reason people that you have to love family. Not at all true completely normal.

How can you quetion normality on this? You should hate him. You're a good person. Better than you or many others may think. Dont ever lose it.