I work. My wife is a stay at home mom. On weeknights, I see my 6-year-old daughter for maybe an hour. Usually we run around, joke, play a game, watch TV.. read books.

On weekends, I usually have a special daughter/daddy time when we go out to hike, go to fun restaurant together, to the jump zone, and do other 'fun’ stuff.

The problem is, sometimes my wife says I don't lay down the law enough with my 6-year-old (making sure she has good manners at the table, letting her roughhouse too much). My wife thinks our daughter sees a little too much of the 'Fun' daddy and not enough of the 'strict' daddy.

My son has an uneasy relationship with my father. "Granpa" lives in another town and we don't see him often, but when we do he can be gruff and abrasive. It's stuff like asking his grandson questions, and not waiting to hear the answers - or criticizing the way he dresses (which is not bad at all).

I know people change as they get older, and my dad has changed too. He wants to connect with his grandson, but it's not working. I've told my son to "roll with it" when he's with his Granpa, but he's getting fed up. Anyone else out there with a similar situation?

The holidays were rough for my son. His grandparents are in bad physical shape and seeing them over the holidays depressed him.

I’ve tried to talk with him about it, but he seems reluctant. I think he’s afraid of offending me, or maybe doesn’t want to be reminded that they’re so fragile. Anyone else going through this now? And if so, how are you dealing with it?