College student graduates after 5 years, dad refuses to go to graduation because he has a fishing trip: 'He’s missed a lot of my birthdays for similar reasons'

Not every parent sees witnessing their kid's milestones as a priority.

It seems obvious: if you are going to go to the effort of raising children, surely you want to be there to celebrate when they achieve things. This is one of the highlights of the struggles that come with parenting; you finally get to see it pay off.

However, not every mom or dad is truly invested in this more enjoyable side of the parenting journey. They are more concerned with their own interests, or they have the kind of relationship with their kids that means that they are not fazed by missing out on the highlights.

Ultimately, the worst thing about this kind of scenario is the effect that it has on the children. While it is important for parents to have a life outside of their kids, that does not mean deprioritizing them for other things completely. A lifetime of dealing with this kind of thing is what lands adults in therapy for many, many years. For many, the sting of dealing with a parent like this does not go away completely, no matter how much they may grow up and achieve stuff without them.