Honestly, I’m pretty okay with the dad. He’s not the best adult or frankly a good parent, but he knows that and owns up to it. Unlike say the Mother who who’s a terrible parent and tries to make everyone’s life worse by playing the “adult card” and pretending she can just show up and solve everything. Then there’s Wahei’s mom who just left and abandoned them (knowing the father is constantly absent). Personally, I’ll against the idea that just because you “have” children means you need to drop everything and force yourself to take care of and raise them 24/7. Like anything else when you force yourself into a position you just aren’t suited for you’ll make everyone involved unhappy and do a terrible. For some parents the best thing they can do is leave it to someone else. The father is hands down just the worst at being a father and a dad, but him forcing himself to be something he’s not would only make things worse. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t love or isn’t concerned over his children (as he comes running at the first notice of danger). He still wants “a” connection with his children, but realizes he can’t (and honestly he shouldn’t) be the primary adult in their lives. He’s good at being the uncle and I wouldn’t say that’s all that bad.
That said, this is largely only because the circumstances themselves are very favorable. Wahei is a successful adult himself who is doing well enough financially to care for his three sisters without sacrificing too much himself, and he wants to, and he’s a responsible adaptable adult, and he has the time to be a part of their lives and assist in their development. Plus it really helps that the older sister pulls a lot of the weight herself and the twins aren’t too much of a handful. Something like Wahei’s childhood would be a much worse case. Admittedly, I would also say that people who are nor prepared to be, able to be, or would be even okay at being a parent just don’t need to have children. This is also why two parent housholds are necessary (worse case scenario there’s at least someone to raise their kids). I would even say consider abortion or adoption right after birth if all you’re going to cause your kids is pain.
That’s just my two cents. The dad isn’t a good father, but I don’t think that’s the end of the world. I would hate him if he randomly showed up and took everything over or tried to uproot their lives, but he does have enough self awareness to realize who the primary adult is in their lives and what his role is at this point. That alone makes him better than both mother’s (which to be fair isn’t a huge hurdle in this manga).
