My Flavour/Broth of Bad Father Robbie Robertson🥫: Neglectful & Completely Clueless Of How Impressionable Children Are.
When it comes to how Robbie raised Robert - I appreciate and adore most people's head canons and interpretation of [Robbie Robertson's A+ (sarcastic) parenting] even when it feels like it really being milked.
So I'm just dropping my own headcanon/interpretation/picture of what flavour of Bad Parent Robbie was -> a list in no particular order.
(The list might repeat a few things but there are some specifics wordings I simply must write down.)
I personally believe Robbie is guilty of the following:
Child Neglect
+obviously, extremely lonely childhood
+all the basic necessities provided but non of the emotional.
+having a dog would be too distracting and another thing to worry about villains taking advantage of.
Isolation & Homeschool
+ California Middle School Grade 6-8/Ages 11-14
+Took Robert out of public school to be homeschooled
+Robert did develop his smarts faster with all the free time he had at home alone
+& was trained in fighting, first-responder actions, hero/cop/firefighter/paramedic type lingo, emergency drills
+(maybe woken up at 3am, maybe not but definitely had surprise drills)
High Expectation - Not always hard to meet but hard to maintain
Conditional Love - All road leads to Mecha Man
+the most surefire way Robert would be able to get his dad's attention and spend time with him was by "showing interest" everything Mech Suit related & being Mecha Man successor /Mecha Man the 3rd.
+Robert could 'technically' ask whatever he wanted for his birthday or Christmas but would deliberately choose Mecha man lesson to bond with his dad.
+Bonding things unrelated to Mecha Man, Robbie would promise to attend than break that promise for the greater good or leave in the middle of them,
Monkey See, Monkey Do:
+ Robert copies his father's unhealthy work/life balance (but isolates himself more than neglects).
+ Robert was taught fist aid but never fully developed an understanding of needing rest himself to recover [GET UP] cuz Robbie had Vitalia to superpower heal him.
+ Doesn't have a stable breakfast, lunch, dinner eating routine with Robbie thus never develops good eating habits, full-meal (like a lasagna or chicken-in-the-oven) cooking/baking skills, and never fully understands the importance of eating compared to the importance of exercise.
+Maybe alcoholism? Robbie wasn't an alcoholic but Robert's seen him drink beer the few times he's home or when they're together in the workshop. Addiction is expensive tho so Robert didn't become an alcoholic. But the risk/impression is there.
Imparting unhealthy mindsets and philosophies rather then enforcing them
+ Robert's conversations with his father were limited unless the topic involved Mecha Man thus Robert absorbed and held onto those conversations the most.
GET UP
+Headcanon - Robbie toughened up Robert by no longer giving him any real hugs after the Ear Incident.
+Hugs probably lasted less than a minute if he ever got them.
+Basic Comfort would be coddling. (product of his time stuff but by no fault of Grandpa Bobby).
Emotional Repression/Bottleing-Up Emotions
+following the logic of "whining and being a crybaby helps no one, get up and find a real solution". (did not learn from Grandpa Bobby).
+Logic would have been reasonable but Robbie unfortunately did not understand the healthy emotional release of crying.
Taught "[Mecha Man the Man] is not (fully) a Hero without [Mecha Man the Mech]" instead of "[Mecha Man the Mech] is nothing without [Mecha Man the Man/THE FUCKING PILOT]"
+which is ironic considering Robbie encourage Robert to fight dirty outside of the suit.
The Greater Good
+the public is put in front of Mecha man
+and Mecha Man in front of the civilian identity.
+yes Robert you should be a ashamed of being so selfish for wanting me around when I have more important things to do
+There wasn't a difference between Important things being [actually saving people] or [showing up in person for a pr campaign or charity event]
Struggle to Form Solid Connections & Trust Issues
Again: doesn't really want to neglect anyone so Robert would break up with his relationships when he noticed he was ultimately being a bad partner
+"If Uncle Elliot betrayed Robbie and he was [unofficially] part of the Brave Brigade, how could I ever rely on a team of my own?"
Unintentional Identity Crisis (happens more after he died)
+More interest in Robert the successor (conditional love) than Robert his son.
+Robert is a tool/extension of Mecha Man to function in society. (Robert internalised after dad death)
+Robert spent less/close-to-zero time as Robert -> and more time as Mecha Man Hero and Mecha Man Suit
+(adding some fun times body and species dysphoria cuz why not. Robert having robot characteristics especially after working a 27 hour long emercany shift).
And Finally-
Parentification of Chase
+ handing things over to a babysitter is easy
+ & a kid hero gets tricked into not going on extremely dangerous missions.
