How has Nathan's upbringing affected his approach to parenthood? How do the events of the novel influence his attitude towards how he interacts with Xander and Jacqui in the future?

How has Nathan's upbringing affected his approach to parenthood? How do the events of the novel influence his attitude towards how he interacts with Xander and Jacqui in the future?

Nathan is broken and has little in the way of emotional coping mechanisms. He has isolated himself from all society, including his son but, through the events of the novel, seems to grab a handhold to moving toward a better place.

Nathan wa brought up in an abusive home. He didn't have a positive example of what a loving husband and father should be. His divorce is contentious and Jacqui uses his actions and her father's money to keep Xander from him. His relationship with Xander grows as the story progresses. As he realizes the damaging effects of his past and the true nature of Cameron, he begins to let go of the past. He's open to change and improvement. He even reaches out to Jacqui. The fact that Isle and he seem to be building a relationship also helps him.

Marcia S, I believe you cover this really well. It seems as if he almost had no chance to become a good or loving father because of the example set for him in his own family home, and while Jacqui's father could have given him a better look at life, he, too, chose to work against him. The result was ignorance and almost complete isolation. How ironic that his brother's death brings him back again into that same family home where he begins to learn the truth, put the puzzle pieces together, gain insight and understanding into his own character and past, and finally begin to make the changes needed to live and complete and successful life as a husband and father.

Nathan is pretty standoffish as a father, finds it difficult to show his love, or believe that his son loves him. But it’s no wonder because he had a horrible, violent, cruel man for a father himself. And while it’s difficult for him to realize that his brother was also a violent and cruel man, it gives him a chance to redeem himself with his son and ex-wife.

Similar to many men raised by abusive fathers, Nathan did not have a good role model of how to be a loving strong family leader. In a more positive note, after his brother's death he begins the process of re-examination of his life and takes steps to change so that he can have successful relationships as a husband and father.

Nathan will not treat his child the way he was treated. He wants to be close to his son despite difficult circumstances like his wife not wanting him near Xander. I don't see an influence of the events of the book affecting Nathan's interactions with his wife and son. In fact, I was really surprised that Jacqui seemed responsive to Nathan at the end of the book.

I do agree with Marcia's answer. Nathan has no good example for being a parent and he is afraid he will be like his father and Cameron. After the happening in town, he really kept away from people. It would have been nice if there was someone who could help him. He loved his son, but was afraid to get too close and felt he was better off with his mother. I was happy, at the end, that they could come to an arrangement for seeing each other.

I agree that Nathan did not have a good role model for a father; however, I think he tried very hard not to repeat his father’s abusive nature. He always was hardest on himself.