But you aren't seeing it holistically. He was a loving husband and a great father but the kids were too much for his selfish wife. She ran away with a yeti just after the last was born, leaving him to care for the kids alone. He does his best, but sometimes the lonelyness and the kids bring him down. Thus, once a year, he gets pissed as a nit and makes the kids do a little work to relieve a little stress. I think you are being a bit harsh on him by showing this one scene out of context. ;-)