Dad is feeling pent-up, how can I persuade him not to dwell on one thing?

Hello. It seems like your father is really struggling with the new house that has been carefully renovated, and you're keen to help him work through his worries.

I'm not sure if your father's dilemma came up because of the move or if it started while he was buying and renovating the house. Did your father decide to look at and buy the house, or did he support it?

The house is on the street and near a square, so there'll be noise, which Dad has probably been dealing with for a while. His mood isn't just down to this.

We often say "moving house" to describe moving to a new home, but some people find it hard to leave the old house, especially because of the memories they have there. If you've lived in the old house for a long time, have good relationships with your neighbours and know all the local amenities, Dad might feel attached to the place.

While separation anxiety is usually about people, it can also be caused by the home and environment. At this point, the new home's unfamiliarity is likely to be criticized and rejected.

Another thing to think about is that if Dad feels like his opinions haven't been fully taken into account during the house-buying and decorating process, or if something has happened that makes him feel like he's not being taken seriously, it could lead to pent-up emotions coming out at the last minute.

These are just some ideas. If you can have a good, deep conversation with your father and really listen to what he thinks about the house, moving, and various aspects of home life, and talk to him about the old house and past moving experiences, you may be able to understand him better. At the same time, listening to his concerns can also help relieve his emotional stress and make him feel supported by his family.

If there are any practical problems, such as noise, you can work with your father to identify the specific impact and ways to reduce it. For example, you could install soundproof glass to reduce noise.

Also, car noise is usually the worst during the morning and evening rush hours, and square dancing is also concentrated in the morning and evening. If your father is still working, then he's only affected for a short time. If he's retired, maybe he can go for a walk during that time, meet some people his age in the community, chat with them, and adapt to the new environment more quickly.