Nathaniel is a kid with an problematic father, his father is abusive and he knows that. He can't do anything about the constant abuses he does to his mother and sometimes him, he's just a kid and he wishes he could protect his mother from his father. He absolutely hates his father even if he still deep down wanted his affection as a normal father and not just the abuses. Even if his mother isn't entirely mentally stable, she's still better then his father and gives him affection.