I don't know if Schneider had the tools necessary to be a father. He thought he had been like a father to Harvey, but Ann points out that he wasn't. He was just a fun uncle who had no rules and imposed no discipline. I think the temper factor would have hurt Schneider in the father department. He was ready to literally punch Harvey out until Ann stopped him. Then look how crazy him went with Alex over the camper fire. Sure, anyone would be furious over that, but when disciplining a child you have to maintain control over your temper.

Schneider seemed to have lots of emotional problems. He got his feelings hurt very easily. He always acted all happy-go-lucky, but then when he got mad or hurt he could change on a dime. Ann was the only one who could talk to him. Ann could reason with him. She finally got him to understand about Harvey and also Alex. Ann had a temper too, but she usually stayed in check with her daughters. The only time she totally lost it was when she slapped Julie. Then there was that time when she went off on both girls for leaving the top off the ginger ale, but she apologized immediately.

I thought the episode was sad where Schneider finds out that he has a long-lost son. He wanted to be a father so bad. However, he might have been better as an uncle. Supportive and fun but no real responsibility. He was good with Julie and Barbara, probably because he knew deep down that he wasn't really responsible for them. They had a father. Yes, Schneider would have been furious with Julie or Barbara if they had burned his camper down, but he would have let Ann deal with them and Ed too if he had been there. Alex had no father at that point, and Schneider had wanted to step into the role.

I think that Schneider did best being what Ann described: a wonderful uncle who plays games with him, and then sends him home.

Actually, I think Schneider was too easy on Alex re the camper! If someone had destroyed a good part of my property due to sheer careless, I wouldn't want them coming around for LONG time no matter how much they blubbered!
Oh,and I think for all Ann's heavy guilt tripping to keep Schneider from having any kind of punishment towards Alex, I can't imagine that she would have not wanted to punish Alex had it been HER property that he'd destroyed by carelessness. :mad:

Yes. I think Schneider would have been a very nice loving affectionate Father!;) He was great with the girls and Alex.:) It's a shame he wasn't able to raise kids of his own, that he never knew he was a Father until his already grown biological Son just showed up just to meet

him, not wanting to really have him as his Father because he thought of his adoptive parents as his real parents. That was sad for Schneider !:( So yes, I truly think he would have made a great Dad!:)

Also , he was very willing to babysit Annie in Woman of the house ep.!! ;)

Maybe Schneider would have been better with daughters. He was very good with Julie and Barbara. I wonder how he would have handled it if Harvey had been a girl. I doubt he would have used the headlock at the end, LOL.

I think Schneider would have been a good Father. He was more emotionally stable than M.S. Romano.