Little People, Big World: Is Zach Roloff A Better Dad Than Matt?

Summary Zach Roloff's stepping away from Little People, Big World, and his differences with his father, Matt Roloff, are one reason why.

Matt and Zach's contrasting personalities are reflected in their differing parenting styles.

Matt and Zach clashed over the potential sale of Roloff Farms, and Zach isn't sure he can ever really forgive Matt.

Zach may be leaving the show to keep his young children out of the spotlight.

Zach Roloff has decided to step away from the show, and the Little People, Big World star's issues with his father, Matt Roloff, are one major reason why. Father and son are so different, and their contrasting personalities really come through in their parenting styles. Is one Roloff a better dad than the other? Maybe. The best way to decide is to compare things they've done as fathers. While no dad is perfect, there are certain actions that Matt may want to apologize for. However, Zach's not a perfect father either.

Matt Roloff is currently 62 years old Zach Roloff is currently 33 years old

In Little People, Big World season 25, there was tension between Zach and Matt. There was so much bad blood. Zach did let Matt come over, so he could see the grandchildren, but Matt and Zach's dynamic was a bit twisted. Zach was clearly still holding a grudge against his father over Roloff Farms. Zach believes that his dad promised to sell the farm to him - instead, Matt put it on the market.

With that one decisive act, Matt put himself first. He claimed he never vowed to sell the farm to any of his children.

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Zach Roloff Wants Peace

Matt Roloff Doesn't Shy Away From Conflict

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Zach's a Taurus who values home, hearth and tradition - he's a real family man who probably dreamed of working at the farm while raising the family, just like his father did. Taurus natives hate change - they love their soothing routines. So, when Matt destroyed Zach's dreams, it really stung.

Zach had to think outside the box and find a different path. He definitely resents the fact that his Dad wouldn't pass the farm down to him. Perhaps he hoped that his father would just give it to him as a sort of early inheritance.

Lots of parents do pass down their properties to their children. Parents who do this tend to be kind and generous. They are giving their children security. Matt may have made a mistake by not giving his children Roloff Farms. Parents should think carefully about their legacies (and their kids' futures) before making major decisions like this.

Zach probably thinks Matt's a selfish dad who's making bad decisions to please former "other woman" (and now-fiancee) Caryn Chandler. Matt's said onscreen that this is his time to think about himself. He's building a fancy house for him and Caryn. No one's trying to say that he doesn't deserve it. Matt, who lives with a form of dwarfism that brings a lot of pain (he's had so many surgeries), deserves a truly accessible home.

He's building a rancher-style home without stairs. Every "little person" should have this kind of accessibility - it's so important.

Matt has worked hard over the years. He was so industrious at Roloff Farms. However, he can be a difficult man. He was often hard on Amy Roloff when they were married, and Amy's a good woman. Matt may have fallen out of love with her long ago - when it came to Amy, he seemed to be on a permanent fault-finding mission. Nothing she did was ever good enough. She's better off with Chris Marek, who is a gentler person. Now, the Roloff kids have issues with Matt and Caryn. The fallout from Matt and Amy's divorce has been serious.

Zach probably holds the divorce against his dad too - that's just human nature. There's a lot of rage simmering under the surface. Matt probably feels like he's being judged and mistreated. The family is fractured, and Zach and Tori's decision to leave the series is the direct result of all this turmoil. Zach wants peace - he has said he hates talking about family members behind their backs during confessionals. He just wants to live in peace and do what's best for his family of five.

Is Zach Roloff A More Caring Dad?

Matt Roloff Thinks His Kids Should Be Independent

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Zach's quite gentle with his children, although he could show more patience with his little daughter, Lilah Roloff, who has a speech delay. She's not outdoorsy and adventurous - she cries and whines a lot. This obviously gets on her father's nerves. Zach seems more like his father when he's curt and impatient with Lilah. That's something he should work on. However, more often than not, he's a great dad. He's always trying to bond with his kids. His son Jackson is the most adorable child - sweet, protective, cute as a button and so bright.

The fact that Jackson is a total sweetie says a lot about Zach's skills as a father, and the newly-slim Tori's as a mother. These parents are doing a good job. Their son is thriving under their care. The other children will probably have the same positive experience. Their home life features a lot of peaceful and happy moments - perhaps more than the now-grown Roloff kids had at the farm. Maybe Zach doesn't want his kids to grow up on TV like he did. If he's pulling away from the show for that reason, he's a very wise man. That's an unselfish choice that will likely benefit his kids.

Of course, Zach's issues with Matt are always there too, pushing his son away from him. Zach isn't sure they can repair their rift. Roloff Farms hasn't sold yet, but the damage is done. In a confessional, Matt said:

“When Zach and I finally sat down, we were really in very different camps about what kind of a deal could go on. “Zach came in real hot. He didn’t come in to negotiate. He came in to demand.”

Zach was angry, responding:

“You’re not dictating the terms here. You’ve dictated too much for too long.”

Matt listed part of the farm for sale in May 2022, for a whopping $4 million. By late December 2023, he'd listed the property twice - that winter, he decided to take it off the market. So, his gambit to cash in on the well-known Roloff pumpkin farm didn't really pan out. Matt may have priced himself out of the market. The byproduct of his failed attempt to sell his iconic property was a bitter feud with his own child, who seems to think his father's a bit of a tyrant.

Things are bad in the Roloff family and the fate of the famous series hangs in the balance. It's hard to say if the show can survive the departure of Zach, Tori and their cute little kids. They were sort of the heart and soul of the show. Without them, the show's about a bunch of adults who've really been through the wringer. Zach and Tori still have the ideals of youth - they're trying to build a great life as a family. Their absence from Little People, Big World will possibly ruin the show. Hopefully, Matt and Zach will mend their relationship.