People actually found Lirin abusive?
I found Lirin a stand up father, who in any other time than now would be completely right.
He has high expectations for his children, but what good parent doesn't?
He critiques some choices they make but ultimately he supports them, otherwise he would never have gone along with Kaladin's plan to sneak the Mink into the city.
He fought exactly once with Kaladin, which is completely normal, especially as children begin to leave home.