What is the relationship between Bruno and his parents?

From the beginning of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, it is very obvious that Bruno's father is a career man first, being far more preoccupied with his new position of Commandant of Auschwitz, a position granted to him by the Fuhrer Adolf Hitler himself. Bruno's father has adopted the no-nonsense decorum of military protocol in every aspect of his life, giving him little patience with Bruno's childish ways. Although Bruno's mother attempts to be kind and nurturing toward her son, she is completely subservient to her husband's wishes, and must conduct herself in the manner that he sees fit. This parental negligence creates an extraordinary naivete in Bruno which shows itself in many ways, such as Bruno not understanding that he's living next to a concentration camp and referring to prison garb as "striped pajamas."

Bruno has a distant, relatively strained relationship with his parents, which is one reason he does not disclose his meaningful friendship with Shmuel to his mother or father. Bruno's father is depicted as an authoritative man who prefers to give Bruno directives and expects complete obedience. Bruno's father essentially treats Bruno like one of his soldiers and creates various rules around the home that Bruno is required to follow. He is also preoccupied with his new position as Commandant of Auschwitz and does not spend much personal time with his son.
While Bruno's mother is more affectionate and tolerant with her son, Bruno's relationship with his mother is far from ideal. Towards the beginning of the novel, Bruno's mother seems more open and willing to acknowledge her son. When they move to Auschwitz, her attitude begins to change and she tries her best to protect Bruno from the terrible environment just outside their door. She acts similar to Bruno's father in her strict demeanor but gradually becomes more distant as the novel progresses. The awful environment of Auschwitz, coupled with her husband's controlling nature, negatively affects her behavior, and she begins to lose patience with Bruno. Overall, Bruno does not have an ideal relationship with his parents, who are portrayed as being controlling and rather distant in his life.