Is God a good father?

Okay - I don't think I would treat my kids the way God treats his loved ones. He sets up trials and pitfalls and then hands out severe punishments for infractions... eternal damnation... burning in a hot fire for ever!  If he has the power (and supposedly he does), why doesn't he just create a happy situation right from the start?  We could all just start out happy and healthy in heaven and be there for ever. Maybe God gets bored and needs to be entertained by us?  After all, he needs love and get's angry, takes revenge, etc. ... so, bored is just another emotional state like that.