That is their father and the kids can't refuse to see him. If they come home crying, patch the kids up and turn around and send them back out to him. Though I agree the girls should have a relationship with him, I do not feel it's my job to jump up in the middle of this and try to fix anything. This is between their Dad and the girls. It's his responsibility to nurture them and work on bridging that gap that he made, not me.
Of course you should pay attention to them. But what you do makes all the difference. How you frame things, makes all the difference. Forcing them is not something you want to do. From a legal standpoint, you may not have a lot of choices in that. But you do have a choice how you frame it. For their sake. I don't suggest you get in the middle of it. I suggest that you consider how you can best help the girls cope and still give them what they need to grow: your love and support.
Take your emotions out of it and look again. This is about them and them only.
How can you make it work without a) causing damage to them and b) without getting in the middle of it.
Think about it and the answer will come to you. Even if it means talking to your xh about it. Your kids deserve your best efforts, even if not successful the first time
AJ
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" MLK Put the glass down... "Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world Today I am wise, so I am changing myself."
