Addie's influence on the children is more toxic than Anse's because, while he is indifferent to them, she actively dislikes most of her children and has a preference only for Jewel.

Cora notes that Addie only really cares for Jewel, saying that he was "the one she labored so to bear and coddled and petted so." However, this didn't change him. Like the other Bundren's, Jewel is only out for himself. (Though Cora notes that Darl is unlike the rest and shows affection despite never receiving it from his parents.)

Addie resents her children. She thinks that when Cora tells her that she's not a true mother, it doesn't matter because she wasn't meant to be one: she didn't ask for her children. This is why she's able to love Jewel—he is the illegitimate son of another man. Her children represent her disappointment with life and with her marriage.

Anse gives them the same gentle neglect. Even at the end of his wife's life, he isn't straightforward with them and immediately goes to start a new family. He even steals money from his daughter that she was planning to use to pay for her abortion. The lack of regard that his children have for him is evident when they don't listen to him. For example, when Cash comes into the room and Anse speaks to him, Cash ignores him. As Darl says, "Cash is not listening. After awhile he turns without looking at pa and leaves the room."

All of the Bundren children know they have to look out for themselves. While the lessons their parents taught them are basically the same—care for yourself and don't rely on others—Addie's cruel resentment toward her children was likely more difficult to bear and yet also sent them scrambling to try to please her more than they did Anse.

The way this question is posed presents a bit of a conundrum. In the novel, both Addie and Anse are largely passive and absent as parents in terms of modelling behavior, providing affection, and offering a connection with their children. Anse's lack of positive parenting is rather well matched to Addie's selfish and isolated mode of being. 

While Anse conducts a life without sweating (in a climate where this requires somewhat extreme measures of dedicated sedentary behavior), Addie simply does not like her children. Jewel is the only child that Addie shows real affection for. 

In the action of the story, Addie is not a character so much as she is a presence. Unable to move or speak, she enacts the novel's title, effectively, and provides the impetus for the family's quest after she dies. In her capacity as a "presence", Addie can give no solace to her children and no maternal affection or care. 

For their part, the children do not seek much affection from Addie. Darl feels connected enough to his mother so that eye contact suffices between them. Dewey Dell takes over the burden of "mothering" the family,...