I am bitterly, bitterly disappointed.

November 25, 2012 9:13 AM

In case you did not get your fair share of parental disapproval this weekend, this letter from a retired British Naval officer to his three children may provide the "kick-up-the-backside" you were missing.
posted by loveyhowell (13 comments total)

There has been widespread discussion online about the email since Mrs Crews-Montes published it, with her father’s permission, in a national newspaper at the weekend, with many people taking his side.

That whirring subterranean sound you hear is Edward R. Murrow.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:16 AM on November 25, 2012

Sound words from a modern Diogenes. A number of you would do well to attend.
posted by Your Disapproving Father at 9:16 AM on November 25, 2012 [2 favorites]

Dad, heal thyself:

She admitted spending “many years underperforming”, partly because her father’s uncompromising stance left her with little self-confidence.
posted by mediareport at 9:20 AM on November 25, 2012

why do stories like this always come from Britain?
posted by The Whelk at 9:20 AM on November 25, 2012 [2 favorites]

His kids might not be the nicest people, but he sounds like a fucking ray of sunshine, himself.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:21 AM on November 25, 2012

Can we start a pool on when they get their own TV show?
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:22 AM on November 25, 2012

why do stories like this always come from Britain?

Because Daily Mail/Sun/Torygraph outrage headlines rely on social expectations of conduct that aren't exactly the same in the US?
posted by dubold at 9:23 AM on November 25, 2012

By poking around on that newspaper's links, I was able to find out one son, who's been married twice, works as a taxi driver and one daughter works in a sailing shop (possibly the one who has since set up business as a book translator - she's been raising children while her husband works as a surgeon where they live in *France*).
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 9:24 AM on November 25, 2012

If all of his children are bitter disappointments to him, then clearly they had a great parental role model to learn from.
posted by scruss at 9:25 AM on November 25, 2012

I don't understand. This was published in a newspaper? I thought our (the U.S.) news media was bad, but I just don't understand how this is newsworthy in any way.
posted by eustacescrubb at 9:25 AM on November 25, 2012

So they didn't split the atom or win a Nobel prize, they still seem to be doing OK.

Disappointed dad is disappointed for no real reason.
posted by arcticseal at 9:29 AM on November 25, 2012

Very refreshing to see a parent not spoiling his kids rotten and endlessly telling them how great they are, I must say.
posted by Decani at 9:29 AM on November 25, 2012

Fulfilling careers based on your educations would have helped

Dear Mr. Crews,

You appear to be about the same age as my own parents; assuming your children are in the same cohort as I, let me just say, "yes, that would be an excellent idea."
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:30 AM on November 25, 2012