London - Unhappy grumbling from dad’s corner of the living room was probably a familiar sound in many households this Christmas.
And far from denying their lack of cheery outlook, almost a quarter of British fathers admit to being grumpy all the time.
According to a survey, their ire is most likely to be sparked by people leaving the lights on – closely followed by traffic jams and bad drivers.
Poor manners, cold callers and being asked for cash also make the top 50 list of irritations, while their children’s behaviour in general is also cause for muttering.
Unsurprisingly, seeing their football team lose leaves fathers prone to grumbling too, along with being treated as a taxi driver. Receiving socks as presents also made the list.
The poll of 1 000 fathers found that the average dad complains around nine times a week – more than once a day. Three quarters said they need to make an effort to be less grumpy.
However, the survey by Merlin Annual Pass – which gives access to family attractions – also revealed that improving dad’s mood could be simple. More than half the men questioned said a good night’s sleep would make them feel better, while a quarter said food helps.
About 72 percent said that time with their family and fun days out would make them more cheerful.
Pollyanna Haigh, from Merlin, said: “From our experience, fathers will openly admit they have a reputation for being the grumpy ones of the family. We wanted to see if this really is the case – and the poll suggests it is.”
But she added that the problem may be down to how fathers express themselves. “Everyone grumbles from time to time,” she said.
“Perhaps fathers are just not as good at hiding their moans.”
Daily Mail