--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think my father was somewhat…" description: "\"I think my father was somewhat disappointed in not having had a son, and in that way I was the nearest thing he had.\" — Irene Rosenfeld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/irene-rosenfeld-16938_disappointed_i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappoin_2308552.jpg" --- # I think my father was somewhat disappointed in not having… ![“I think my father was somewhat disappointed in not having had a son, and in that way I was the nearest thing he had.” quote by Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/irene-rosenfeld-16938_disappointed_i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappoin_2308552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/irene-rosenfeld-16938_disappointed_i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappoin_2308552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/irene-rosenfeld-16938_disappointed_i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappoin_2308552.jpg) > “I think my father was somewhat disappointed in not having had a son, and in that way I was the nearest thing he had.” [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels she was an emotional substitute for her father's unfulfilled desire for a son. **In simple terms:** She filled a parental expectation gap. Key Takeaway Recognize and define your own identity. Themes family dynamics gender expectations identity Mood introspective determined Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - parenting - career decisions - personal development Key Concepts psychology social roles Questions to Reflect On - How does this perception shape your choices? - What steps can you take to assert your own path? A Different Perspective Relying on others' expectations can limit self‑growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Disappointed Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed-having-5474554/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Somewhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-somewhat-4478395/) [Having Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-son-351903/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Somewhat Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somewhat-disappointed-5474553/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Think Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-father/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [My father was somewhat to the right of Genghis Khan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/my-father-was-somewhat-to-the-right-of-genghis-khan/) [Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/) > [Having my son, I mean, I feel already that it makes me a better actress. Just the feeling and the love that expands in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ambrose/having-my-son-i-mean-i-feel-already-that-it-makes-me-a-better-actress/) [Lauren Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ambrose/) > [“i feel bad for her - i do. a damn shame, really, that i had to have a mother. it can’t be easy having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-feel-bad-for-her-i-do-a-damn-shame-really-that-i-had-to-have-a/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I had been working seven days a week for six straight years. Having a son was the first time I got to pull my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randi-zuckerberg/i-had-been-working-seven-days-a-week-for-six-straight-years-having-a/) [Randi Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randi-zuckerberg/) > [Having a son is not all pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/having-a-son-is-not-all-pleasure/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [I can't deny the impact of, obviously, becoming a father and having my son come into this world, and even becoming a husband. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-draiman/i-can-t-deny-the-impact-of-obviously-becoming-a-father-and-having-my/) [David Draiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-draiman/) > [Living in this world is full of joy. But not like having a son and daughter, its a joy of having them. but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teejay-david/living-in-this-world-is-full-of-joy-but-not-like-having-a-son-and/) [Teejay David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teejay-david/) > [Having a son had an immediate impact on me, that's when I started taking my business, my time and having something to show for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dom-kennedy/having-a-son-had-an-immediate-impact-on-me-that-s-when-i-started/) [Dom Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dom-kennedy/) > [It was actually having a son made me think about feminism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/it-was-actually-having-a-son-made-me-think-about-feminism/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I feel like if you told me I would be having a son, I would be like, 'Yeah, I'm gonna be a parent -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-grammer/i-feel-like-if-you-told-me-i-would-be-having-a-son-i-would-be-like/) [Andy Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-grammer/) > [It's interesting having a son. Someone told me that it's good when you have a son first because when you have a daughter first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/it-s-interesting-having-a-son-someone-told-me-that-it-s-good-when-you/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [I wasn't trying to modelI'm not sure where it's going, apart from the pleasure of making beautiful thingsI said I wasn't going to model…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-tennant/i-wasn-t-trying-to-modeli-m-not-sure-where-it-s-going-apart-from-the/) [Stella Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-tennant/) > [The biggest thing is having a son. I got attached to him. Seeing him periodically is hard. Watching him grow up on pictures and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-marion/the-biggest-thing-is-having-a-son-i-got-attached-to-him-seeing-him/) [Shawn Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-marion/) > [I had a pregnancy that wasn't private... A lot of people had their opinions about it. They were surprised that I came up pregnant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-london/i-had-a-pregnancy-that-wasn-t-private-a-lot-of-people-had-their/) [Lauren London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-london/) > [Having my son, it's such a sense of completion as a woman; it's put me at peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/having-my-son-it-s-such-a-sense-of-completion-as-a-woman-it-s-put-me/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) ## More by Irene Rosenfeld > [I talk a lot about taking risks, and then I follow that up very quickly by saying, 'Take prudent risks.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-talk-a-lot-about-taking-risks-and-then-i-follow-that-up-very/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [I believe very strongly in the value of having a diverse team around me that comes from very different backgrounds and different points of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-believe-very-strongly-in-the-value-of-having-a-diverse-team-around/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [Do what in your heart you know is right. It is easy to get caught up in your ambitions, but no job is worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/do-what-in-your-heart-you-know-is-right-it-is-easy-to-get-caught-up/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [It's fair to characterise me as competitive and determined, but anyone who works with me will attest to the fact I believe very strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/it-s-fair-to-characterise-me-as-competitive-and-determined-but-anyone/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [It's clear that agriculture, done right, is the best means the world has today to simultaneously tackle food security, poverty and environmental degradation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/it-s-clear-that-agriculture-done-right-is-the-best-means-the-world/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [You can't play it safe if you want to get ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/you-can-t-play-it-safe-if-you-want-to-get-ahead/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [I grew up in business at a time where there weren't very many female role models, and so in the early days, we wore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-grew-up-in-business-at-a-time-where-there-weren-t-very-many-female/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [When investors, particularly investment bankers, talk about splitting up companies, there's a lot of discussion about multiple expansion, and the reality is multiple expansion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/when-investors-particularly-investment-bankers-talk-about-splitting/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [Exposure to a diversity of disciplines has been exceptionally helpful to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/exposure-to-a-diversity-of-disciplines-has-been-exceptionally-helpful/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [I think all of us are multitasking a little more today than we used to or than we would like to. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-think-all-of-us-are-multitasking-a-little-more-today-than-we-used/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [I truly believe that the combination of a strong top line together with a strong bottom line is what makes for a sustainable business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-truly-believe-that-the-combination-of-a-strong-top-line-together/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [To build and sustain brands people love and trust, one must focus-not only on today but also on tomorrow. It's not easy...but balancing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/to-build-and-sustain-brands-people-love-and-trust-one-must-focus-not/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [Major organizational changes create uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/major-organizational-changes-create-uncertainty/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [How you manage change can make all the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/how-you-manage-change-can-make-all-the-difference/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) > [I've always challenged myself and the people who work with me to take new approaches to traditional business challenges, to push the envelope and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-ve-always-challenged-myself-and-the-people-who-work-with-me-to-take/) [Irene Rosenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) [Explore all 38 Irene Rosenfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/) ## More Disappointed quotes > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [If you expect the worst from a person you can never be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-never-be-disappointed/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I don't hate you, i m just disappointed you turned into everything you said you'd never be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-hate-you-i-m-just-disappointed-you-turned-into-everything-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [I just hate meetings. Though it's true that once you've made a lot of money, people around you might be full of ideas about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-just-hate-meetings-though-it-s-true-that-once-you-ve-made-a-lot-of/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [You wanted to become a doctor to help people and feel better at the end of your job, I think, watching them, as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/you-wanted-to-become-a-doctor-to-help-people-and-feel-better-at-the/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [I've had to learn that not everybody does things my way. But I do expect the absolute best of everyone around me, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/i-ve-had-to-learn-that-not-everybody-does-things-my-way-but-i-do/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-curiosity-or-confine-the-labours/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I want violence. I want punching in the face. I'm disappointed in Trump supporters for not punching enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-mcinnes/i-want-violence-i-want-punching-in-the-face-i-m-disappointed-in-trump/) [Gavin McInnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-mcinnes/) > [It's core to my beliefs now: Sometimes in being given a challenge, you're actually being given a real opportunity, and a lot of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/it-s-core-to-my-beliefs-now-sometimes-in-being-given-a-challenge-you/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Lamon, that speech won't scour. It is a flat failure and the people are disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/lamon-that-speech-won-t-scour-it-is-a-flat-failure-and-the-people-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Never aim to be proactive with your day. That way, if you end up getting stuff done, you’re never disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blagden/never-aim-to-be-proactive-with-your-day-that-way-if-you-end-up/) [George Blagden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blagden/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [It is always the time of hope, confidence and love. Everything passes; love remains. We will not be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-maria-martini/it-is-always-the-time-of-hope-confidence-and-love-everything-passes/) [Carlo Maria Martini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-maria-martini/) [Browse all 1,145 Disappointed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think my father was somewhat disappointed in not having had a son, and in that way I was the nearest thing he had.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irene Rosenfeld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappointed-in-not-having-had-a-son/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disappointed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappointed-in-not-having-had-a-son/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/irene-rosenfeld-16938_disappointed_i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappoin_2308552.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/irene-rosenfeld-16938_disappointed_i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappoin_2308552.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/irene-rosenfeld-16938_disappointed_i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappoin_2308552.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think my father was somewhat disappointed in not having had a son, and in that way I was the nearest thing…” — Irene Rosenfeld", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Irene Rosenfeld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-rosenfeld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think my father was somewhat...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappointed-in-not-having-had-a-son/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-rosenfeld/i-think-my-father-was-somewhat-disappointed-in-not-having-had-a-son/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```