Opinions please!

Shooter wrote: I wondering if this is an issue or not....and if it is, how it should be addressed.

Jeremy is not quite yet talking. He has done the dadadada and mamamama things, but doesn't consistently call us that. I'm sure this will be coming round the bend soon, but the issue I'm wondering about is my stepson. He has always just called me Dave. The only time he has ever referred to me as "dad" is when he's talking to someone else and is referring to me as that just to keep things simple for the other person to understand who he's talking about. Now, all the time in front of Jeremy, he's very loudly saying "Hey Dave! Dave!! What do you want me to do with this Dave?" etc, etc.

I'm wondering if this is going to cause confusion for Jeremy as to what to "call me", Dad vs Dave. He doesn't hear ANYBODY call me Dad, but hears his mom and brother call me Dave all the time. And if this could be a prob, what do I do to address it? Derek has already stated to me that he would not feel comfortable calling me Dad now that he's called me Dave for the past 5 years or so. What do you think? I just want to make sure Jeremy gets taught properly and it would really be a bummer for me to have him call me Dave right off the bat rather than Daddy, KWIM?

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I think that he'll pick it up (dad) anyways. Just like at my house - DH and I don,t call each other mommy and daddy - but he knows that mama is me and dada is DH, and does call us that when he really wants our attention.

Geez - he'll probably grow up thinking my first name is Honey!

kit_kats_mom replied: Gosh, I don't have any input but I can understand your predicament. I hope someone here can answer your question.

5littleladies replied: I agree with Zach's mom-he will pick it up anyways. As long as you and DW address you as daddy with him he should understand what to call you. And besides-he looks like a pretty smart little guy!

Jamie replied: i dont have any advise, but just thought id let you know that you are not alone in this! I have 2 step sons that run around and call me "Big Jamie" and my DW is having my baby any day now, so ill be going through the same situation as you are.........
So your definately not alone with this one

I hope someone can help you, and good luck

Shooter replied: Thanks Jamie, and everyone else. Any input or insight is appreciated. I wish the best for you and your new little one!

supermom replied: Yep, I think that as long as YOU refer to yourself as "Daddy" when you are talking to him, he'll pick it up - I've got three older children from a previous marriage, and Anders never heard them call his daddy anythin but Eje - but he still calls him Daddy - it wasn't really anything we even thought about, it just came about naturally, I guess. He is Daddy to Anders and Emily and Eje to everyone else in the house....

HTH -

Shooter replied: That's good to hear! I hope it goes that well with us because I'm not sure of what else I could do to alter anything anyway.

Mommieto2Girls replied: I know what you mean, that would be awful if Jeremy started calling you by your first name. I would just make a point to refer yourself as daddy alot when you are with him. He'll catch on though so I wouldn't worry to much. Ask DW if she can help refer you also as daddy when you are all together and not Dave. It might help with being less confusind if that helps.

MamaMartie replied: I can understand how torn you feel. Obviously you don't want to pressure your stepchildren into calling you Dad, but you'll want your son to call you Dad.

Coming from a family of many divorces and remarriages, all I can say is things work out & people get called the name they want to be called. I am sure your son will call you Dada, then Daddy, then Dad...and once he's a teen..well you don't even want to think about that now.

Every family is different, but children know their own families best. Usually they don't know their family is different from others til they go to school. Jeremy may question why his brothers call you Dave and he calls you Daddy in a few years, but you're safe for now. I am sure youll remain one big, happy, blended family. So don't fret.

MomToMany replied: My boys are from my first marriage, and Shane was worried about this when Hannah was born. The boys just call him Shane. We just called him "daddy" around Hannah, and that's what she calls him ! I've caught myself saying "Shane" to Hannah, but I correct myself right away!

So you won't have anything to worry about. He will know who daddy is !

MomofTay&Sam replied: My son from my first marriage says Dave to. (his name is Dave) But I always say..ohhh Daddy is home or where is Daddy. Stuff like that. My oldest son does the samething in public with the Dad thing, I guess it just makes it easier for him. I don't think you/we/I LOL will have any problems. Daddy is just Daddy.

natchie replied: I THINK HE WILL GET THE HANG OF IT ... MAYBE HE WILL GET USED TO IT .. GIVE HIM TIME ..

MommyToAshley replied: I was going to say the same thing. I am sure he will pick it up as long as you refer to yourself as Daddy. And, it's no fair that they say Daddy first!

Shooter replied: Thanks everyone for your responses and appreciate the support!

momma2jenna replied: I think it would be cute for such a lil' guy to call his big daddy by Dave! I'm sure it would be for just a short time. I 've heard Daddy's referred to in many different ways initially, but it always comes out to be Daddy sooner or later!

Heather replied: I am late here, but I just wanted to say that i agree with everyone!!