I have 2 children by different dads.

[gemzhollie]

i have 2 children by 2 diff dads and so their surnames is diff, it may just be me being old fashioned but i feel bad that their got diff surnames but i thought it was right for them both to have their dads surname. is there anyone else out there the same as me would like to know im not the only one.

[supagirl]

I don't think it's an issue. I have kids by 2 diff Dad's and each of them has their Dad's name and I have a different name to them both (ie we have 3 surnames in our family). I've never sen it as a problem and neither have the kids. As a child I had a different name to My Mum and Step father as I had Dad's name, she had her maiden name and step Dad had his name, it never bothered me at all.

I think if you worry about it, they will, but if you don't, LO's probably won't either.

If they're happy and well looked after and have a good sense of identity then you're doing a grand job and don't let anyone tell you different :-)

[mixedraceparents]

It's 2010 and I don't think having different fathers should matter at all. It would make no difference at all to me, we all make our choices and lets face it there are some men out there who don't want to be there for women or kids. I understand and respect your decision to give them their fathers name, and I think you all know you are a family what difference does a name make. Btw only 25% of kids now live in a traditional mother father family unit so they are actually in the minority!

[bb99]

My 2 dcs have 2 different fathers and so have different surnames. dc1 has my maiden name (wasn't appropriate to give fathers surname at the time) and dc2 has my married name. Don't think anyone really notices now - schools and doctors etc are fairly used to being sensitive/aware of how families evolve and aren't always 2.4 kids with married forever parents IYSWIM.

An xboyfriend of mine (many, many years ago LOL) had a brother who had a different surname to him (different dads) and they were two of the closest and most loving and supportive siblings I've ever come across. They didn't worry about the names or origins, they just cared that they were brothers and family. I hope that my kids will feel the same about each other in years to come (seems to be that way atm, fingers crossed!)

[nickschick]

It doesnt matter one bit- they have 1 mummy who loves them both very much.

If you feel so strongly add your maiden name or the name you use onto the end of their name so they have a double barreled surname.

My mum had 3 kids with 3 different dads and many uncles and namechanges inbetween - theres woese things that can be.

[winnybella]

Same here, 2 kids, 2 dads. They have their father's name, I have a different one as didn't marry.
Frankly, it never occured to me that it could be an issue.
Except when I was boarding Eurostar with ds and dd to London and the passport control guy asked me: 'Sooo, how do you all know each other?'

[MillyMollyMoo]

I fell out with DH when DD3 was born so she has my surname and the older 2 have his and the new baby will have his too.
I call them all by DH's name and the school/Dr's etc have never batted an eyelid so if you want them all to be known as Smiith that'll be fine too.