"Who's my daddy?" What would you say?

[Pajamas]

Some background first...

My DS is 5 years old now. As far as he's concerned, he doesn't have a daddy. His biological father has never met him or had any involvement at all - I haven't spoken to him since I was pregnant.

We have never wanted for anything - my parents have always supported us and helped massively with DS. I have now been with my DP for 8 months, and we are all happy and secure.

However, I know sometime soon he will start asking who his dad is.

What do I say? I can't say he didn't want to know DS. But I don't want to tell him any outrageous lies.

I would appreciate any stories from others who've been in this situation, and any words of advice from people who haven't.

[kinkyfuckery]

My friend has a 5 year old who they escaped from to a refuge when she was 4 months old. She's had no contact since. When her little one asks about dad, my friend just says she isn't sure where he is and she has "lost him, oops". It's enough to placate the child just now, but not sure what the tactic is for later.

I have another friend who, weirdly, also escaped from her ex when their child was a baby and has no contact. She pretends that the new husband is the 5 year old's father.

I know which scenario I think is more harmful!

[juneau]

I would be honest, because if you're not it's going to come back and bite you. Obviously, you can give an age-appropriate version now and elaborate gradually as the years go by. I would probably start by saying 'Your dad is a man called Dave', and then see if he wants to know more. Having a 5-year-old boy myself I can imagine DS1 saying 'Oh, okay, and then running off to play. There must be books around that help parents to have these conversations - after all an absent parent, for whatever reason, in not exactly uncommon.

[cestlavielife]

post your question on here ? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_q_and_a/1847457-Q-A-with-Clinical-child-psychologist-Dr-Angharad-Rudkin-about-helping-your-child-deal-with-new-and-challenging-situations

be honest

"the person who made you with me is called xxx and he lives far away."

[Pajamas]

Thanks for the responses... I agree, I need to be as honest as possible.

I'm worried that what I tell him might leave him feeling like his dad didn't want him. Although this is the case, it's not a truth I would ever want him exposed to until he's much older.

[lottieandmia]

I have a similar situation to you - my youngest dd has never met her father. In her case it's hard because her older two sisters still see their (different) father a lot and she can't understand why she doesn't have a dad to go to.

I think you do have to be honest. In my case I'll say that her father lives a long way away if she asks (which is true). There is no easy answer to it though. I often wonder if she will (and hope that she won't) grow up with an idealised desire to want to meet him. He is not a nice person and she will be much better off with him out of her life. But it's hard for a child to understand that some people are up to the job of being a parent and others just aren't.

[lostdad]

Be honest. Don't lie, don't exaggerate, be age appropriate.

[girliefriend]

Im in the same situation with my dd (7yo), it is difficult and dd does get upset about not having a daddy. I have always tried to be honest and matter of fact, 'your daddy didn't want to be a daddy but i wanted you so much' is what I mostly say.

I also acknowledge it is difficult for her and try and give her as much info on him as I can which tbh is quite limited, she has seen a photo of him as well. I think if you have a new dp it probably won't be too much of an issue as ime a father figure is normally enough for kids to not feel they are missing out too much!!

I think telling kids someone is there real daddy when they are not is asking for trouble tbh.

[Theincidental]

Same situation here too! Ds' dad disappeared before I even knew I was pregnant. I have no idea where he is, no photos or anything. I've looked for him, just so I can give Ds info when he is older.

He's 2.5 now and asks already. I just change the subject. It gets tricky because he sees his friends have fathers and sometimes calls them dad.

I still don't know how to handle any if it for the future.