What to call a step-parent?

[Rabbitchat]

Anyone got a good suggestion for a pet name for a step-father? Need something more personal than just first name (which doesn't really shorten either), but 'Dad' not appropriate....

'Pops' bit too affectionate, 'Papa' too posh, 'Uncle xxx' already has one of same name....

Any other ideas?

ds is 10 & dh cam along when he was 4, had a long discussion on the whole "stepfather" thing & just decided on dh name in the end - is it a new(ish) relationship ?

Hi wiffey - no it's not a new relationship - it's a bit odd actually. DSD used to live with her mum and stepdad and see real dad (my DP) regularly. She was told to call Stepdad 'Dad' and real dad 'Daddy' (my DP has always been deeply unhappy about this, but let it go for the sake of 'peace').

DSD recently came to live with us instead. She now says she feels uncomfortable calling stepdad 'Dad' as it's confusing and doesn't feel right. But she also acknowledes that she lived with him & called him dad for 5 years and feels weird reverting back to his first name.

I thought a good compromise would be to devise a 'special' name for him....but can't think anything suitable.

Is there maybe a charataristic (bad speller soz)or trait or something silly that she can make a nickname out of ? wiffey came from being "the wife"

Depends on how old DSD is and how she gets on with her stepdad. Perhaps she should ask him what special name he would like to be called?

agree with Tart, assuming step dad won't blow up at the very idea. Or could you come up with a nickname based on his surname or any outstanding personal characteristics?

My son calls him Old Man! But he is 16 and my DH has no hair left...

In my case I have a step-daughter and I don't need a name because she avoids saying anything to me!

My dp has known dd since she was a toddler but she has always called him by his name. She has always known hew Dad and dp and I agreed that she should not call him Dad. DD until about the age of four thought that Dp name was another type of parents so you have mummy's Daddy's and Darren's.

Mummies, daddies and Darrens, Oh Twinset that is so funny!

it is funny but it also shows that if the bond is there the name doesn't matter.

Dh AND our kids call his stepdad; Paps.

as in pappy

I get called 'Bertie' by my DSD (6) - reasons lost in the mists of time - good unisex name tho?!

My DS calls my partner Bear because he first saw him in the summer without a top on and said look mummy, a bear (hairy chest). He's called him that ever since which i find very cute but DP finds it a tad embarrassing when he yells it out in asda !