Silent Title

My wife and I were both from previous marriages. We both have children, daughters to be specific. When we were married in Niagara Falls, her 2 daughters came along with us along with her parents. The kids back then were both very young (5yrs & 7yrs). They were both so excited that we were getting married. The biggest thing they thought about was the fact that they can call me Dad. As soon as we were married, the youngest first words to us was she has a new dad now. Now they both see their real father, shared custody. They were both calling me dad all weekend and when we got home. When we got back home in North Bay, the youngest was excited about the whole marriage and having a new Dad. She called her father on the telephone and before she could say aword he burst her bubble and said that she has only one dad and one mother. I am to be referred to as Bruce nothing more nothing less, his new wife was to called by her first name. Both girls did not take this too well but lived with it. I felt like he had taken something that made the kids happy into such an ordeal. To this day they won’t call me Dad, yet I have more in common with them then there own father does. I take the time to know what is happening in there lives. Show interest in every aspect of their lives. I have come to peace a long time ago that the words Dad or Father are mearly words. Knowing that the girls can come to me and trust me with issues in their lives is more important to me than a title. I only wish that my girls would feel the same way towards my wife.

I know that Dad or Father is not only a title that is given to you the minute you have chidren. You have to earn the title as well, even if you don’t have the words spoken to you. I know in my heart that they call me Dad in their minds. It is a silent title that I gained through respect of the people the girls are, not by birth right.

Submitted By Bruce Taylor