We’ve been discussing over the past few months what the kids should call us given that it might be confusing when little Lasquisha or Dayvonn call out “Daddddddddd” up the stairs and we both answer. We’ll both be ‘dads’, but we need a way for them both to distinguish between each of us. Here are our options:
So we think we’re going with the last option; Ralph can be called Daddy (or Dad), and I will be called Papa. It’s a nice reminder of our heritage, and when they get older they can call us whatever they like!
My mum tells me that I have to watch the pronunciation because when you say “Papa” it means Dad, but if say “Paapaa”, it actually is referring to the Pope, and we really don’t want passers by to think we’re asking our kids to refer to us as Pope Benedict, even if he does wear wonderful red Prada slippers. But there is an easy way to remember which pronunciation is correct. Just sing Madonna’s Papa Don’t Preach in your head (or aloud) and you’ll be spot on. Madge’s pronunciation is just fine.
My husband and I went with Daddy Mark and Daddy Austin. Before we adopted them, when they first met us, they called us just Mark and Austin. So now we get Daddy about a third of the time, our first names alone about a third, and Daddy plus name about a third.
By: Mark on May 28, 2011
at 10:03 pm
Dad and Pop? Pop is easy for kids to say too.
By: An Idle Dad on June 2, 2011
at 9:21 pm
Hmmm … Love it! Maybe ‘Pa’ instead of ‘Pop’. I like the single syllable!
By: axp on June 2, 2011
at 9:22 pm