I am writing to try and find out if the term step dad is a legal term. i have just been to court and won shared care of my two children.In the court case the issue of my kids calling my exs partner daddy was brought up.The judge raked them over the coals for this and told them not to do this.but they refer to him as there step dad.That just makes me steam up inside. I hate the term step dad or mum in than case. Iwould love it to be abollished and have something more universal used such as relevant other,or just mothers partner.I am there dad an it is a gret privledge and honour to be called DAD and the word stepdad ddegrades the meaning of dads

After being the significant other in a relationship where the youngest took to calling me dad but the other two called me by my christian name, and who is the father of a child who's mother has yet another significant other whom my daughter refers to as uncle and I discourage from calling him dad or step-dad because of a specific reason, I might have a little to offer.

When the young one called me dad I nearly cried with joy that he could respect me so much. But I was wrong, to him it is just a name much like a christian name and of no real importance, he now calls his mothers new boyfriend dad and this person who has children does not deserve the respect of the name.

When my relationship ended with their mother so did the realationship with the kids due to excessive premeditated P.A.S.

At this point I took the attitude that my daughter had one mother and one father and anyone else on the scene would simply be that parents friend and have no major control over my daughter except for friendship.

There are more than one or two thing that have occured for me to set this in play but the major reason was to protect my daughters image of parenting and for her to gain the advantage of a relationship with both her parents and at 50/50 there is no need for a step parent but plenty for a trusted friend. She already has two parents embeded in her life and that is enough in my opinion.

I know this goes against some but it is my decission and I stand firm by it.