A friend of mine has raised his stepson for five of his eight years of life. His stepson began to visit with his natural father only a couple of years earlier. His real father did not have anything to do with his son until he was around six years old. So my friend's stepson calls him "Dad." One day, I asked this eight-year-old why he called his stepfather "Dad" and not his real father. "Because," he said with confidence, "my stepfather raises me and takes care of me. He comes to me at night when I am sick and comes to my school to meet my teachers. He takes care of me. He loves me.
