What do you tell a child when she asks for her Daddy?

[AvasMommy1111]

I knew it it was inevitable.  One day I was going to have to answer this question.  My daughter's father has pretty much denied her existence since she was born.  She has 5 other siblings that I know of and have no clue what to tell her when she asks me where her dad is.  I'm fearful of her finding out she has other siblings that he sees when he doesn't  see her.  Any advice for this confused mommy?  I know she's not old enough YET to understand the choices he's made to avoid her but don't want to spin a web of lies in attempt to protect her against him either.  I think it's best to be honest with her as much as possible, so she can decide her feelings for him later but don't know how to begin.  I can only avoid her question and change the subject so much as she gets older everyday.  She has already began asking me if I'm going to "Pick her up from school today with her Daddy," or pretending (as she plays) that her daddy is taking her to the park....etc.  Id it just me or is she a little advanced for a 3yr old?  I wasn't expecting this so early.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.......

[NessGuinness]

BUMP!

[JakesMom712]

Bump, im in the same situation so id like to know too

[AvasMommy1111]

Bump?  What does this mean exactly? 

[slvrbtrfly]

My son asked me when he was 16 mos. I would pretty much tell her the truth, that her dad has chosen to not be around, and that it was not because of her.

[crimsonangel180]

Bump basically keeps the post active so more people see it.

My twins are 3 they see there dad and randomly will ask were he is I just tell them that he is at his home. I think at this age just answer honestly if you don't know where he is tell her that. She isn't asking for the whole story . My kids also call my dad dad. If they have someone who is a father figure in there life and that person is ok with it you can tell her that he is a dad to her. Eventually you will have to tell her that she has a bio dad and a person who does what a dad is suppose to do.

[tyfry7496]

You tell the child that his or her father cant be with them at this time. Plain and simple. No need to go into a big explanation. Never bad mouth him because your child is a part of him. Eventually your child will figure everything out and make up their own mind.

[mysty923]

The siblings must be the reason

My kids don't ask for a daddy - they barely even know what the word means - except that they read it in a book

They have no idea that other kids "have a dad"  or what that means at all

If she is asking you will have to be honest with her

[Blessed_Mommy87]

Same situation here my daughter is going to be one and going to reliaze something different. My son is 2 and I been trying to figure out myself. I guess best to say is Daddy decided to make different choices instead of ones together with mommy and he won't be around.

[ClassicLitChick]

 The girls father up and left when I was 30 weeks pregnant with my now 3 yr old. I just never mention him. He is not in our lives. He chooses the single life and forgets he has two daughters. He pays his child support every 1st and that is it. If they ask I will just say Daddy is working but he loves you very much. (while in my head I am repeatedly kicking him in the nuts for putting my kids in this situation)

[Robsessed98]

totally agree. at 3 she wouldnt understand the full version anyway.

Quoting tyfry7496:

You tell the child that his or her father cant be with them at this time. Plain and simple. No need to go into a big explanation. Never bad mouth him because your child is a part of him. Eventually your child will figure everything out and make up their own mind.