Man Doesn’t Want His Child to Call His Mom’s Boyfriend ‘Grandpa’ Because It Feels ‘Disrespectful’ to His Late Dad

A man says he doesn’t want his son calling his mom’s boyfriend “Grandpa,” and it’s causing family tension.

He shared his story on Reddit’s “Am I the A——?” forum. His parents divorced in the early 2000s, and his father died unexpectedly four years ago.

About a year and a half ago, his mother began dating a new man. While the two men aren’t close, they remain polite to each other. Recently, the couple visited the man’s newborn son for the first time.

During the visit, his mother kept calling her boyfriend “Grandpa” to the baby. The man felt this was disrespectful to his late father. He spoke up about it, which made his mother angry. She and her boyfriend left soon after.

He said he didn’t yell or curse, but admits he may have sounded blunt. At the end of his post, he asked readers if he was wrong.

Most commenters sided with him. Many said it wasn’t his mother’s place to choose a title for her partner, especially given the short relationship and the recent loss of his father.

One commenter wrote, “She doesn’t get to decide that for you or your son. Don’t apologize. Her partner doesn’t need a special title, and if she can’t accept that, she doesn’t have to see your child.”

Others pointed out that four years is not long when grieving a parent, especially while becoming a parent yourself. They also noted the man’s relationship with his mother’s boyfriend isn’t strong, which makes forcing the title “Grandpa” even more uncomfortable.

A few commenters took a softer view, suggesting he could have discussed the issue beforehand. They also pointed out that the child’s relationship with the man could grow into something special over time — but that it should happen naturally, not be forced.