It has to be really hard for a child to lose a parent when they’re still a child. It’s something you’d never really get over. I know my own dad passed away years ago, and I’m not completely over it even though I was an adult at the time. It’s a loss you feel forever.

That’s why I can relate to the lady who wrote this story. Her dad passed away when she was a child, and over the years, she has come up with a way to keep her dad involved in her life. She talks to a picture of him while she’s getting ready for the day and getting ready for bed. This has helped her cope.

But when her boyfriend overheard her talking to her dad’s picture, he seemed concerned.

Keep reading for the whole story.

AITA for calling my dad daddy

I (f21) lost my dad at age 9. It was sudden and unexpected. Completely changed my life.

My dad was one of my best friend’s we got along great. I was a lot like him and still am.

I miss him every day. Even 12 years later.

She still talks to her dad.

At the time I lost my dad I still referred to him as Daddy.

About 10 years ago I started keeping a picture of me and my dad in my bathroom and while I’m getting ready for the day or getting unready at night I talk to the him/ the picture.

Its hard to fully explain especially to people who haven’t lost someone close to them but it really helps me and I think I’ll always do it.

When I talk to him I’ll call him Daddy because that’s what I always called him when he was alive. but now when I talk to other people about him I’ll just refer to him as “my dad”.

She could tell something was bothering her boyfriend.

I have been dating my boyfriend (m23) for almost a year.

Last night he was over at my apartment, we were just hanging out watching movies.

I went to the bathroom at some point to get into pajamas and take off my makeup and do some of my usual nighttime routine.

When I came out and started watching movies with my boyfriend again he looked like he wanted to say something and just seemed off. So I asked him if something was wrong.

Let’s see what’s bothering him.

He told me he heard me in the bathroom and thought it was weird I called my dad daddy.

I asked why… that’s what I referred to my dad up until he passed and what I enjoy calling him. Its not like I’m constantly saying “my daddy” every time he gets brought up but when I think of my dad to me he’s daddy.

He said its weird because I’m 21 now not 9. That I need to realize I’m grown up and just because I used to call him daddy doesn’t mean I should. And that I should reconsider referring to my dad as Daddy. That I’m an AH if I don’t consider how it would be weird to people including him.

If her boyfriend can’t respect how she feels about her dad and how she talks to her dad and how she remembers her dad, she should break up with him. She’s not doing anything wrong.

Let’s see if Reddit agrees.

Maybe it’s a regional thing.

I completely agree with this comment!

Here’s a suggestion of what she could tell her boyfriend.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a man who had to sprint to the bathroom the moment he got home, then emerged to find his partner upset he didn’t greet her properly.

Another person calls her dad “daddy.”

Her boyfriend really is being weird. He shouldn’t be criticizing how she talks to her father. He’s literally the only one who thinks this is weird. It shouldn’t bother him at all. The fact that it does is a huge red flag. He seems to think that his feelings are more important than her memory of her father. Wrong!

This relationship may not last.