This moved me. Thank you for sharing it.
My 21 year old daughter calls me this.
I like it.
I hate the word Pop and know a few men who hate it too. I’d never call my dad Pop. It seems disrespectful and dismissive.
I called my dad Papa.
When I was around 4, I called my dad “pop”. He told me never to call him that again. I could tell by his tone, he was serious. Within a few minutes it slipped out again. And he smacked me. Apparently, he didn’t like being called “pop”.
"It’s a bit dismissive, "
How so? Please compare to Dad.
^
- Is out of the accustomed call and this can be interpreted to be (unaccustomed) disrespect.
- It is an abbreviated form of papa and can therefore be interpreted as casual and overly familiar; two attitudes thought to be improper when discussing moderate to very serious matters with one’s father.
- I know a lot of fathers like to foster an environment of parity with their kids and being called Pop is acceptable. But I’ve a feeling those Pops won’t like it when the call is made mockingly.
You can get buy with calling some other dude Dad, and, as long as he’s old enough, it works. But calling him Pop always sounds dismissive.
Plus it’s too close to Papaw, making you feel old.
I don’t call my dad, dad either. But dad feels less dismissive than Pop. I hate Pop. I’m sure it’s 100% cultural.
Pops doesn’t wanna be hopped on.