They choose to call me “Daddy” ❤️

My 8 and 6 year old step daughters call me Daddy and have for years. (Wife and I have been together for 5 years). Her ex-husband has always hated it and had rules that the girls must call me by my first name when around him. But the girls have always chosen to call me “Daddy” and as soon as he would drop them off home they would run to me yelling “Daddy”.For nearly a year, before our son was born, I asked them to stop because it made me feel uncomfortable. They persisted and would only do it when they thought I couldn’t hear.Funny thing is I knew they were talking about me because they would refer to their dad as “dadda-[first name]”, something we’ve only just recently gotten them to stop.The thing is, though, their dad has never made them a priority and they can tell. He used to cancel weekends, he forgets about many school events, spends his weekends with them binge watching tv shows or giving them to babysitters. We’ll offer him more time and he won’t take it; refuses outright or won’t respond. If we don’t tell him about an event in front of them he’ll say he can’t and then tell the girls that we never asked them. When the girls were younger, and he would cancel weekends, they would cry on the phone with him asking where he was and why he couldn’t see them. He would tell them that he was playing in important pool tournaments (he’s not a pro, just an alcoholic), or that he went camping where kids weren’t allowed (not true, mutual friends brought their kids and asked us where the girls were) but also tells the kids it’s our fault he rarely sees them).Well for the past couple of months both of the girls have been more difficult (just normal growing up, wanting freedom, developing personality, etc but they’re still challenging) and my son has entered his 3-year-tantrums. 🤯 As a stay at home dad I’ve been stressed and lately I’ve been depressed because it feels like all I’m doing is disciplining the kids and I’m starting to feel distanced from them as a result.Sunday my wife picked the girls up from their Dad (I was home with tantrum-jack, love you kid 😘) and the girls said that their dad told them to NEVER call me “Dad” or “Daddy” again. The girls were concerned. My wife asked them “girls, what do you want to call him (referring to me)?” The girls thought and both responded that they wanted to call me “Daddy”. She asked them if calling me that means they love their bio-dad less and both said “no”. She then reiterated to them that one day if their dad meets someone who loves them and cares for them like a ”mother” she is ok with them calling her “mom”.Hearing this from my wife, and experiencing their change in attitude (they’ve been noticeably different) after that car ride, has made me feel so much better and lifted my depression.I love them so much and feel so lucky via /r/Parenting https://ift.tt/2PoQ55U