On my son's birth certificate it says "father unknown.How do you think that that will affect his life

Question

I worry it will affect his self-esteem in the long run

Answer 1

The only time it affected me (mine say's same thing) was when my Mom whited it out and put who she thought my Dad was. When I went to the DMV to get my licence they said that my bith certificate was invalid because of the unauthorized change. It felt worse to hear that it was invalid. I wish that my Mom was straight with me from the get go, not finding out from the DMV. -- Plus the shock made me fail the test. Anyway be honest, I am glad that I learned the truth, and my Mom was happy to get it off her chest too.

Answer 2

I wouldn't worry about it for several reasons. firstly there must be thousands of children out there with father unknown on their birth certificated for many different reasons, your son's self esteem will not be affected by a bit of paper it will be affected by how you bring him up and the love and encouragement he is shown through his life. although I obviously have a birth certificate I don't think I have ever read it as for most people its just a piece paper used to identify someone it is not their identity.

Answer 3

In the modern world, it doesn't have too much negative meaning. If he doesn't feel unloved for other reasons he should be fine. I dated a guy in college who was like this without a father. He was nice and interesting guy, no problem with his self-esteem. He saw it as his responcibility to help out his mom financially when he was in college. Unlike the rest of us spoiled kids. He knew how to manage his personal finance and live well on a very small stipend.

Answer 4

Why should it effect his self-esteem? I think knowing a father then losing him is worse for your self-esteem then a non existent one. They first never knew him, never grew attached to him, etc....... So if you're a good parent then you have nothing to worry about. Self-Esteem is a need, but if he's in a positive environment with a warm and caring parent such as yourself he'll be fine.

Answer 5

I think that all children should have a strong male role model in their life. But, I don't think it will affect him that much. My mom went 13 years without a father, and she just believes that God called home another angel. He hsould do fine. My mother always said:

"Don't think about the past things in your life. Because there's a reason that they didn't make it to your future."

Answer 6

I'm not sure I've even seen my birth certificate, I don't think what is written on his will make the slightest difference to your son. What matters is that he is loved by the family he does have.

Answer 7

Hey I can top that one, when my oldest was born in 1977 and since I was not married to her father, the birth certificate said that she was a "bastard". I was one of the first people to challenge this in NJ and it was ultimately changed. The truth here is that his father is known, you know who he is and you can tell him, case closed. God Bless.

Answer 8

not having an involved male parent will negatively affect
his psychology

or.......... are you saying his father sees him daily and there is some
typo on his birth certificate?

Answer 9

Just tell him he's from a sperm bank or that he died before he was born. I didn't add the father too my son's birth certificate either his says father n/a, he's in his life but he's just not father material, I wouldn't worry too much about it when you meet a guy worth a crap he can adopt your son and give him his name it happens everyday.

Answer 10

Only if you make him seem like a lesser person because of it.

How he views himself isn't set on you not knowing who fathered your child. It's not HIS fault.