"Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine..."

"Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine...and I just wanted to say I love him so much."

I cried when I listened to this -
Michael Jackson Memorial: Paris Jackson speaks, GoodBye Michael
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzP0HcftrVY

I'm so glad she said this, as painful/difficult as it was for her. It is SO important for her to publicly acknowledge her love for her dad...and he WAS her dad regardless of biology!

I lost my dad at 17 and felt/feel EXACTLY the same as Paris. I would NEVER want to replace my dad for anyone! If ANYONE said he wasn't my dad, I'd adamantly argue that he absolutely was my dad even though his sperm was not used to bring me into this world.

After my dad passed away, my mother remarried and I developed a deep, meaningful relationship with my step-father (he was also my dad) and I would also NEVER want to replace him for anyone. He knew about my 'donor' conception and supported my search for information. It brought us even closer together.

At the same time there really isn't any one who could replace the importance and significance of my biological father (aka, my parent's donor). I would NEVER want to replace any of these men who played significant roles in my life (socially, emotionally, biologically) for another.

Many/most 'donor' conceived feel the same about ANY loved one who played an important, loving, meaningful role in our/their lives -- Another mother/ father, a special uncle/ aunt/ friend/ grandparent/ step parent or whatever we/they chose to call them.

So when studies/survey's show that many 'donor' conceived want to know the identity and have the opportunity to have a relationship with their genetic father/paternal family/half siblings, this in no way conflicts with the significance of their relationships with others. Both social and genetic/biological relationships matter.

More on the importance of non-biological relationships/dad/fatherhood:
"Thanks Dad"
http://childofastranger.blogspot.com/2008/12/thanks-dad.html