As I think about this, there's also something that changes in my mind when I hear the name. "My son can't stand broccoli." "My son, Dan, can't stand broccoli.

As I think about this, there's also something that changes in my mind when I hear the name. "My son can't stand broccoli." "My son, Dan, can't stand broccoli." It definitely adds some kind of "humanity" to the statement to include the name, which makes me feel closer to the speaker (and their son) in a positive way.