Half/step siblings

I wouldn't correct my children as they can use whatever term they feel comfortable with. My children never lived with their "step" siblings, as they were all much older, so they wouldn't ever refer to them as brother/sister.

If you're sick of correcting them then stop! Your child sees his step Brothers & half Sisters as just Brothers & Sisters so why do you feel the need to correct them? You can explain the family dynamics when needed but not every time your child refers to them as Brothers & Sisters. Maybe your child doesn't want others knowing they all have different parents or doesn't want to answer questions when others find out they aren't full siblings. Why do you feel so strongly about it OP?

Did you bother to actually read all of the OP’s posts?

You only seem interested in the response of those who agree with you so in my mind you’ve already decided that you are doing it correctly in your eyes.

It is not up to you to tell your children how they view their siblings or other family members - half, step or otherwise. You may not feel they are your family,but your children clearly do. I also highly doubt anyone that doesn't know you gives a stuff if they are full siblings or not so I'm sure you don't have to spend too much time telling them and if you do don't bother, they don't care.

When talking to DS, I refer to his siblings as his brothers or Sister (all half's). However, when I talk about them to people, I tend to say brother when talking about my two DS's and half siblings when talking about the siblings DS has on his Dads side.

To be honest, it's a rare thing to come up, but everyone knows DS1 and DS2 are half siblings - it's obvious when you see them, and no one would consider DH being DS1's Dad. However, I would never call them half brothers. They've grown up together, are very close and have a lovely relationship. I think they'd both be very upset if their relationship was referred to as half. Like it isn't as meaningful.

DS sadly has very little to do with his siblings from his Dad, mainly down to his Dad being useless, plus there's a bigger age gap so they just haven't grown up together. DS saw his brother for the first time in 2 years a couple of weeks ago. It's all a bit sad

I do think ‘step’ is a bit different from ‘half’ as they don’t share blood but as a PP said I think it might depend on various factors such as closeness, how long in each others lives, whether they live together etc. Those factors might affect how I would refer to them, however I don’t think I would ever ‘correct’ them and would be happy with however they wanted to refer to each other.

I actually think it's lovely that a child would call their step/half sibling their brother or sister. So many step siblings don't get along.

Re the stepmum vs dad's girlfriend thing, my parents have been divorced and their current partners for 24 years. They are my stepmum and stepdad. I don't need them to be married to call them that.

Looks like you are the psychopath here, not to mention a total daft 'aperth and a control freak. Your DC have excellent relationships with step-brothers and sisters, and half-sisters and brothers and you don't like it? Stop interfering in their relationships and be happy as a blended family. I would not normally say this, but your DC's are right and you are not, and the DC's feelings come before yours.

'sibling' - as if we did not know each others' sex - is never appropriate. My DD refers to her step-sister as a sister (they did not meet until both were adult btw). My DSS refers to all his half-brothers and half-sisters (3 and 2) as his brothers and sisters. Calls my DD (his SDS) 'sis', but he and DS are just their names (maybe it's a man thing?).

This and I would also really recommend sorting your head out or your children will suffer in the long run. I was that daughter (with new siblings I adored) and it was truly awful, trying to guard my mum’s feelings all the time. Try to put your children and their wants and needs first. Fake it til you make it!

No I would not “correct” then. My children have siblings that are technically half siblings, but they have never referred to them as anything other than brother/sister. I have step siblings and refer to them as siblings - personally I think that’s the best (or most inclusive/family oriented) way, but each to their own.

How about your latest husband? 😁

Because to him she is not a “random kid”. She is his daughter.

You are bitter. And that’s a perfectly natural emotion.

But you are clearly bitter about your children evidently having bonded well with their new siblings and your ex having moved on happily.

And yes I would* my dad’s partner my step-mom. They are unmarried but have been together approaching 40 years. Why would I not call her my step-mom just because of a piece of paper.

(I say would that because I generally don’t call her that but that is because she is a nasty individual, not because they are unmarried.)

You seem like the kind of mom that would alienate their kids from the other parent out of spite.

I do think this should be childled. I refer to my step siblings as “step-siblings” however my brothers just call them “brothers and sisters”.

My nieces and nephews just call me “Auntie JHound” whether biologically related or not.

The toxicity comes in wanting to reinforce to your kids that these half / step siblings are somehow “less than”.

If your kids are fine with it why do you care?

You sound bitter at a relationship breakdown?

I would say it’s actually none of your business. Siblings, however they’re connected, have a relationship that’s nothing to do with you. It’s up to them what they call each other.

100% would not correct them. They’re siblings, if they’re considering themselves so then that’s fab.
My Dad is my step, technically. But he’s my Dad, and I can’t imagine referring to him as Step Dad.

I think there is a lot of difference in what you say, depending on the situation. I have children with two different fathers and they are siblings.
We have no contact with my step children since my DH died and they were adults when I met their DF so they do not feel like siblings to my DC.

Ok so your last post was honest and truthful. You are bitter. I'm
Not saying that in some insulting way. You are genuinely bitter about how happy your ex is and how it wasn't good when the two of you were together.

I hope you see that this is your problem. Your dc are not in the wrong and criticising them for feeling connected to their half siblings will do nothing other than alienate you.

Please work to resolve the bitterness and be grateful you have young people in both sides who seem to like each other

Wow you do sound bitter even though you deny it.

Many people don't ever marry but they are completely committed so yes, I would call the woman the step mum for sure

They're not her step dc.

But if your children were to refer to their step siblings as just siblings would you correct them or am I wrong?

In what sort of conversation are they referring to their siblings and how do you 'correct' them?

They seem happy to refer to them as siblings. I think you come across as either pedantic or cold hearted towards your step dc. Why are you so concerned about what they call them?

As a 44 year old who has step brothers and sisters…can honestly say I’ve always referred to them as brother and sister. We are very close though and no one has ever corrected me! Down to personal choice I would say. Whatever they feel comfortable. Tell other people to sod off when they ask or are confused.