Question for American MNs.

[Ohtoberoavingagain]

American woman married to British man. He has a son from a previous marriage. How would the woman refer to the boy ( who lives with his mother all week, stays with dad and new wife most weekends)? All adults are amicable.

Her stepson do you mean?

Yes. I suppose I want to know if it’s usual for Americans to use the term stepson or would they describe spouse’s son from first marriage as “ my son” ?

So your ex’s new wife is American and she’s referring to your son as hers?

not OK. I don’t think it’s an American thing, she sounds inappropriate and weird.

I’m American OP. He’s your ex’s wife’s stepson. He’s not her son.

Stepson.

I'm an American stepmother. When I need to define the legal relationship I refer to him as my stepson. But he has been in my life for more than 30 years. In most casual contexts, I refer to him as my son. And his children are my grandchildren, never my step-grandchildren.

Usually stepson, but if it's a long term relationship between stepmother and stepson, son might be used as a shorthand so as not to make him feel like an outsider.

So, eg, if she's been in his life since he was three, and she's going to pick up a prescription from the pharmacy for her now-17-year-old stepson, she might just say "son."

I'm American. He is her stepson.

Stepson, although I've heard step parents refer to step children as 'bonus children'.

I grew up in America and married and Englishman with two sons. They are my stepsons.