I responded to this very issue a little while ago when an OP had used the term "SKid" in a thread on the Stepparenting board. Rather than type it all out again, I've copied and pasted it (within the speech marks below) - at the risk of being burnt at the stake.
So shoot me - but please note that not all stepparents feel comfortable using the "DSC" abbreviation because it's not appropriate to their individual circumstances:
" The OP has clearly written capital S, then capital K, then "ids" in her thread title - which, to most sensible people, would indicate that "S" is an abbreviation for something - in this case "step". Indeed, in her actual post she only writes "stepkids". Furthermore, the way she's written it, indicates that if (and it's unlikely) she were ever to speak it out loud she'd say "ess kids" as opposed to "skid", i.e. so there's no intention of any offence.
I do understand though that she would probably get flamed. Sometimes I can't help but feel there's a certain sort of poster just waiting for a stepmum to put any sort of foot wrong just so they can be pounced upon hmm.
Personally, I don't find "skid" offensive - though to avoid all possible connection to dirty pants (if that's what some people want to imagine) - I'd be more than happy to use "SKid" - as the OP has done. Though I don't because I'd prefer not to be criticised for something which was never my intention. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I'd never used the term myself (except as an abbreviation) with any derogatory thoughts whatsoever. I do feel it's very different to a racist term like "Paki" .... you would need to have been living in a cave for a very long time not to realise that most people find that extremely offensive, and it's a term which is (sadly) often more or less spat out with scorn, disgust and aggression in the tone of those who still use it.
The "skid" term is one I have only ever seen written down within specific stepparenting forums (this one, and a couple of other, membership only forums). I have never heard it spoken in real life, would never use it in actual speech (because in real life you tend to refer to your stepchildren by their names so there's no need) and, most importantly, it is NOT, so far as I'm aware said with any implied negative intent .... it's simply a hell of a lot quicker to type than "stepchildren" is. Yes - some posters use "DSC" - but (at the risk of a thunderbolt dropping on me for being such a wicked stepmother) - some of us don't, I'm afraid, actually feel that our stepchildren are that "dear" to us and would therefore feel uncomfortable using that term. Some of us have been actively prevented from establishing a normal healthy relationship with those children, so don't really know them all that well. In other cases, the children themselves refuse to come to our homes - or even see their own parent - so again, "dear" might be inappropriate. Other stepparents have more serious reasons not to feel their stepchildren - at this present moment in time - are dear to them at all. It's wrong, IMO, to try to make all stepparents use an abbreviation that doesn't actually reflect the situation they're actually in. Unfortunately - not all of us have the "dear" blended family we'd ideally want!
Anyway - to protect myself I usually type out "step kid" now - but I'm afraid it does annoy me given I never intended any negative connotation previously in using a shorter abbreviation. Maybe it's how the word "skid" is used within your own family ? ..... it's not something I'd ever use, for example, to any child I was speaking to about ensuring they were careful with personal hygiene."
To elaborate, I never personally use "skid" in any sort of offensive or "nasty" context ... i.e. as an offensive term for stepchildren (as some people think), or, as a description for faecal stains. Which is probably why I see no negative connotation when used as an abbreviation for stepchildren. For example, if someone leaves my toilet dirty, I'll draw it to their attention by saying could they please check the loo before leaving as I noticed it was dirty and needs a squirt of bleach - I'd never say they'd left skidmarks. Similarly, if my kids had stained underwear, I'd have a quiet word and suggest they need to pay a little more attention to their personal hygiene with wet toilet wipes etc ..... again, I wouldn't state they had skids in their pants!
Oh ...... and my own oldest child is also a stepchild. If their stepmum referred to them as her "skid" ..... that's essss - kid, I wouldn't be offended in the slightest as it's not a term I see as offensive.