Wondering how to refer to my sister's daughter now?

[LoveMyPiano]

I always referred to her as my niece - but she is going into a sort of non-gender stage..... Her name is a very neutral one now. But I still cannot stop referring to her (them??) as my niece. Relation/ships are usually gender specific, and a bit hard to avoid using I have found, but I really don't want to offend. It is the "non-gender" bit that is causing me some difficulty.
Help......

I'd just say my sister's kid.

You can also sometimes turn it round to define yourself "I'm on auntie duty today with Robin!"

Makes it clear you are her auntie, without specifying gender.

I think this is the first time I’ve posted that made me laugh out loud and meant it 🤣🤣 my 6yo keeps asking me what’s so funny

Can’t really recall the last time I said niece or nephew when discussing someone with wider family? Would you not just be using their name?

On the surely very rare occasion you’re talking to someone who has no idea who the person is, you could say niece for convenience.

Niece is what I’d use

@MilkyYay, if the OP does that and people know about the gender situation, the OP could end up getting cancelled.

Hmm, nibling is new to me..... I know for sure that it would still need further explanation for certain members of the family. And it really isn't my story to tell, but is bound to come up.

Antst

I don't even know what cancelled means.

And i would probably splutter/laugh at someonr saying "nibling"

Im picturing Nibbler from futurama. Every time

You're right of course. But we have a strange family dynamic, and indeed, the word niece may not be used often, but all these things are so important nowadays, I find. It's being PC to the nth degree.

Just use niece, as others have said you are indicating that she is female child of your brother/sister. That is still correct, and will be correct ongoing. If it's relevant to mention her current identity to your other relatives then mention it separately.

I would stick with niece. Does your sister still refer to them as her daughter?

Hmm, me neither.
But in some ways, I often get "cancelled" with this part of the family - although it's usually religion matters (theirs of course....)

@MilkyYay, oh, you'd find out if you misgendered someone. It does come up these days and it pays to have language prepared in advance to avoid foot-in-mouth situations!

How often is this really going to come up for it to be such an issue? If it's colleagues you don't need to say anything at all and if its other relatives then you say 'Sam' or whatever neutral name they've chosen. It's not as hard as a lot of people would love us to believe.

I never need to refer to my nieces as nieces. Can't you say my sister's oldest or whatever? This seems like a non issue.

Ooh that's good!
But I would be in great trouble if my sister got wind of that (and besides, not a cousin).

Just use their name?
I don’t think I’ve ever said niece/nephew when talking to family about my siblings children.

You've no idea how much fun faux naiveté can be when you really get in for it!!

Ask her. She will feel supported by just asking the question.

"my sister's child"?

DC1 is non-binary. I just call them my firstborn.

Hard to not think this is a troll post, given that it’s a drama over nothing.

If she’s not there, it’s niece unless you can use her name.
If she’s there, use her name (I have multiple siblings so would quite naturally say “my sister Naomi’s child”).
Job done.
So you are just posting for drama, right?

Sister's kid.

@Testina, whether this particular post is for real or not, it's an issue these days. Either way, the post is informative for people who don't know about this stuff. At this point, I have known several people who have landed themselves in trouble. It pays to keep abreast of changes in language.