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Original poster

Half/step siblings

456 replies

Pickledeverything · 19/02/2025 23:23

If your children have half or step siblings do you correct them when they say “brother/sister” so they use the proper term?

YABU - yes I do
YANBU - no I do not

OP posts:
backawayfatty1 · 20/02/2025 00:16

I don't think it's that hard to explain ... They have two houses or a blender family. If they are happy to call them brother/sister then surely that's all that matters? Correcting them every time is just creating a divide in their life.

evtheria · 20/02/2025 00:17

I have half siblings, I've always referred to them as just my sister/brother. Only elaborate if it's relevant to a story, or person sees them and clocks that we look verrrrrry different.

My dc has a half sibling, but we've also just used 'sister' in that situation.

wandawaves · 20/02/2025 00:20

No i don't correct them, mostly.
The only time is if someone else is involved in the conversation, and my kids mentions their "little sister" and the person looks to me confused as if to say "omg I didn't know you had another one!", then I will add "half sister", just so the conversation can keep flowing.

Original poster
Pickledeverything · 20/02/2025 00:20

Ok but I don’t want them to say brother and sister in my house, they’ve been told and still continue to do it. Am I the “psychopath” for correcting them??

OP posts:
Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 20/02/2025 00:21

Why do you get to define their relationship?

They are siblings.

I never introduce my brother and sister as half. Nor do I introduce my brother as my adopted brother.

Whotenanny · 20/02/2025 00:21

Half-brothers or half-sisters are still brothers and sisters.

I've never known anyone call a step-sibling just their 'brother' or 'sister'.

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 20/02/2025 00:23

Pickledeverything · 20/02/2025 00:20

Ok but I don’t want them to say brother and sister in my house, they’ve been told and still continue to do it. Am I the “psychopath” for correcting them??

Yes. Yes you are.

FaithFables · 20/02/2025 00:24

Is this a reverse? What kind of parent forces their kids to refer to their siblings as "half-brother/sister"? WTF is wrong with you?

Crochetcamel · 20/02/2025 00:24

You clearly don’t come from a large family 😂
If I had to explain exactly how my relatives were related to me every time I mentioned any of them I’d never get anything said

backawayfatty1 · 20/02/2025 00:24

You can insist but they will use the terminology they want behind your back & could well grow to resent you for making an issue out of it

FaithFables · 20/02/2025 00:24

Pickledeverything · 20/02/2025 00:20

Ok but I don’t want them to say brother and sister in my house, they’ve been told and still continue to do it. Am I the “psychopath” for correcting them??

Yes, you are.

McSpoot · 20/02/2025 00:24

How old are the kids?

PinkPantheress · 20/02/2025 00:24

What’s the harm in referring to them as brothers and sisters? If my son referred to his half-sister who he has little contact with as his sister, I certainly wouldn’t correct him.

Crochetcamel · 20/02/2025 00:27

And you just come across as someone who is obviously very bitter that their ex has moved on.

If they’ve had multiple kids since you split up it’s obviously been a good long while and you need to move on for both your well being and your kids

everychildmatters · 20/02/2025 00:27

Note the OP refers to "my" house and not "our" house. Somewhat telling.

Wheelz46 · 20/02/2025 00:29

Going to assume the step siblings and half siblings is to do with the ex partner.

If that's the case and you yourself had another child, would you be happy for them to call that child a brother or sister?

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 20/02/2025 00:32

I have 4 Sisters but they're really 2 StepSisters & 2 Half Sisters.

As far as we're all concerned we are Sisters.

I think it's petty & cruel to berate your DC by not allowing them to call their step siblings Brother or Sister

There's more to family than just blood.

evtheria · 20/02/2025 00:33

Pickledeverything · 20/02/2025 00:20

Ok but I don’t want them to say brother and sister in my house, they’ve been told and still continue to do it. Am I the “psychopath” for correcting them??

Not a psychopath, but extremely petty.

One day they might feel differently - then again, they might not... It's up to them what term they feel most comfortable using.

TheCatterall · 20/02/2025 00:36

Think of how you are coming across to your children. Think of how you are making them feel by taking such a stance on this. You are the adult and whatever has gone on and hurt you - stop projecting it onto them.

nats2010 · 20/02/2025 00:37

Damn I voted wrong. Sorry.

BlondiePortz · 20/02/2025 00:38

well the word brother and sister is not wrong, if it is step or half they are still brother or sister so tecnhically there is no need to add the every increasing need for parents to have complex family situations, why do the kids have to remeber how each child is related in order to the add an extra word to the word brother or sister?

if adults want to complicate things that is on them

DressOrSkirt · 20/02/2025 00:42

Pickledeverything · 20/02/2025 00:20

Ok but I don’t want them to say brother and sister in my house, they’ve been told and still continue to do it. Am I the “psychopath” for correcting them??

It's their house too and they want to say brother and sister.
So, yes, you are the psychopath.

Ihopeithinkiknow · 20/02/2025 00:43

I have got 2 step siblings and there are 8 of us in total and as far as any of us are concerned we are all brothers and sisters

Nanny0gg · 20/02/2025 00:47

Pickledeverything · 20/02/2025 00:20

Ok but I don’t want them to say brother and sister in my house, they’ve been told and still continue to do it. Am I the “psychopath” for correcting them??

What exactly is your problem with it?

AubernFable · 20/02/2025 00:52

They have the right to define their relationship without interference imo. I refer to my half sister as my little sister even though we aren’t close and to my step sister as my step sister/sister depending on the context.

Why does it make you so uncomfortable op?

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