Half/step siblings

[Pickledeverything]

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

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??

Well, we could split hairs over terminology but it does make you a massive dick whose actions will only work to alienate their own children. It’s not about you. At all. It’s about them and how they see their siblings and what they want to refer to them as. Nothing to do with you. Reading this, I just thank the heavens my own parents were not such dicks and let us determine how we wanted to view our relationships as siblings.

Honestly you are just being bitter and a bit nasty to all kids involved including your own .People don't introduce anyone as there half sister/,brother in the real world well not those trying to keep relationships cordial between the Two households adult feelings should be kept out if it

Ewww. You clearly have issues. They will resent you (rightly so) if you continue with that attitude. I hope you treat THEIR brothers and sisters with respect. You sound bitter.

Yes it does to small children how petty .you met your step sibling at 16 totally different from a sibling you actually share a parent with DNA.

Is it your partners child, if they grew up together?

You really should have considered this before blending the family, take some responsibility and grow up.

Can anyone confirm if these children are step or half siblings? It's a bit confusing.

I have a half-sister, 2 half-brothers and a full brother (I'm the youngest). I've only ever referred to them as my brothers and sister and no one ever suggested I shouldn't.

But after meeting my DP he would correct me every single time 'she's only your half sister' 'you mean your half brother'.

He would say 'but they're not your real brothers and sister you only have 1 brother'.

It drove me mad and would be the cause of many an arguement.

DP has 2 children from a previous relationship and we were together for 13 years before we had a child together.

Anyway, after 13 years of the 'not a real sibling' debate he was mighty offended when a friend referred to his 2 children as our child's half-siblings.

He had the cheek to correct them and claim it doesn't make a difference, that they are brothers and sister and no one should state otherwise!

It still infuriates me years later 😒

You come across as very petty and vindictive and it’s telling that you’re focusing on the minority that agree with you to justify your actions.

Do what you want to do but it’s a very weird thing to get so worked up over.

We’ve been split up ten years and child in question is 12 so I’m not bitter. Just factual. I bet all of you who are moaning would also not be happy with your kids calling your ex’s gf their step mum. Because she’s not, she’s daddy’s gf ffs

All the children in my family choose what they call people if adults cannot handle that they are the ones that need the therapy not the children who have complicated lives because of what adults have done to them and yes I am speaking generally

Well no she is there father's partner if they were married yes stepmum no bother you are clearly bitter it's spewing out of every post .if your child gets on good with these children and he is 12 all he will be thinking why is my mum still so nasty after all this time if his dad was a dick fine but is it worth ruining you relationship with your child .yes darling lovely then just move on no listen yiurchilds name I have told you before he is not your brother it's half step whatever can uou honestly not see how petty you are

Don't feel the need is what it should say

Yes.

I don't have any "full" siblings. I have one sister and four brothers. My step father has my name tattooed on his arm with his biological children's.

Why would you try to make your own child feel like crap for your jealousy?

I suspect the poll is a bit muddled but by looks of things you are being ridiculous would be better

My eldest does call his dad’s gf (well partner because none of us are 12yos) his step mum.
Yeah it was uncomfortable for me at first and at times it’s been difficult not feel bitter about certain things but that’s my problem to deal with not my sons.
I treat my ex, his partner and the children they have had together with the respect I expect them to treat my partner and I and my younger children with.

That’s just weird though. You’re not his child why would he do that what if your mum and him split up? He’d forever have some random kids name on his arm and have to explain that to his next partner

So your child is at least 10, able to decide how she defines the relationship.
You're so bitter, you're meant to put your child first, showing your child love and respect, no bitterness.
Disgraceful.

I’m a paediatric nurse and the number of times one of my kids says “I’ve got 10 siblings” and the mum says “well no you’ve got xyz at daddy’s house and xyz at my house. So I know I’m not the only one

In my opinion brother-sister. I would never refer to my dd as half siblings.

Maybe because if said stepfather has brought up banshee since a small child he just thinks of her as his own and divorce won't change this maybe she is not some random kid to him

Up to the individual how they refer to their siblings, half or full.

I don’t think someone should be corrected for using sister/brother’ or for using half - sibling/ half - brother. Ime parents who try and insist on the use of one or the other against the wishes of their child/ren tend to inadvertently create resentment.

They've been divorced many years. He's still my dad.

The children (or adult or whoever) gets to decide whether they say brother/sister or step or half. Not only would I never correct them and would follow their lead, if I ever heard someone else correct their children I would think they were a very small, nasty person who I wanted nothing to do with.

Glad we could clear that up.

I would never correct sibling to half sibling unless it mattered in context, e.g. the person would think the half sibling were mine and it mattered that they knew I was not related by blood. Otherwise I am happy for my children to use brother/sister.

Step sibling is really not a thing to us. My children have never lived with or interacted with their step siblings (huge age gap, step siblings are old enough to be their parents). They would never think of calling their step siblings brother or sister. They use Maria’s son/daughter and not step brother or step sister. There is no bond there, no connection.

Never correct! There would be absolutely no reason to other than mean spiritedness.