Feel weird. Ex-h's new baby born today

[Mexxo]

He called from the delivery room to tell us (me and the DCs). Happy for them... But also feel a bit weird about it. I feel like the baby is a part of my family, and yet there is no word to describe what the baby and I are in relation to each other. "My DC's half sister" doesn't really cut it.

I agree with you Nelly - I'm currently pregnant with DS1 and if my DSS's mum ever even thought about using the term 'half brother' we would be incredibly hurt and disappointed on DSS's behalf. Luckily she is mature enough to understand how excited DSS is about becoming a brother and as such she uses the term brother. (Of course, this is mainly out of love and support for her own child, no matter what her personal feelings may be.)

*I meant what her personal feelings may be about her exH having another child with someone else

Agreed - in my family we just use the terms brother and sister informally because the distinctions are confusing and basically pointless. I tend only to be precise when it's relevant to the context, so if I start a story about 'my brother' and then have to change half way through to explain step-brother when referring to his dad as my step-dad .. I will try and anticipate this and start off by calling him step-brother. If that makes sense!

My sons have a sister, she is their fathers daughter by his ex (one before me) She (the sister) has two brothers (same mum, different dad)
When my ES was little, he couldn't understand why D's brothers weren't his brothers. It just didn't make sense to him, so we explained that they were J's step-brothers. We all know that they aren't but how else do you explain blended families to a 2 year old?

James' funeral was 2 months ago and both his 'step-brothers' carried his coffin. They all refer to each other as brothers now, have done for years and years.

I think that what I am trying to say is that families are much more diverse than they were. Marriage, divorce and subsequent remarriages have changed the whole family dynamic. The one thing that James' death has taught us is that family is the people you love and who love you. Blood doesn't always come into it.

Aunt sounds good OP.

I have two older teen stepsons, and am the mother to their 9 month half sister (born through a reversal I might add). They call her their sister, and have built a lovely relationship with her already . I try very hard to ensure they don't feel like they are second best .

I did get upset the other day when told I need another so DD has a sibling. When I pointed out her brothers , was informed they weren't her real brothers !

In our house we only say half-brothers if we're being precise, the girls call them their brothers and the boys call them their sisters. We live quite a distance from them and we don't get to go as a family very often but they're all so close it's amazing. The youngest boy and my eldest are so alike, the way they speak (even through their accents) and their mannerisms, it's quite scary! All of them as babies have had a thing for the eldest.

Our kids all use 'brother' and 'sister' not half- which I think it nicer, my DD who is the youngest understands that her brother and sister have a different Mum and also a different set of GP's (who she has met several times) but obviously doesn't consider that changes anything.
I sometimes find it easier to say I have 3 children even though 2 of them don't exactly belong to me! I will explain that the 2 eldest are my DP's by his first marriage, but when talking about the family, I tend to say that 'we' have 3 kids between us.

oh that's nice, in my dad's house they have 'their own kids' and some other annoying offspring sometimes referred to as skeletons in the cupboard.
all these properly blended families sound impressive.