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Step-parenting

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Original poster

Side family

14 replies

Nostalgianow · 12/02/2016 19:35

Would you be offended if your SDC called you this?

In the context of an Instagram photo hashtag #offtoseesidefamily kind of thing? (Not the exact hashtag but similar!)

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Original poster

Nostalgianow · 12/02/2016 19:36

Not my DC btw. My friends 15 year old SD. I don't think it's rude, she does

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VimFuego101 · 12/02/2016 19:37

Yes, I would. But since it would be one of the less offensive things DSD has said, I would bite my tongue.

CantWaitForWarmWeather · 12/02/2016 19:47

What on earth is a side family? Is it another. phrase for the NR household by any chance?
A bit on the side for extra taxi services and money etc...

lunar1 · 12/02/2016 19:57

Could it just be short for 'other side of my family'?

WhoHasACrystalBall · 12/02/2016 19:57

My niece who lives with her mum has her mum under "birth giver " on her phone. My sister was obviously upset buy kids just don't think sometimes. But yes, it's rude

Original poster

Nostalgianow · 12/02/2016 20:00

Yes just side family. No problems as far as mate was concerned. Think she feels it's rude. I think it's just a saying

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RandomMess · 12/02/2016 20:00

I can't remember what one of my DDs has me under but it's a piss take that could be taken offence at, put I just think "meh, teenagers"

daftgeranium · 12/02/2016 20:52

yes I think it's offensive and her parent should call her out on it. Nobody is more important than anyone else in a blended family.

Bluelilies · 12/02/2016 21:08

Teenagers use a lot of odd slang and hashtags on Instagram. And I guess "side family" kind of makes sense took describe a part of your family that's not your main day to day family.

But your mate presumably knows her DSD and may therefore have a good idea how she meant it. Worth looking at the comments she's received on it to figure out how it's being interpreted

enderwoman · 14/02/2016 16:47

How often does this child see the other family? The "standard" for non resident families is 6 overnights a month which is 20% of the time. For some children it's even less. I can see why that side of the family becomes a side family.

As an owner of teens I can't imagine them ever using "non resident parent" to describe their dad. I imagine they'd call me main parent or usual parent rather than resident parent.

Just had a thought- on a family tree that side of the family would literally be on the side of the original family so wouldn't be a negative at all.

enderwoman · 14/02/2016 16:47

As an owner of teens I can't imagine them ever using "non resident parent" to describe their dad. I imagine they'd call me main parent or usual parent rather than resident parent.

Just had a thought- on a family tree that side of the family would literally be on the side of the original family so wouldn't be a negative at all.

Heavens2Betsy · 15/02/2016 16:01

My nephew has his Mum as 'old cow' on his phone.
It's to impress his mates but she was mortified.

Wdigin2this · 17/02/2016 20:08

Call me old fashioned, but I don't think kids of this generation understand, or accept the concept of 'being rude'!

yankeecandle4 · 17/02/2016 21:12

It could be just a teenage sort of terminology or she might mean side family as opposed to her main/RP family. I saw my DF every weekend but considered him to be a side branch off my main family tree, not out of spite/nastiness but he was not involved in my daily life.

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