Etiquette for sibling or half sibling?

Question

When 2 children share the same father and live with their respective mother, which is the correct way for one child to refer to another? They see each other, often. Sister/Brother or Half Sister/ Half Brother.
Also, do these questions (how many in you family, ect?) come up on applications for schools, ect?. Just wondering, as I would not like to cause confusion for the toddler, later on.

Answer 1

I assume these children see each other regularly, therefore it would probably prove easier to refer to each as brother/sister and explain the exact relationship later on. Yes, the questions do come up, but generally it's not about family, but about the home the child lives in, and if there's any ambiguity in terms of questions on an application it's best to err on the side of mentioning that the child does have a half-sibling.

Answer 2

I have one full sister , one half sister, and one half brother. I refer to them as my sisters and my brother. The only time I say half is if I need to explain the situation to someone for some reason. It isn't appropriate to say half in my opinion. It will just distance the relationship. And in a sibling relationship this really doesn't make much of a difference. And I've never had it come up on applications or anything, sometimes when doing family tree, or explaining how going to see younger sister who lives out of town but never formally. Well that is directly anyway. There are questions how many in your family. That usually refers to in household so I say who I live with. When it says how many sibilings I use all of them (not just who I live with). They are pretty easy to answer, I never had to ask about it because it was so simple.

Answer 3

I have family members that are young children that have half siblings and there parents all told them at a young age that they only shared 1 parent by blood relation, the children don't call each other half brother/sister, they simply say "this is my brother/sister." It shouldn't matter to the children because no matter what they are related. Usually only the adults involved have an issue with it. And yes there are questions on schools forms about this. For emergency purposes and so on.

Answer 4

The children should refer to each other as their brother or sister. Half sibling or not, they are still brother and sister.

Answer 5

You can consider anyone family...lots have "uncles" and "aunts" who are not blood related but close family friends. I would just go with brother/sister. Tell them this is your sister/brother and explain it to them when they get older and can understand the "half"brother/sister situation. My family-2 girls from one father, 1 boy from another, You will NEVER hear half brother out of my mouth. He is my brother no if's and's or but's, he will never ever be half of a brother to me. If you want to teach them blood is thicker then water go with "half" brother/sister. If you want to teach them that anyone you truely care about can be part of and accepted as family then go with brother/sister. Yes you will find questions about how many in family but not that often (their dr will ask-for medial history reasons, school will ask- but it is far and few between). My son is my only child, but his father (who my son is not close to) has 6 other children (younger then my son) by 3 other woman, my son considers his fathers children his brothers and sisters, my son also considers the womans other children (not by his father and even after his father was with the woman) his brothers and sisters. He thinks it is great that he has such a big family and that so many care for him, and he cares for so many and that he was blessed with the title of "brother". My son has thought this way since he was a toddler (he is now 11) but he knows and understands that they are truely only "half"siblings but he does not care, and gets upset/angry if anyone refers to them as "half" siblings. He tells them they are not half people, they are whole people and they are my whole brothers and sisters and they are my family! Basically it all depends on how you want to raise them. Blood is thicker then water go with "half", be happy so many care for you and you are loved by so many and someone is special enough to call family go with brother/sister.

Answer 6

Forget the 'half'. When introducing your sibling, do so by saying this is my brother/sister. By doing so you are showing respect to your sibling. By calling them 'half', it suggests that they are not as good as 'full'. I have six children. 3 that are mine and 3 that are step children that I have raised since very small. I have never refered to them them by saying "this is my step daughter". If someone ask me if they are my step children, I will tell them, and then include - I love them as my own. Because they are, and I do. I believe that they respect me and are relationship is much closer because I treat them as I do my own. In actions and by what I say.

Answer 7

Sister or brother is the easiest way to handle it. Your family is your immediate family not half siblings.

Answer 8

I dont refer to mine as halfs. I didnt grow up with them but they are still my brothers and sister. That is how I refer to them.

Answer 9

My daughters have a half sister, who i often refer to as my daughter as well (ive got a great relationship with her mom) and my daughters just call her their sister.
I also have a half sister whom i refer to as my sister

Answer 10

Children who have one parent in common are "half siblings". Children who do not have either parent in common are "step siblings". And yes those questions do come up on applications for schools etc.