Labels

[Missy75]

Just wondering what labels you use or avoid in your families?

I have DD (9) from a previous relationship and DS (1) with current hubby.

With divorces and remarriages (I think I just made up that word) we have quite a large extended family. We have always been very honest with DD about who's related to who, and how, but we try to avoid using labels like 'step' and 'half'. eg - I refer to my mum and step-dad as my parents; we have never described our kids as half brother and sister; etc.
When I think about what a wonderful dad hubby is to DD, or my mum's husband is to us, I don't like to use words that might make them feel less connected.
And I don't want my kids to fell that their relationship with each other is less important because they have different biological fathers.

I also dislike the term 'real' dad. What is a real dad? My husband who has been there for my daughter since she was a little bub, drives her places, pays for her education and sports, buys her clothes, toys, furniture, food, takes her on holidays - is the realest (another new word) dad you can get!
Her birth father has met her twice - the last time being just after her first birthday.

What does everyone else think? Are they just words to you or do they carry an unspoken meaning?

[Olismum]

Hi, I always steer clear from using the word step or half when refering to my step daughter or my daughters half sister when introducing her to new people. I prefer to just say that I have 2 daughters rather than 1 bio daughter and 1 step daughter.

[MrsDribbleDrawers]

No labels here - one look at my medicare card and the world gets confusing - DD1 is 9 from first r'ship, has her my name and his; DH has DS from his first marriage (and hence DS has hyphenated name); DD2 is ours, has his name and mine; and they're all his and mine, ours. DD1 doesn't talk about half brothers or sisters (except for the two big boys, DS's brothers who live with their dad, but even then we try to include them as brothers, not halfs or steps.) It can be a challenge, especially if family members aren't supportive of it (like my sister, but everyone else seems to have accepted that this is our family.)... Sorry, hope this sounds coherent, running on empty during the school holidays with a bub who refuses to sleep in the morning and siblings who have friends visiting (no chance for sleep during the day today) Cate