In today's world, families are not as simple as they used to be. With the modern practice of divorce and remarriage and rising numbers of step parents, step siblings and half siblings, families can get a bit confusing. For people with half siblings, life is different. People also treat people with half siblings differently and are usually curious about their family dynamic. But here are 6 things every person who has a half sibling wants you to know.
1. The difference between STEP siblings and HALF siblings.
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Step siblings are by marriage, half siblings are because you share a parent. So everyone please stop referring to my half siblings as “step siblings.” My half-siblings and I share the same DNA so I prefer they not be in the same category as the step-siblings.
2. My siblings and I were raised differently.
Because we aren’t living with the same parents, we don’t get the same childhood. We get similar experiences with the parent we share (sometimes) and a completely different life with our other respective parent.
3. Oftentimes, we did not live in the same household growing up.
Because we only share one parent, living in the same household growing up is not often possible. I have never lived with any of my siblings. As I live in Michigan, my half-sisters live about 10 minutes away from my hometown, but my little brother lives in Nebraska with his Mom.
4. It shouldn’t be awkward to talk about, but sometimes it is.
We should be able to just say “They are my half-brother/sister," but sometimes it is difficult to come to terms with. As for me personally, I was not even aware that I had a younger brother until I was over 18 and did not meet my half-sisters until after I graduated high school. So when I tell people who have known me personally, it can be awkward saying, “Oh by the way I have a younger half-brother.” But it isn’t my fault my father continued to have kids after I was born.
5. Please do not ask me what happened between my parents that led to having half siblings.
In cases where one parent is not involved in most of our lives, we do not really like explaining the "how" and "why" to having half siblings. Let us tell you, but please respect us by never asking.
6. We love each other just as much as whole siblings.
I often use a line from “The Wedding Date” to tell my half siblings just how much I love them, “You’re my half sibling but I whole love you!” We may have not grown up together, we may not be attached at the hip, but I love them just as if we grew up together throughout our whole lives.
