Navigating Half-Sibling Relations: What Are My Half-Siblings on My Dad's Side Calling My Mom's Side?

Understanding the complex relationships within your family isn't always straightforward, especially when it comes to half-siblings. In particular, it can be confusing to figure out how your half-siblings on your dad's side would refer to their own half-siblings from your mom's side. This article dives into the potential dynamics and terminology involved.

The Genetic and Family Relationship Dynamics

**Genetic Relationship:** It's important to note that there is no genetic connection between your half-siblings on your dad's side and those on your mom's side. Both sets of half-siblings have different and unrelated parents. Although they all share a half-sibling relationship with you, they are not genetically related to each other.

Scenario 1: Split and Reconciliation

In the first scenario, where your dad had kids with a woman who was not your mom and then split up, and he later got together with your mom and had you, and similarly, your mom and a man who isn't your dad got together and had kids, here's what happens:

Your dad's kids from his first marriage were brought into the new family unit when your parents got together. These kids would then be step-siblings to your half-siblings from your dad's side, meaning they are not genetically related but are raised in the same household. If the step-parents adopt each other's children, the legal relationship would change, but not the genetic one.

In contrast, if your parents split up and got together with different partners, the set of half-siblings from your dad's side would grow up with each other, whereas the set of half-siblings from your mom's side would grow up with each other, and you might spend time between the two sets of families. Neither set would consider the other as relatives.

Scenario 2: Separate Families

In this scenario, where your parents got together and had you together, then split up and got together with different partners, it is highly unlikely that your half-siblings on your dad's side and those on your mom's side would blend into one family. You may spend time between the two sets of half-siblings, but they would not be considered relatives.

Family Dynamics and Terminology

When it comes to the terminology, the relationships are quite complex. For example, your mom's siblings (half or full) would be called brother-in-law or sister-in-law to the spouse of their sibling. This means they are not biologically or legally related to the spouse’s siblings, be they half or full siblings.

Conclusion

Understanding these dynamics can help navigate the complexities of family relationships, especially when dealing with half-siblings from different parent sides. While the genetic and legal relationships may be clear, the emotional and familial connections often require patience and understanding.