As an adult, what do you refer to step family as?

[Anonymous]

Sheesh, she is your step-mom and they are your step-siblings. Technically and factually that is correct, and has zero to do with your feelings towards them. The fact that you are takings cues from the frigging ‘Brady Bunch’ hints of a maturity problem on your part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sheesh, she is your step-mom and they are your step-siblings. Technically and factually that is correct, and has zero to do with your feelings towards them. The fact that you are takings cues from the frigging ‘Brady Bunch’ hints of a maturity problem on your part.

And I said this as someone who had a parent remarry when I was 35.

[Anonymous]

My mom went through this and she just called everyone involved by their first names. “Jane, and her daughters Laura and Susan.” When referring to the new wife to other people, she just said “my father’s wife” not “my step mother.”

[Anonymous]

&$@?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom went through this and she just called everyone involved by their first names. “Jane, and her daughters Laura and Susan.” When referring to the new wife to other people, she just said “my father’s wife” not “my step mother.”

This. Also, could the Momma Lynn reference be her way to make your relationship more friendly or natural? Ms Lynn feels very formal. Unless there are major issues surrounding your dad's marriage, my guess is she isn't trying to be your mom but is looking for something warmer.

[Anonymous]

"Those people" - but maybe just me?

[Anonymous]

They all have first names.
We use them.

[Anonymous]

Step-siblings.

[Anonymous]

I have ONE mother in my life and only she gets to be called that. To the lady who married my father, just no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad remarried a few years ago. I am 44. His wife seems okay, but there is only limited interaction when I visit. About a year ago, she asked me to call her "Momma Lynn." I respectfully declined and continued calling her "Ms. Lynn." Last week, she referred to her grown daughters as my step-sisters. I've never met either of her daughters. I associate stepfamilies with blended families, which were introduced from birth to 17 years. Do full-grown adults refer to their parent's spouse/family as "step?" It seems so juvenile.

First name, Ms. Lynn is strange. No to Momma. Yes, they are your stepsiblings even if you don't consider them.

Agreed that Ms Lynn is strange. I'm thinking OP is Southern. Seemingly confirmed by stepmom wanting to be called "Momma Lynn." Though technically, that would be Mama Lynn. I have family who does that for ILs.

I too assume that we are discussing a southern family. I would just call her by her first name (like you would a close family friend). I wouldn't get hung up on the whole step sister thing. If she wants to refer to them that way, I'd just let her.

[Anonymous]

Ms Lynn makes her sound like a preschool teacher. Lynn is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have ONE mother in my life and only she gets to be called that. To the lady who married my father, just no.

Yes. I totally agree. My dad remarried, but didn't have any more kids. None of us would call her mom. Or if they had a child consider their child to be a sibling. When someone already has a family then decides to have more with other partners it's beyond irresponsible. The term "blended family", was coined to make dysfunctional seem normal. It's not fair to your kids to have more children from different partners. Another reason kids are messed up today, along with other things in our society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have ONE mother in my life and only she gets to be called that. To the lady who married my father, just no.

This. It feels like a betrayal to my mother to call anyone else mama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have ONE mother in my life and only she gets to be called that. To the lady who married my father, just no.

Yes. I totally agree. My dad remarried, but didn't have any more kids. None of us would call her mom. Or if they had a child consider their child to be a sibling. When someone already has a family then decides to have more with other partners it's beyond irresponsible. The term "blended family", was coined to make dysfunctional seem normal. It's not fair to your kids to have more children from different partners. Another reason kids are messed up today, along with other things in our society.

I agree with some but not all of this.

As a child, most of my friends came from two-parent intact nuclear families. My one friend Clarissa's parents divorced, and her dad married a woman with a child the same age as Clarissa. Clarissa's dad and stepmom would not allow us to be just friends with her. We had to invite her step-sister to parties and befriend her as well, even though none of us cared for the stepsister. That was my earliest memory of stepfamilies, and I recalled feeling resentment toward the arrangement.

Even though I divorced my ex, I committed to not remarrying/having additional kids because of the undue stress it would place on my kids. I often question if blended families are really worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just say my mom’s husband and his kids.

same