Birth announcement wording - include older children?

[Anonymous]

My husband and I are expecting our first child, although he has an adult (early 20s) daughter from his first marriage. She's now grown and out of the house, but did live with us when she was younger.

I was just looking at birth announcements online and reading the different types of wording/language you can use, and saw that in many instances the sample cards read "Jane, Dick and big bro Sam" in the last line so that the announcement came from parents and older sibling(s). An easy decision if the older sibling is young.

What have you done when dealing with an older sibling or stepsibling? Include the older child to acknowledge that even though s/he is grown and out of the house, it's a family of four, not a family of three? Or am I over thinking this? Would it be wrong not to include her name? I love my SD and have no problems with her name on or off the announcement, it's more that I'm trying to figure out which is more appropriate/less awkward/whatever.

[Anonymous]

I didn't face this situation myself, but I would say definitely include the older daughter. Whether she lives with you in the house, or separate, she is still family.

[Anonymous]

I'd say if she's already out of the house there's no reason to include her -- not that it would be wrong, but it's just less to say on the announcement. "Jane and Bill and big sister Sue welcome baby Mary to the family" makes it sound, to me, like Mary is a little kid herself. I guess it depends on whether your SD is the type who'd want her name on it.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I wouldn't (and didn't) include the sibling's name. I figured baby #1 got an individual announcement with just him being announced by mom and dad, so I figured baby #2 was entitled to the same.

[Anonymous]

I agree that "big sister Susie" makes her sound like she's four and not 24. Maybe "Dick, Jane and daughter Susie proudly announce..." Or just take a family photo of all of you holding the new baby.

[Anonymous]

I didn't include my 3-year-old's name when his brother was born.

[Anonymous]

We used 5starbaby for our announcements specifically b/c we could include others on the announcement. Of course, may be more than what you'd want, but thought I'd throw it out there. We didn't have your situation but had a lot of people we wanted to include.

[Anonymous]

Why not avoid the issue by signing it "the smiths" instead of w/ first names?

[Anonymous]

I don't think it'd be a mistake to err on the side of inclusiveness.

Or maybe ask your SD what she would prefer.

[Anonymous]

I did not include my two stepchildren in the birth announcement.

[Anonymous]

I would either choose a different wording that does not involve the names: We're happy to announce the birth of baby x signed the Smith

or include her: if there is any possibility that she cares you'd really not want to forget her and even if she does not really care it is such a nice sign of inclusiveness.
For the wording I would just write "Jane, Dick and Susie are happy to announce ...."
(after all anyone who is close enough to you that you send a birth announcement presumably knows who is the father and who is the mother)

[Anonymous]

If SD is out of the house, don't include her in the opening line. If you want to say later in the announcement that it is your first and DH's second, I think that would make more sense, but I still wouldn't add it myself.

[sybersus]

Why not just ask your stepdaughter what she would prefer? It sounds like you have a good relationship and you are fine w/it either way. Congrats!

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's necessary, especially if the sibling is an adult. But if there is some history of sensitivity there or you think she might feel upset, it would be lovely to include her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If SD is out of the house, don't include her in the opening line. If you want to say later in the announcement that it is your first and DH's second, I think that would make more sense, but I still wouldn't add it myself.

I think OP is talking about the cards you send out, not something that would be in the paper or whatever. It would be wierd to note that it is her first and DH's second child, but not wierd to include an older sibling. If you decide to do it, OP, I wouldn't include any reference to the fact that it's a half-sibling or just DH's daughter. I would just say "Big Sister X."