For April’s blog, I wrote about the curse of the wicked stepparent and breaking this deep-rooted stereotype. This month, I am thinking even more about harmful labels. I’m talking about half … siblings that is. I have a blended family with three children. According to society, my oldest daughter and my youngest two are half-siblings. Though this is not a phrase we use in our home.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 12.5 million children under the age of 18 live with at least one half-sibling. The Pew Research Center estimated that 30% of Adult Americans have at least one step or half-sibling. This statistic may sound low, but nonetheless, it makes for a significant number of families attempting to define their bonds.

The word “sibling” was introduced in the 1900s to provide a neutral term encompassing both brothers and sisters, addressing the lack of a gender-neutral term in the English language. The increasing prevalence of blended families, resulting from remarriage and divorce in the 20th Century, necessitated clear distinctions between different types of sibling relationships. Thus, terms like “half-sibling” and “step-sibling” were created. Inheritance matters, right?

There’s a phrase that creeps into everyday conversation more often than we realize. It’s subtle, almost harmless-sounding at first—but it carries a quiet sting:

“She’s my half-sister.” Not just sister. Half-sister. As if bloodlines and technicalities somehow change the weight of the bond. As if half means less than.

Language matters. How we describe our relationships shapes not only how we view them but also how others do. When someone emphasizes “half,” knowingly or unknowingly, they draw a line, defining who truly belongs and who sits just outside the circle. Even if the family dynamic is close, that label can still hang in the air like a qualifier: yes, we’re family…but not fully.

Consider the children who hear this label as they grow up. They may share a father with a sibling but not a mother, or vice versa. To them, their sibling is simply their sibling. The one they play with, fight with, and love fiercely. But then they hear it: “This is my half-brother.” And suddenly, they’re othered. Fractional. Not quite whole.

Families are complicated. Relationships don’t always follow simple formulas. Not everyone is close to their siblings—whether full, half, or otherwise. But when we casually toss in the word half, we’re not just describing genetics. We’re assigning emotional weight. And in many cases, we’re minimizing real, lived connections.

It’s time to rethink the way we talk about family. To honor bonds, choose love rather than creating a biological divide. Instead of saying “half-sibling,” why not just say sibling—and let the details live in the backstory, not the label?

When I think of my stepdaughter, I don’t see distance—I see connection. I see the bridge we’ve built together, strengthened not just by love, but by the children we share.

My stepdaughter and I didn’t share a biological tie. However, after my husband and I had two more children, everything changed. These children connect us all. They are the living blood bond that ties her to me and me to her. And through them, our family becomes whole—not divided by half or step, but united by love and shared life.

To me, there’s nothing complicated about it. Our children are the bridge. And because of them, my stepdaughter isn’t half or almost. She’s simply family.

Because, in the end, love isn’t measured in halves. And no child—or adult—should feel like a footnote in their own family. So, the next time you introduce your sibling, drop the fraction. Share the love. Let’s raise a generation that understands family isn’t something you divide—it’s something you build.