Pediatrician Tells A Girl Her Brother Is Actually A Half-Brother, Gets His Attitude Corrected By A 10-Year-Old
Genetics doesn’t make a family. Love does. And while Jesica Ryzynski and her family already knew that, their pediatrician did not.
While they were at his office, the doctor asked Jesica’s 10-year-old daughter who the members of her family were. She listed her mom, her dad (who happens to be her step-father), her brother who is three years younger than her, and her baby brother. But the pediatrician corrected her, saying that it was actually her half-brother.
However, the little girl instantly showed her big heart, standing up for her family and refusing to let the man divide it. Continue scrolling to learn everything that unfolded from Jesica’s own words.
More info: Filter Free Parents | Is That Chocolate or Poop?
Image credits: jesica.butler
Image credits: jesica.butler
Image credits: jesica.butler
Jesica didn’t like the pediatrician from the get-go. “He had a terrible bedside manner,” she told Bored Panda. “Both my daughter and I never felt that we were being heard and often even felt that he was being dismissive. He was very condescending.”
Luckily, the savage girl instantly defused the situation. The mom describes her as one of the strongest people I know. “She is smart and very hard working. And she loves her siblings fiercely.”
One of the reasons why the girl grew up to be such a resilient little lady is Jesica’s current husband’s efforts to be the best dad he can be. “He is very involved with the children, both at home and coaching their sporting teams. He goes on most of the school trips. Their emotional and physical well-being is his absolute priority. It sounds a bit mushy I realize, but I consider myself very lucky to have found such a wonderful partner to go through life with.”
Here’s what people said about the situation
cute...but could people please stop beeing offended by everthing? She says that this person was not a good pediatrician. Strangely he knew the family situation and seeing that this woman has more than just one child, she probably trusted him with at least one other child...(assuming) and now....that he "misspoke", he suddenly is a bad doctor that should be detested and does bad work. But now that she has a cute story to share with the interwebs, she can s**t on that guy, because it makes her story stronger... just brush it off. Leave the doctor be the doctor. We pay him to keep the child healthy, not to be emotionally understanding. I rather have a healthy child that is taken care of a skilled but rude doctor, than some robbin williams kind of guy that jokes around everytime but has no clue of what he is doing.
That's jumping to assumptions. There may well have been other reasons why she didn't think this guy was a good pediatrician, and this was just the last straw for her. It's rarely one inflammatory statement alone that gets you to walk out on a doctor. I've had several bad experiences with doctors, and I certainly didn't walk out after one incident.
Load More Replies...Some time back I read something (here?) From a doctor. He needed to explain WHY he needed to ask you your gender. Genetic gender, not sexual identity, sexual orientation or whatever else. The genitic set of organs and hormones you were born with. Becaus a heart attack for example has different symptoms for men and woman. If the biological father of that child has some genetic condition it wont help when the emotional father claims they dont have it in their family. Genetics matter. Not in terms of family bonds, but they do in terms of medical care. So yeah, for any good doctor this boy is the half brother
I doubt very much that the pediatritcian would be looking to get family history info from a child, rather than the mother. Yes, that information is important. Important enough to not screw it up by taking it from a child in the first place... wouldn't even know what diabetes or cancer or dementia even is. (at least, not the specific terms.)
Load More Replies...Geez, way to overreact. Technically, genetically, he's her half-brother. Has nothing to do with not being whole or being less than a (full) brother, but with HAVING ONLY HALF HIS GENES FROM THE SAME PARENT AS THE SISTER. Explain to your kid what 'half-brother' actually means and she wouldn't mind at all.
GEEZE WAY TO OVERREACT!!! There is absolutely no medical need to correct the way a child expresses her relationship to somebody she loves. From any doctor, the only thing gained by correcting her was a lack of trust. Which, frankly, is why the mother should have just walked out on him.
Load More Replies...The term half-brother is a common enough term, I can't see it being that big of deal. QUESTION - Isn't this another example of people getting indignant over petty things? Is this political correctness run amuck? JUST ASKING.
People have always gotten their knickers in a knot over something. Way back, it could be over anything, from ring around the collar ("That man has a terrible wife!") to civil rights (insert racist outburst here).
Load More Replies...If conversation is not about some medical issue, genetic relation between family members are nobody's business. Especially when talking with kids, why people point out this to them, is beyond my comprehension.
Well because technically she was wrong. Unless she can get her dad's blood and DNA into that baby it's her half brother. And that's ok.
Load More Replies...In the beginning, she calls her husband the step-father yet argues against the half-brother thing. I gave up at this due to her double standards.
Whilst it wasn't necessary for the paediatrician to correct the little girl, I find this post much ado about nothing. Not everyone feels the same, some people struggle with having half/step parents or siblings. I technically have a step brother and step mum but I don't see them as such. I don't really see them as family so you would never hear me call them my mum or brother or even step.
I have half sisters that are much older than me and we never lived in the same household. Our relationship is closer to cousins than sisters. I think it is appropriate to refer to them as half sisters and so far as I know they have never been offended.
This is f*****g stupid. Half doesnt mean the other HALF is missing. Hes one half and his brother or sister is the Other half. Your not FULL blood related.
I have an older "half sister" that was adopted by my dad when she was 3 months old, so she's been my sister my entire life and it never felt like she was 'half' anything. But it did get pointed out sometimes like the story above and I never thought anything of it, never would have considered someone saying that to be cruel at all. But now years later she does point out that when people said that it felt like she was the odd-one out because my other siblings were all my 'full' relatives and she was the only 'half' - it's all about understanding other peoples perspectives on this subject.
A few years after my dad died, my mom told me that the first time I introduced him to my friends at school as "my dad," he went to the restroom and burst into tears. He thought I'd say he was "Ray" or "my mom's husband." That man did everything in his power to teach me COMMON SENSE, which the older I am the more I realize how many people don't have it. I'll be grateful to MY DAD until the day I die.
Honestly this person is overreacting a bit too much. The doctor is just doing his job and stating the facts. I understand that she might get a bit pissed at him by calling her kid by step-brother, but it was a bit of an overreaction.
I mean the doctor is correct. Nothing will change that no matter how the family wants to look at it. Same thing with my kids. The older two are half siblings with younger two. Doesn't mean they love each other less or treat each other different because of it. It just is what it is.
Yeah I was going to say. My half brother was four when I was born and I always called him just brother. Never really thought much about it bc my parents just were like that’s your brother. If two kids are treated and called brothers they won’t know they’re not until someone steps in and says so. Did come up a bit since we looked way different and different last names but we were more confused than the people asking if we were friends.
Load More Replies...Over-react much? I have half siblings myself and I think this is just really silly. It must be hard to be so easily offended, geez.
Good for the 10 year old. The boy is biologically her half-brother, but in every other sense he is her brother as far as she is concerned. In a similar fashion, people who adopt - or relatives other than biological parents - are parents in the ways that are important.
My Grandad isn't mine biologically at all but he married my Grandma before I was born and he's always been there for us. We all care for him now as he has dementia and he can't remember a lot of people and places but if you tell him he's going to "Gemma's house" he immediately perks up. I love him very much and that warms my heart so much.
I have 3 (much) younger siblings from my dad's second marriage. We do not call ourselves half-siblings, just siblings. My mom (who is not their mom) has a cousin that kept trying to correct me by saying, "you mean your half brother/sister..." I would correct her and say, we don't say half, what is that? The cousin kept saying half and my mom yells at her and says, stop calling them HALF. they are her siblings. So what if they are not mine, they are still her brothers and sister. Her cousin, shut up right there and then. If it doesn't bother my mom, why the hell should it bother her cousin. GO, Mom!
Oh shut up! If your kid needs a kidney donor, then the doctor needs to know who is 100% compatible and who is only half brother.
B******t. No one is going to transfer a kidney without genotyping, no matter the purported blood relationship of the donor and recipient. A half brother or a complete stranger may end up being compatible donors, but the doctor won’t take anyone’s word for it.
Load More Replies...This is ridiculous! The doctor was only stating the facts. How was he to know that the parent thinks it's acceptable for her to lie to the children? Those children are half siblings and nothing will change that. I would be more worried about ruining the trust between the parent and children by lying to them telling them that they are full siblings than anything the dr. says. I always believed in being honest with my kids so they would trust me. I have two children who are half siblings and know that they are. It doesn't mean that they love each other any less, just that half of their DNA is different from the other.
I'm sure that the ten-year-old knows that she and the baby have one biological parent in common. She was eight when her mother left a toxic marriage.
Load More Replies...Well, he was your half brother though wasn't he? It means you only share one parent, not both. Why would saying that be a problem ...... oh i forgot everything a problem nowadays!!!! You though him being your half brother means you love him less, not true. I have a half-sister, she's my half-sister as we only share one parent, but i love her the same as any of my other siblings. What's the issue?????
I get it but I also wonder...what if we just taught them that half-brothers are just as important as whole brothers. I mean...that term is still correct. Biologically and scientifically. The doctor pointing it out was unnecessary but ...it didn't mean he was 'half' in love or importance. I grew up knowing who my half and whole siblings were. I knew because we lived different lives and had different last names, it didn't mean I loved them less or thought less of them.
Well, my 2 biological children from the same dad look very different, and my pediatrician, whom I worked with as an RN, pulled me out of the room briefly when I had both of them in for a physical. He asked me gently, do these kids have the same dad? I reassured him that yes, their dad is the same. Why he asked, other than curiosity, still puzzles me- but, being he was an excellent physician, I never held it against him. At least he didn't ask in front of them. But I had that question posed to me by perfect strangers, too. It really is nobody's business.
Half siblings have good relationships, love each other; whole siblings sometimes don't get along and dislike each other. Although the doctor should not say to a child her sibling is her half brother does not mean he's bad person or incompetent pediatrician. The mother is over sensitive or insensitive?
One of my pet peeves is when you take kids to a restaurant and the hostess thinks she's being cute by asking "3 & a half?". My daughter was about 5 and put her in her place immediately by saying "I may be little, but I am a WHOLE person!". I was so proud!
My brother and I came out of the same woman. I don’t know how that could make him anything other than my brother. He grew up with his dad and my “whole” sister and I grew up with our dad. My parents have since split up, but my dad still loves my brother even though he’s not his and he never lived with us. I haven’t referred to him as my half brother since I was about 7.
Dear right: the only reason to mention 'step-' or 'half-' is medical. After that, you make your own family.
The daughter is a very smart young lady. The "doctor", not so much.
I have a sister from a different dad. I would never ever call her a half sister, she is my sister period, whoever constructed this stupid half concept is a d**k
Cut the outrage. The doctor is factually and medically correct. I am sorry you got offended, not really though.
I tell people I have four siblings. One by blood three by marriage. But I love them all the same.
Meh ... never had to deal with this ... my oldest is not biologically mine, but she has never referred to me as a step-parent just neither of us refer to themselves as half-siblings ... I will inform anybody that she is not biologically mine if asked or to explain context ... otherwise, that's my daughter and she gets treated no worse and no better than the other two ... I always call her my firstborn to this day ...
It's whatever I mean I have two half sisters but because they always lived with their mum I never grew up with or around them so we don't have a super close bond which is why I still view them as my half sisters. My boyfriend however has a half brother he grew up with and to him it's always been brother never half specially given the circumstances of his situation
I know someone who grew up in a separate household from half-siblings, but now calls them siblings because they became closer as adults. You sound wise and I think it's lovely that you can see things through the eyes of others.
Load More Replies...Had a teacher's aid that thought it was his duty to tell my 8 year old autistic son that Santa doesn't exist. My son came home bawling. I contacted the teacher who allowed me to come in and educate the aid. I said "First..you're not his parent..it is not up to you to tell him what he should or shouldn't believe. Second, Santa DID exist. His name was Saint Nicholas and he was a bishop that didn't believe the church should be fleecing poor people out of their money, so he would return it to them. When the Church came after him trying to catch him at it, he'd sneak around into peoples homes, sometimes through windows, sometimes down chimneys (they were bigger then) to give the money back. That drive and passion to do the right thing is what we relive every Christmas. So don't you dare say he doesn't exist. Educate yourself." Then I turned to the teacher, pointed to the aid and said "He should not be left alone with children." The aid sent me an apology letter the next day.
Actually...... The character of Saint Nicholas was imprinted on a pagan festival by the church and brought to America by dutch settlers. The actual festival of Saint Nicholas is actually based on the wild hunt with the Germanic god Wotan (or Odin). Children would leave out treats for Odin's horse and receive presents in return, in the U.S. they use socks. In Europe you can still see Saint Nicholas riding a horse and being helped and followed by helpers (Krampus, Zwarte Piet) like Odin had his helpers. Christmas in his turn is imprinted on the Yule festival, in which we celebrate the passing of the shortest day and the return of the light. That's why we hang up lights and bring green (nature) into our house. That teacher's aid was an a*s though...
Load More Replies...Despicable attitude. And particulartly hard to understand from a pediatrician.
Martha I have a half sibling. If someone calls him my half brother it would be no big deal. It's just truth.
Load More Replies...Should I go on a rant about how half-brothers and half-sisters can be loved just as much as "real" brothers and sisters? How she is disrespecting biological half-siblings by refusing to acknowledge them? Or maybe everyone can just chill-the-f***-out. I suspect the doctor wasn't trying to start s***.
Considering this happened at a doctor's office I'd venture a guess and say it is relevant to the anamnesis. You might take offense at the word "half" but in the context of genetics it does actually play a role how you are related to someone.
So many sensitive snowflakes out there. My husband has half siblings, but I see them the same as his full siblings no matter what anyone says. I wouldn't get offended if a doctor mentioned a difference between half and whole, there is a scientific difference and it could medically make a difference in certain situations. Did the doctor have to correct her? No, but he wasn't wrong and he didn't mean to detract from their sense of family. It's not like he was some rando making a snide comment with the intention of hurting them. People are so extra sensitive it's hard to talk to anyone anymore without offending them somehow. At this rate, they're going to run out of doctors by the time the kid is 12.
The better action would be to educate the child that, yes, actually he is her half brother in the 'medical' sense and that it is important for the doctor to know that. But in the 'family' sense he's just her brother. She also needs to ask herself why her ten year old views being a half brother as less than, because that is clearly her negativity her child has picked up. Problem here is not the doctor, it's the woman.
Triggered much? Get over yourself. He IS her half brother, that is the proper term for their relation. It doesn't make their relationship less than full blood. Grow the hell up.
Harry potter was a great wizard but he was still a HALF blood. Can't change that. It is what it is, just like with this little girl and her half brother.
So instead of staying and convincing a doctor, (and a good one at that they said themselves?), let that man grow, they left. Now, how is that not stupid.
The one thing I love about children is that they always speak their minds and they don't care who they upset or offend - good on her for standing up to that idiot.
F*cking snowflakes being offended by the f*****g truth. "You will address me as X or will get offended and say how bad you are". They should start admiting the truth, and that is that he is her HALF-BROTHER. f*cking liberals.
You should not assume because people disagree on some things with you that they disagree on everything. I 100% agree with you that they are half siblings.obviously because of DNA and genes. But I'm on the edge of liberalism. Don't plan on going to that side 100%. But I'm far from conservative. See it seems to me that the conservatives would be claiming "family" on this little girls situation not siding on the side of "dna". To me science is truth just like you said. Not many conservatives claim science over family.
Load More Replies...That pediatrician was a jerk! What did he think he would accomplish with that even! Make her love her sibling less?
Why would they love a half sibling less?
Load More Replies...I agree with what you say, I just can't agree with the way you say it. I'm so conflicted if I should up- or downvote...
Load More Replies...I believe in science over most things. And science says it's her half brother.
Load More Replies...This is not so much about this particular doctor, but about a "half" siblings perception. Nobody is trying to destroy this doctor.
Load More Replies...cute...but could people please stop beeing offended by everthing? She says that this person was not a good pediatrician. Strangely he knew the family situation and seeing that this woman has more than just one child, she probably trusted him with at least one other child...(assuming) and now....that he "misspoke", he suddenly is a bad doctor that should be detested and does bad work. But now that she has a cute story to share with the interwebs, she can s**t on that guy, because it makes her story stronger... just brush it off. Leave the doctor be the doctor. We pay him to keep the child healthy, not to be emotionally understanding. I rather have a healthy child that is taken care of a skilled but rude doctor, than some robbin williams kind of guy that jokes around everytime but has no clue of what he is doing.
That's jumping to assumptions. There may well have been other reasons why she didn't think this guy was a good pediatrician, and this was just the last straw for her. It's rarely one inflammatory statement alone that gets you to walk out on a doctor. I've had several bad experiences with doctors, and I certainly didn't walk out after one incident.
Load More Replies...Some time back I read something (here?) From a doctor. He needed to explain WHY he needed to ask you your gender. Genetic gender, not sexual identity, sexual orientation or whatever else. The genitic set of organs and hormones you were born with. Becaus a heart attack for example has different symptoms for men and woman. If the biological father of that child has some genetic condition it wont help when the emotional father claims they dont have it in their family. Genetics matter. Not in terms of family bonds, but they do in terms of medical care. So yeah, for any good doctor this boy is the half brother
I doubt very much that the pediatritcian would be looking to get family history info from a child, rather than the mother. Yes, that information is important. Important enough to not screw it up by taking it from a child in the first place... wouldn't even know what diabetes or cancer or dementia even is. (at least, not the specific terms.)
Load More Replies...Geez, way to overreact. Technically, genetically, he's her half-brother. Has nothing to do with not being whole or being less than a (full) brother, but with HAVING ONLY HALF HIS GENES FROM THE SAME PARENT AS THE SISTER. Explain to your kid what 'half-brother' actually means and she wouldn't mind at all.
GEEZE WAY TO OVERREACT!!! There is absolutely no medical need to correct the way a child expresses her relationship to somebody she loves. From any doctor, the only thing gained by correcting her was a lack of trust. Which, frankly, is why the mother should have just walked out on him.
Load More Replies...The term half-brother is a common enough term, I can't see it being that big of deal. QUESTION - Isn't this another example of people getting indignant over petty things? Is this political correctness run amuck? JUST ASKING.
People have always gotten their knickers in a knot over something. Way back, it could be over anything, from ring around the collar ("That man has a terrible wife!") to civil rights (insert racist outburst here).
Load More Replies...If conversation is not about some medical issue, genetic relation between family members are nobody's business. Especially when talking with kids, why people point out this to them, is beyond my comprehension.
Well because technically she was wrong. Unless she can get her dad's blood and DNA into that baby it's her half brother. And that's ok.
Load More Replies...In the beginning, she calls her husband the step-father yet argues against the half-brother thing. I gave up at this due to her double standards.
Whilst it wasn't necessary for the paediatrician to correct the little girl, I find this post much ado about nothing. Not everyone feels the same, some people struggle with having half/step parents or siblings. I technically have a step brother and step mum but I don't see them as such. I don't really see them as family so you would never hear me call them my mum or brother or even step.
I have half sisters that are much older than me and we never lived in the same household. Our relationship is closer to cousins than sisters. I think it is appropriate to refer to them as half sisters and so far as I know they have never been offended.
This is f*****g stupid. Half doesnt mean the other HALF is missing. Hes one half and his brother or sister is the Other half. Your not FULL blood related.
I have an older "half sister" that was adopted by my dad when she was 3 months old, so she's been my sister my entire life and it never felt like she was 'half' anything. But it did get pointed out sometimes like the story above and I never thought anything of it, never would have considered someone saying that to be cruel at all. But now years later she does point out that when people said that it felt like she was the odd-one out because my other siblings were all my 'full' relatives and she was the only 'half' - it's all about understanding other peoples perspectives on this subject.
A few years after my dad died, my mom told me that the first time I introduced him to my friends at school as "my dad," he went to the restroom and burst into tears. He thought I'd say he was "Ray" or "my mom's husband." That man did everything in his power to teach me COMMON SENSE, which the older I am the more I realize how many people don't have it. I'll be grateful to MY DAD until the day I die.
Honestly this person is overreacting a bit too much. The doctor is just doing his job and stating the facts. I understand that she might get a bit pissed at him by calling her kid by step-brother, but it was a bit of an overreaction.
I mean the doctor is correct. Nothing will change that no matter how the family wants to look at it. Same thing with my kids. The older two are half siblings with younger two. Doesn't mean they love each other less or treat each other different because of it. It just is what it is.
Yeah I was going to say. My half brother was four when I was born and I always called him just brother. Never really thought much about it bc my parents just were like that’s your brother. If two kids are treated and called brothers they won’t know they’re not until someone steps in and says so. Did come up a bit since we looked way different and different last names but we were more confused than the people asking if we were friends.
Load More Replies...Over-react much? I have half siblings myself and I think this is just really silly. It must be hard to be so easily offended, geez.
Good for the 10 year old. The boy is biologically her half-brother, but in every other sense he is her brother as far as she is concerned. In a similar fashion, people who adopt - or relatives other than biological parents - are parents in the ways that are important.
My Grandad isn't mine biologically at all but he married my Grandma before I was born and he's always been there for us. We all care for him now as he has dementia and he can't remember a lot of people and places but if you tell him he's going to "Gemma's house" he immediately perks up. I love him very much and that warms my heart so much.
I have 3 (much) younger siblings from my dad's second marriage. We do not call ourselves half-siblings, just siblings. My mom (who is not their mom) has a cousin that kept trying to correct me by saying, "you mean your half brother/sister..." I would correct her and say, we don't say half, what is that? The cousin kept saying half and my mom yells at her and says, stop calling them HALF. they are her siblings. So what if they are not mine, they are still her brothers and sister. Her cousin, shut up right there and then. If it doesn't bother my mom, why the hell should it bother her cousin. GO, Mom!
Oh shut up! If your kid needs a kidney donor, then the doctor needs to know who is 100% compatible and who is only half brother.
B******t. No one is going to transfer a kidney without genotyping, no matter the purported blood relationship of the donor and recipient. A half brother or a complete stranger may end up being compatible donors, but the doctor won’t take anyone’s word for it.
Load More Replies...This is ridiculous! The doctor was only stating the facts. How was he to know that the parent thinks it's acceptable for her to lie to the children? Those children are half siblings and nothing will change that. I would be more worried about ruining the trust between the parent and children by lying to them telling them that they are full siblings than anything the dr. says. I always believed in being honest with my kids so they would trust me. I have two children who are half siblings and know that they are. It doesn't mean that they love each other any less, just that half of their DNA is different from the other.
I'm sure that the ten-year-old knows that she and the baby have one biological parent in common. She was eight when her mother left a toxic marriage.
Load More Replies...Well, he was your half brother though wasn't he? It means you only share one parent, not both. Why would saying that be a problem ...... oh i forgot everything a problem nowadays!!!! You though him being your half brother means you love him less, not true. I have a half-sister, she's my half-sister as we only share one parent, but i love her the same as any of my other siblings. What's the issue?????
I get it but I also wonder...what if we just taught them that half-brothers are just as important as whole brothers. I mean...that term is still correct. Biologically and scientifically. The doctor pointing it out was unnecessary but ...it didn't mean he was 'half' in love or importance. I grew up knowing who my half and whole siblings were. I knew because we lived different lives and had different last names, it didn't mean I loved them less or thought less of them.
Well, my 2 biological children from the same dad look very different, and my pediatrician, whom I worked with as an RN, pulled me out of the room briefly when I had both of them in for a physical. He asked me gently, do these kids have the same dad? I reassured him that yes, their dad is the same. Why he asked, other than curiosity, still puzzles me- but, being he was an excellent physician, I never held it against him. At least he didn't ask in front of them. But I had that question posed to me by perfect strangers, too. It really is nobody's business.
Half siblings have good relationships, love each other; whole siblings sometimes don't get along and dislike each other. Although the doctor should not say to a child her sibling is her half brother does not mean he's bad person or incompetent pediatrician. The mother is over sensitive or insensitive?
One of my pet peeves is when you take kids to a restaurant and the hostess thinks she's being cute by asking "3 & a half?". My daughter was about 5 and put her in her place immediately by saying "I may be little, but I am a WHOLE person!". I was so proud!
My brother and I came out of the same woman. I don’t know how that could make him anything other than my brother. He grew up with his dad and my “whole” sister and I grew up with our dad. My parents have since split up, but my dad still loves my brother even though he’s not his and he never lived with us. I haven’t referred to him as my half brother since I was about 7.
Dear right: the only reason to mention 'step-' or 'half-' is medical. After that, you make your own family.
The daughter is a very smart young lady. The "doctor", not so much.
I have a sister from a different dad. I would never ever call her a half sister, she is my sister period, whoever constructed this stupid half concept is a d**k
Cut the outrage. The doctor is factually and medically correct. I am sorry you got offended, not really though.
I tell people I have four siblings. One by blood three by marriage. But I love them all the same.
Meh ... never had to deal with this ... my oldest is not biologically mine, but she has never referred to me as a step-parent just neither of us refer to themselves as half-siblings ... I will inform anybody that she is not biologically mine if asked or to explain context ... otherwise, that's my daughter and she gets treated no worse and no better than the other two ... I always call her my firstborn to this day ...
It's whatever I mean I have two half sisters but because they always lived with their mum I never grew up with or around them so we don't have a super close bond which is why I still view them as my half sisters. My boyfriend however has a half brother he grew up with and to him it's always been brother never half specially given the circumstances of his situation
I know someone who grew up in a separate household from half-siblings, but now calls them siblings because they became closer as adults. You sound wise and I think it's lovely that you can see things through the eyes of others.
Load More Replies...Had a teacher's aid that thought it was his duty to tell my 8 year old autistic son that Santa doesn't exist. My son came home bawling. I contacted the teacher who allowed me to come in and educate the aid. I said "First..you're not his parent..it is not up to you to tell him what he should or shouldn't believe. Second, Santa DID exist. His name was Saint Nicholas and he was a bishop that didn't believe the church should be fleecing poor people out of their money, so he would return it to them. When the Church came after him trying to catch him at it, he'd sneak around into peoples homes, sometimes through windows, sometimes down chimneys (they were bigger then) to give the money back. That drive and passion to do the right thing is what we relive every Christmas. So don't you dare say he doesn't exist. Educate yourself." Then I turned to the teacher, pointed to the aid and said "He should not be left alone with children." The aid sent me an apology letter the next day.
Actually...... The character of Saint Nicholas was imprinted on a pagan festival by the church and brought to America by dutch settlers. The actual festival of Saint Nicholas is actually based on the wild hunt with the Germanic god Wotan (or Odin). Children would leave out treats for Odin's horse and receive presents in return, in the U.S. they use socks. In Europe you can still see Saint Nicholas riding a horse and being helped and followed by helpers (Krampus, Zwarte Piet) like Odin had his helpers. Christmas in his turn is imprinted on the Yule festival, in which we celebrate the passing of the shortest day and the return of the light. That's why we hang up lights and bring green (nature) into our house. That teacher's aid was an a*s though...
Load More Replies...Despicable attitude. And particulartly hard to understand from a pediatrician.
Martha I have a half sibling. If someone calls him my half brother it would be no big deal. It's just truth.
Load More Replies...Should I go on a rant about how half-brothers and half-sisters can be loved just as much as "real" brothers and sisters? How she is disrespecting biological half-siblings by refusing to acknowledge them? Or maybe everyone can just chill-the-f***-out. I suspect the doctor wasn't trying to start s***.
Considering this happened at a doctor's office I'd venture a guess and say it is relevant to the anamnesis. You might take offense at the word "half" but in the context of genetics it does actually play a role how you are related to someone.
So many sensitive snowflakes out there. My husband has half siblings, but I see them the same as his full siblings no matter what anyone says. I wouldn't get offended if a doctor mentioned a difference between half and whole, there is a scientific difference and it could medically make a difference in certain situations. Did the doctor have to correct her? No, but he wasn't wrong and he didn't mean to detract from their sense of family. It's not like he was some rando making a snide comment with the intention of hurting them. People are so extra sensitive it's hard to talk to anyone anymore without offending them somehow. At this rate, they're going to run out of doctors by the time the kid is 12.
The better action would be to educate the child that, yes, actually he is her half brother in the 'medical' sense and that it is important for the doctor to know that. But in the 'family' sense he's just her brother. She also needs to ask herself why her ten year old views being a half brother as less than, because that is clearly her negativity her child has picked up. Problem here is not the doctor, it's the woman.
Triggered much? Get over yourself. He IS her half brother, that is the proper term for their relation. It doesn't make their relationship less than full blood. Grow the hell up.
Harry potter was a great wizard but he was still a HALF blood. Can't change that. It is what it is, just like with this little girl and her half brother.
So instead of staying and convincing a doctor, (and a good one at that they said themselves?), let that man grow, they left. Now, how is that not stupid.
The one thing I love about children is that they always speak their minds and they don't care who they upset or offend - good on her for standing up to that idiot.
F*cking snowflakes being offended by the f*****g truth. "You will address me as X or will get offended and say how bad you are". They should start admiting the truth, and that is that he is her HALF-BROTHER. f*cking liberals.
You should not assume because people disagree on some things with you that they disagree on everything. I 100% agree with you that they are half siblings.obviously because of DNA and genes. But I'm on the edge of liberalism. Don't plan on going to that side 100%. But I'm far from conservative. See it seems to me that the conservatives would be claiming "family" on this little girls situation not siding on the side of "dna". To me science is truth just like you said. Not many conservatives claim science over family.
Load More Replies...That pediatrician was a jerk! What did he think he would accomplish with that even! Make her love her sibling less?
Why would they love a half sibling less?
Load More Replies...I agree with what you say, I just can't agree with the way you say it. I'm so conflicted if I should up- or downvote...
Load More Replies...I believe in science over most things. And science says it's her half brother.
Load More Replies...This is not so much about this particular doctor, but about a "half" siblings perception. Nobody is trying to destroy this doctor.
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