Went to visit dying sister and she was a bitch

[imaginethat]

History is toxic family with narcissistic mother at helm. Sick sister firmly aligned with mother in her game of favourites and outcasts.

I have low level contact with both, bit more with mother, occasional emails with sister. We live in different cities. She travels to city where I live regularly but makes a point of not visiting ie emailing to say she will be in town but will be too busy with friends/work/other family etc to see me.

I travel to her city less frequently, always try for a (brief) catch up. Right or wrong, it's just how we are.

Since sister's diagnosis I have tried to be supportive by sending cards/little gifts/money (she had to quit work)/emails and the occasional phone call. Phone calls are difficult as she is v awkward/always says she is busy/going out even if I arrange a time to phone.

Asked if I could visit, she said yes, she wasn't going anywhere. Travelled with another sib, each of us with DC and staying in hotel.

When we arrived she sneered at me saying,"What are you wearing that for?"
I said, "I thought it was nice" and she said, "hmm"
Next I said "hi, good to see you (lie)" and handed her a gift. She threw it on the floor.
She flung some more insults after which I decided to busy myself with housework etc as she can no longer walk.
She was perfectly nice to my brother and sister who were there too, and quite lovely to the children. Kids played together.
After several hours we left. My brother wanted to see her next day and I said I'd look after dc so he could have a good catch up. I did not mention sister being horrible to me and quite honestly doubt he noticed as it is a normal carry on in the family.

I feel as though I have seen her for the last time and almost looking forward to her death so this complex stuff can pass.

half wondering if my feelings will change or if when she has died i will regret not trying harder.

When Dad died I felt sad for the father-daughter relationship I'd never had. i don't miss him at all. I miss my therapist, who died suddenly, way more.

Can anyone tell me what to expect? Thank you reading as is v long

[bumhead]

I can't tell you what to expect as I don't have that experience but have you thought of writing her a letter before it's too late. Just saying how you feel and that way you will know you have done all you can to smooth the situation over.
Maybe in all the awkwardness she isn't aware of her bad behaviour (it's possible) and you can put this to rest before her time is over.
It's just a thought and I appreciate you might not want to do it but I think if I was in your situation it would make me feel like I'd done all I could.

[Leithlurker]

I would put it behind you, she is dying and yet she still had a choice. She could have choosen to let whatever bitternes is in her heart go. However she choose to be what she has become, spiteful and hurtful. So will you miss her, possibly but that is not important the important part is you will not grieve for her as a close relative, or as a sister. You will grieve for someone you knew, some memories will be left when things were not as bad between you. Or memories that include other people that you care more about. I miss my sister who I had a unhappy time with but I could not say I feel loss.

[SoleSource]

Nobody knows exactly until it happen as it is individual. Can you see a professipnal to talk before she dirs. Se whathe/she suggests?

Have you mourned for the relationship ypu neverhad with her,/wished for?

[StuntGirl]

I don't think anyone can tell you what to expect. It all sounds horribly sad and I feel for you.

You have made every effort you can, horrible people don't magically turn nice just because they're dying. She is who she is, terminal or not. She may not ever realise how lucky she is to have a sister who made such efforts with her but then its her loss.

[LaCiccolina]

As long as u are at peace with how u feel its really all that matters. She is what she is, death doesn't appear to be changing it. So, if there's unsaid stuff maybe send a letter but u might find u feel ok with the situation as it stands, and if so then thats right for u.

[cashmere]

I wouldn't write to her as it may just stir up I'll feeling and make YOU feel worse. It sounds like she is getting lots of support from you and your siblings.

I think it's great that you haven't been drawn into bitching with them as it sounds a complex family BUT do you have someone in real life to offload to? I think this is very important.

My gran had a breakdown after her own mother died. She felt that she was wicked to be pleased she had died. In reality gran had cared for her for years (moved in with gran) through dementia and unfortunately great gran had become very unpleasant/nasty.
I think gran had difficulty justifying her overwhelming sense of relief. It sounds as though you may feel the same. Remember that just because someone is terminally ill it doesn't make them a 'nice' person.
You have already risen above her unpleasantness and I think that is all that can be expected. It dont think you can expect a sudden heart to heart with her. I'm sorry for you- take care.

[strumpetpumpkin]

im sorry that your sister cant even be civil to you on her death bed. You already tried. How absolutely horrible for you :(

[HoratiaWinwood]

She sounds very unhappy.

I'm not sure that you owe her anything, though. If she doesn't want to see you and you don't want to see her, why do you go?

[CleansLate]

It sounds like you have 'tried harder'. You feel you have seen her for the last time, your DCs have a good 'take home' memory of her from what you say, if not even looking death in the face can change her than your putting yourself through a horrible visit like that again isn't going to either.

[IndigoBarbie]

Hi. I think all you can do is be yourself toward your sister. Try not to overanalyse how you have been treated by her at your visits.

None of us know the complexity of emotions and all associated thoughtforms that people who know they are dying go through. I have had experience of people who have a diagnosis and they can change so very quickly, unfortunately they take out their anger on those they love the most.

If there were any kindnesses that your sister ever was able to show you, I'd focus on that. You don't want some kind of bitter battle and analysis session of the whys and whats she said to you. I honestly believe just you be yourself, and do your best to leave it at that. She is your sister, but you can't control her behavoiur, but perhaps what she has gone through and is going through is showing up first and foremost.
Lots of love to you xx

[AnyFucker]

your post made me cry

just because someone is dying, it doesn't make them a saint

it is awful that you have been made to feel that you just want it all to be over (which of course means her death)

toxic families do not suddenly become functional ones because of a crisis like this...in fact the problems simply come more into sharp focus

having said that, keep doing what you can and when you look back you will be glad you tried

I am so sorry x

[kiwigirl42]

Just begcause she is dying doesn't make her any nicer. In fact, it's probably going to make her a lot worse. Hold your tongue and bide your time. It can be a relief when toxic people die.

[autumnmum]

I'm sorry you're going through this. There's always that nagging doubt that if only you did something differently the relationship would magically work. unfortunately some people just aren't very nice and being terminally ill doesn't change that. My dad was a horrible narcissist and when he died it was a massive relief. I felt sorry for my mum but other than that I felt nothing but huge relief that family gatherings would no longer be controlled by his moods. I came to terms with the fact he wasn't ever going to change a long time before he died and I think that helped. He died very suddenly so I had no time to mull over my feelings before it happened, but three years own the line I still feel nothing but relief. If your sister has always been like this I don't think anything you do will change her.

[ChippingInLovesAutumn]

Did you post on MN when your therapist died? If you did, I remember you :(

What to expect? None of us can answer that for you sadly. However, I imagine you will feel a great sense of relief, then some guilt for feeling relieved. Followed by some sadness for the relationship you never had with her. Followed by a low level background loss/change in your life.

Does she have children or were the other children the children of your siblings?

[imaginethat]

Thank you all for being so kind and understanding, it really helps.

cashmere I think your idea about offloading is v wise and I think I will try to find a counsellor just to offload all this in a discrete way.

I want to be dignified about this and not draw anyone in, but it's hard to carry in way head.

[imaginethat]

my

[Flojo1979]

I had a similar experience with my nan.
She was alcohol dependent and was horrible to the females in the family (my mum and me) yet doted on my brother and uncle.
She picked at everything, blatantly insulted me, very passive aggressive, and was terminally ill, given months to live and died 10 yrs later.
My mum was diagnosed in those last yrs and she was very ill yet my nan continued to treat her awful. Which made me so angry inside and wished she would hurry up and died. It was awful.
I tried my best to go round most days, so my mum wouldn't have to.
One day out of the blue, she apologised, the first time ever. I went home thinking how strange it was and optimistic about our relationship.
An hour later I got a call from my mum, she'd suddenly died.
....and it really messed my head up. All the yrs of abuse and then the guilt for wanting her dead. It took many yrs to get over it.
If she's not got long, be the bigger person, put up with it for a little while longer, then take comfort in knowing u did everything u could.

[CleansLate]

I know I will be relieved when my mother dies, and I feel awful for feeling that way because I feel she should love me, we should have a good relationship, I should be terrified at the thought of a life without my mother.

And that is just thinking about it. To actually be going through it, I am in awe of the dignified way you conducted yourself, and please do talk it out/through because it is going to be a headf**k and you deserve to protect yourself however you can.

[tinkertitonk]

"She was perfectly nice to my brother and sister who were there too, and quite lovely to the children."

Well, there is something positive to remember about her.

And you sound like a really nice and good person who has tried everything possible.

[sittinginthesun]

I saw a grief counsellor for a while, a few years ago. She used to say that you can't be responsible for other people's behaviour - if they are rude and unpleasant, then it is their issue and problem, not yours. It is not your role to find a reason for their actions or behaviour.

So, take a step back, just accept your sister for who she is, detach, and move on.

It was the hardest thing to hear in my case, but I felt quite liberated when it sank in.

[JustFabulous]

I am sorry you have such a crap family .

In this case I don't think writing her a letter would be the right thing to do as I think you will be the bad guy, making your dying sister feel bad. Why, why would you do that? is what I suspect you would get.

[SoleSource]

(((AnyFucker)))

[imaginethat]

Oh, more posts while I was trying to put together the last one.
chipping I have mentioned my therapist dying on a thread, I still miss her so much but quite peacefully.

She has a son and I had a lovely evening with him. Looking back that was the gold in the visit. We have had v little to do with each other for obvious reasons but he emailed to invite me round, round I went and we had a long chat and a couple of wines. We were ale to laugh about my sister's prickliness, and to formulate a plan to have her kitchen & bathroom remodelled by electing an "approved" of family member to arrange. She wants to stay in her home but needs wheelchair access to do that.

At this point I feel my energies are shifting to her son and supporting him somehow. He texted me afterwards to say he'd loved chatting.

AnyFucker I think that's it, I need to know I tried. I have.

[imaginethat]

Families, life, death.... It's complex isn't it

I have 2 primary age children. I love them more than you could imagine. And they love each other. They play together for hours. I want them to never know the pain of not being allowed to love each other (the way my siblings and I were brought up). I think that's come firmly into focus.