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AIBU?

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AIBU to want to tell sibling I’m going no contact?

120 replies

Lostwelshlady · 25/06/2024 11:01

Background- I’m one of 3 siblings (middle child) I have never been close to oldest sibling, we’ve had various falling outs over the years but managed to remain civil if visiting our parents at the same time, would send xmas cards etc. I’m very close with my youngest sibling who is getting married in 3 days. They have had a similar relationship with older sibling, civil but not close, but was close with older siblings teenage children who were due to be in the wedding party.

For various reasons, our relationship with older sibling has become more strained due to siblings partner (in our opionion) taking advantage of our parents (lots of cash gifts to older siblings partner to save home from creditors due to business going bust twice) siblings partner making numerous comments about how well off they’ll be once my parents have passed (including talking about hoping to take ownership of family home when one parent was very ill in hospital)

My parents have (for reasons unknown to us) always favoured older sibling and their partner, and will not hear a single bad thing about them. At a recent family wedding older sibling tried to start an argument with youngest sibling because of their refusal to let them babysit their young child and various other non issues. Youngest sibling told them this wasnt the time or the place and to behave. (Parents sided with older sibling and said babysitting youngest siblings child would help them get over a recent early pregnancy loss)

A few days later oldest sibling called unannounced with youngest sibling, and continued the argument. Youngest sibling again told them to leave.

Two weeks ago oldest sibling goes into hospital with migrane/meningitis type symptoms. Parents blame youngest sibling for causing oldest sibling stress.

Wedding rehearsal last night, oldest sibling and family don’t show. Parents call them and are told they are abroad, and won’t be attended wedding. Young sibling is devastated as nieces/nephews were part of the wedding party, and seating plans etc now all incorrect. Parents say youngest sibling and me are to blame for not visiting oldest sibling in hospital etc. Youngest sibling sees this as an end to any type of relation with the older sibling, and I feel that I cannot forgive this either.

I don’t wish to fall out with my parents prior to siblings wedding, but also feel very protective of my youngest sibling and cannot stand them being blamed for older siblings behaviour and so feel I should stand up for them, but probably won’t say anything until after the wedding.I also want to contact older sibling to tell them how angry and disappointed I am that they have behaved this way towards youngest sibling, and sneaking off with days to go with no warning. My husband says not to bother and to just accept the relationship is now over without bothering to tell them I’m going no contact, but part of me feels I need to tell them how disappointed I am just to get some kind of closure. WWYD?

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 25/06/2024 14:48

mydamnfootstuckinthedoor · 25/06/2024 13:13

Too convoluted a tale for me to even bother reading it. You want to go no contact, but you want to announce your "disappointment" with older sibling's behaviour. Who made you judge and jury over someone else? Just stop contacting her and don't respond to her calls/messages. No need to make it worse than it already is.

You CBA to read, but you feel you should take a moment for a sarky reply?

Interesting choice.

stilllovebeetroot · 25/06/2024 14:49

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stilllovebeetroot · 25/06/2024 14:52

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AstonMartha · 25/06/2024 14:52

approx 1 week before my due date last year with my first baby they announced they had a miscarriage (no one knew they were pregnant),

I can’t be bothered to type what I was going to before this.

Lostwelshlady · 25/06/2024 14:53

Hellogoodbyehello4321 · 25/06/2024 14:26

Fuck me OP, I would love to hear your siblings side of the story. I was kind of with you until you describe them announcing a miscarriage 1 week before your due date as sabotaging your happiness. I'm pretty sure they don't control the timing of when these things happen - if they'd have announced it a week after your baby was born, that wouldn't be any less sabatoging your happiness when you had a brand new baby from that point of view, so do they just not get to tell their family a devastating event to spare your happiness. I'm sure your happiness wasn't impacted as much as your siblings.

The fact you even think that makes me wonder how much your sibling is aware of what sounds like quite resentful feelings towards her. No wonder she is off on holiday.

Edited

I was in hospital with quite serious pregnancy complications, and my parents were naturally concerned about me and baby. Older sibling couldn’t stand this so decided to announce (again, no one knew they were pregnant) on social media that they were having a miscarriage, and so then when my baby was born all my parents could say was “it’s so hard for your sibling seeing you happy with a baby,
don’t make too much of a fuss about it.”
We waited two weeks after the birth to announce her safe arrival on social media (she was on scbu for 10 days) and my sibling complained to my parents that I was “rubbing my baby in her face.”
Pregnancy loss is a terrible thing and it’s also terrible to (in my opinion) weaponise that because of family issues. She honestly just couldn’t be happy for someone else for once.

OP posts:
stilllovebeetroot · 25/06/2024 14:54

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stilllovebeetroot · 25/06/2024 14:55

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GiveMeSpanakopita · 25/06/2024 14:56

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Yes. It's interesting to me how OP is interpreting every action taken by oldest sibling as being all about 'attacking' OP and youngest sibling.

Maybe oldest sibling and family decided to go abroad because they've had an exceptionally tough time recently, could tell that their two siblings were against them and couldn't cope with any potential toxicity at the wedding.

IE it was an act of self protection for themselves, not a move calculated to hurt their two siblings.

stilllovebeetroot · 25/06/2024 14:56

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stilllovebeetroot · 25/06/2024 14:58

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Chickenwing2 · 25/06/2024 14:58

I wouldn't be able to say nothing. I wouldn't "announce" that I'm going no contact but I would phone them or message them and say that to pull out of your siblings wedding and leave the country is completely unforgivable and they should seriously reconsider if they want a relationship with you or your younger sibling going forward. Your parents also need to be told how unfair they are being.

Sunshinebreeze · 25/06/2024 15:00

Lostwelshlady · 25/06/2024 14:53

I was in hospital with quite serious pregnancy complications, and my parents were naturally concerned about me and baby. Older sibling couldn’t stand this so decided to announce (again, no one knew they were pregnant) on social media that they were having a miscarriage, and so then when my baby was born all my parents could say was “it’s so hard for your sibling seeing you happy with a baby,
don’t make too much of a fuss about it.”
We waited two weeks after the birth to announce her safe arrival on social media (she was on scbu for 10 days) and my sibling complained to my parents that I was “rubbing my baby in her face.”
Pregnancy loss is a terrible thing and it’s also terrible to (in my opinion) weaponise that because of family issues. She honestly just couldn’t be happy for someone else for once.

Aaaaand, you’ve somehow made it even worse.

You really think they “announced” their miscarriage because you had your parents attention?! I think you need to look closer to home.

Pippa12 · 25/06/2024 15:10

Gosh, I sympathised you until the update about your siblings loss. I really think you need to read that back… those paragraphs do not show you in good light.

StikItToTheMan · 25/06/2024 15:16

Maybe oldest sibling and family decided to go abroad because they've had an exceptionally tough time recently, could tell that their two siblings were against them and couldn't cope with any potential toxicity at the wedding. IE it was an act of self protection for themselves, not a move calculated to hurt their two siblings

Oh give over. NO ONE remotely reasonable does this...just flies off abroad 3 days before a wedding without a word. Not even telling their sibling they now have X members of their actual wedding party missing. It's incredibly spiteful and the only possible motivation I can see would be to create drama and as much disruption as possible. If it was an act of self protection and literally impossible for their MH to attend they could still have let them know, via their parents - any decent person would IMO.

Op I'm sure there are probably more sensible/less aggravating options but you've asked for opinions so here's what I'd do if it was one of my sisters...

Say nothing now. Don't bitch or moan, don't even hint at being upset with elder sibling. Be there for your younger sibling. Console, reassure, be practical, help as much as possible. Paste a smile on your face and deflect from any mention of elder sibling your parents make. Not one bad word. Be the peacemaker, do everything in your power to ensure the wedding runs as smoothly as possible and that siblings actions don't spoil the day.

When your sister's back in the UK and the wedding is done, I'd go visit her. And I'd tell her to her face what a spiteful, vicious, selfish, jealous bitch she was. I'd tell her that she's the gossip of the moment and you lost count of the people at the wedding who expressed their disgust with her and her actions. Then I'd tell her never to contact me again and that I never wanted to lay eyes on her hateful face again.

I would absolutely go NC over this, it's unforgivable imo. And I would never be able to take the moral highground entirely, if it was one of my sisters I would absolutely make sure she 100% knew my thoughts.

stilllovebeetroot · 25/06/2024 15:20

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StikItToTheMan · 25/06/2024 15:23

you sound…. odd

I think I can live with that.

I have no idea why so many people are jumping to the defence of the older sibling here...that's what I view as odd tbh. It's an awful, awful thing to do to your younger sister with no notice. Totally inexcusable behaviour.

stilllovebeetroot · 25/06/2024 15:28

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KrisAkabusi · 25/06/2024 15:32

I have no idea why so many people are jumping to the defence of the older sibling here

I don't think there's too many people defending the sister here. There are several pointing out that the OP isn't showing impeccable behaviour here either.

StikItToTheMan · 25/06/2024 15:35

KrisAkabusi · 25/06/2024 15:32

I have no idea why so many people are jumping to the defence of the older sibling here

I don't think there's too many people defending the sister here. There are several pointing out that the OP isn't showing impeccable behaviour here either.

Maybe not. But it doesn't sound like the youngest sibling has done anything horrific enough to deserve what eldest sibling has done 'to' her.

Hence, even as the imperfect possibly-also-in-the-wrong middle sibling - I'd still be airing my thoughts to eldest sibling (after the wedding).

stilllovebeetroot · 25/06/2024 15:45

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Ponoka7 · 25/06/2024 15:53

Why isn't she allowed to babysit? It seems as though you all treat your children and life events as weapons. Your DH is right because I think that the issues are probably balanced between you all. You see the eldest as the golden child, but your parents are now acting out of guilt for using her as a babysitter.

Anabella321 · 25/06/2024 16:04

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She was in hospital for 2 days having tests done. She wasn't dying.

stilllovebeetroot · 25/06/2024 16:09

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SheilaFentiman · 25/06/2024 16:13

Ponoka7 · 25/06/2024 15:53

Why isn't she allowed to babysit? It seems as though you all treat your children and life events as weapons. Your DH is right because I think that the issues are probably balanced between you all. You see the eldest as the golden child, but your parents are now acting out of guilt for using her as a babysitter.

The sibling shouldn’t be berated at a family wedding for not letting someone babysit, either way.

SheilaFentiman · 25/06/2024 16:14

If the niece and nephew are 15 and 17, have they just finished GCSE and A levels?

If not, and they are in year 10 and year 12, odd they have been taken out of school.