Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Siblings and Mum excluded me from Christmas

81 replies

Pinkyblue123 · 29/12/2024 21:10

Long post, here is the back story. I’m youngest of 3 siblings all in our 50s Dad died 15 years ago leaving terrible hole in family. Mum stubbornly stays living in a really difficult location (as children we moved around a lot) miles away from where us children have all settled with families. I live 7 hour drive away in England, my sister lives in Ireland (7 hour drive) and my brother is a 3 hour drive from Mum. We all have kids jobs etc, so the location of Mum can be a challenge, added to the fact that she now says she does not want to travel by train (understandable she is in 80s and partially sighted). We decided this year we would try to all meet somewhere for Xmas, this was openly discussed on siblings WhatsApp group, sister and I said let’s lets look into it, brother said nothing on messages (bit strange). I had limited time off at Xmas could not make full week (work commitments for me and husband) but could do Xmas days off. Spoke to Mum one day and she said no one had mentioned Xmas and she was worried she would be left on her own, I said we had been talking as children and hoped to sort something but if not she was welcome to come to mine for Christmas and I would of course not see her on her own. I then shared on sibling WhatsApp the conversation I had with Mum. Next news I speak with Mum and she tells me that she and my sister have been invited to my brothers house for Christmas and they are all going out for Christmas lunch as my sister in law does not want to cook. Oh I said, I thought we were trying to be to sort something thing for all of us? I was shocked so asked directly on the the sibling WhatsApp why this was I not consulted when we were trying to organise a whole family get together? My sister squirmed and tried to back track, my brother completely blanked me, I said how hurt I felt to not be consulted or included, especially as we could have gone along in our motorhome and parted on to their drive so as not to impose in their house. Still radio silence from my brother. I felt hurt and excluded and shocked. I talked to my Mum about it, she dismissed me saying don’t make a fuss and my sister knew how I felt and they both went ahead without challenging my brother. They then all rang me on Christmas Day as if nothing had happened (this is the first time I have spoken to my brother since raising how upset I felt and being ignored). At the end of Xmas week I am being called by Mum and sister as if nothing has happened. I told my sister how hurt and upset I was and she weakly called it a misunderstanding, how can it be I said, I have made it quite clear how I feel to her to my brother and Mum but no one listened and now they are acting as if nothing happened. So AIBU? I feel gaslighted by all of them, so shocked and disappointed that no one said why was I not invited? I thought I had a pretty good relationship with my siblings, when ai have discussed with friends who know my family they are also really shocked. I don’t want a big family fall out but feel that I deserve to be treated beter than this my my own family

OP posts:
Suzuki76 · 01/01/2025 18:38

Pinkyblue123 · 01/01/2025 18:30

That’s what I did do when I heard about the plans, my brother ignored the messages which is why I feel so hurt. That’s gaslighting in my book

He can't ignore a phone call.

Pinkyblue123 · 01/01/2025 18:30

That’s what I did do when I heard about the plans, my brother ignored the messages which is why I feel so hurt. That’s gaslighting in my book

OP posts:
Pinkyblue123 · 01/01/2025 18:28

Yes I totally agree he is the one that has completely excluded me and ignored me when I confronted him. I feel sad about it but now feel ai want nothing to do with him anymore.

OP posts:
Pinkyblue123 · 01/01/2025 18:26

I think it is SIL she is a very controlling character and my brother panders to her all of the time. My brother and I used to be really close but over the years she has seemed to discourage us from seeing each other. It is not the first time she has excluded his family from things. She excluded us from his 50th birthday when we were trying to organise a surprise for him including her, she went on to organise something and make it impossible for us to at go.

OP posts:
CrayonCritic5 · 01/01/2025 18:13

Pinkyblue123 · 01/01/2025 17:53

It is a constant conversation she just buries her head in the sand whenever I raise it, she says we jjust have to deal with it. Yet gets annoyed that she does not see us as much as she’d like. I do think she is selfish, but she is my Mum and I have just had to accept she won’t change.

But it’s your brother you should be focusing on here?

Pinkyblue123 · 01/01/2025 17:53

It is a constant conversation she just buries her head in the sand whenever I raise it, she says we jjust have to deal with it. Yet gets annoyed that she does not see us as much as she’d like. I do think she is selfish, but she is my Mum and I have just had to accept she won’t change.

OP posts:
CrayonCritic5 · 01/01/2025 15:46

Did you ask him on the Christmas day phone call? If not, ask him now (not via message).

DeliciousApples · 01/01/2025 14:51

I'd be hurt too. I think I'd be sending him an email at the bare minimum or preferably speaking to him face to face the next time we all met up again.

To disarm him id be starting off by saying:
"I'm sorry if I caused a misunderstanding when I said I would arrange something for mum and me at Christmas (if nothing was arranged for the whole family). I wasn't deliberately excluding anyone, just thinking about how small my place is to host and tbh was hoping it would perhaps start a conversation about what we could all do as I didn't want anyone to be alone and places book up fast.
Next I heard I was excluded.

I don't understand why.
Could you explain what the misunderstand was please?"

Stay calm. No emotion. No bad mood. Just calm and see if that helps him to explain. If it's a good while between now and then it will lessen his emotion. So you may get the truth.

You only get one shot at that convo. You can't be "always bringing it up" as they will change from gaslighting to saying you're always in about that shut up will you. And you still won't get an answer.

PragmaticIsh · 01/01/2025 12:47

What did you say to your DB when he phoned on Christmas day? That's kind of key.

itsjustbiology · 01/01/2025 12:41

Really sorry but it seems to me that your mum is the one causing issues. You stated she is nearly 80 yet with everyone living so far away one way or the other and her reluctance to move I would suggest this will only become harder for all of you siblings going forward. I would be questioning how long your mother can realistically continue to live on her own never mind the xmas issues. Its tough. Sorry

Imbusytodaysorry · 01/01/2025 11:49

OneWittySquid · 29/12/2024 21:19

You live 7 hours away from everyone with limited time off and a frail 80 year old mother I don't know what you expected to happen?

She expected to be included in the plans . Invited or a discussion at least .
Op was going to go out her way for the day for her mum .
Stinking attitude you have of “well if you don’t live in the same village we aren’t including you “
People have a right to choose where they live !
Doesn't mean they can’t have a family !

diddl · 01/01/2025 11:10

I think if you want everyone to be together you have to organise it.

Obviously that doesn't explain why your brother invited your sister & not you.

I think three adults with families keep making suggestions doesn't really work.

Someone has to decide & others join or not.

Did your mum & sister think you were invited?

If so why?

Unicorntearsofgin · 01/01/2025 10:22

bunnypenny · 01/01/2025 09:04

You lost me when you declared your mum “stubbornly” refuses to move. How dare you? are you suggesting she should move closer to one of you (given you’re all strewn around) even if she doesn’t want to? Doesn’t sound like she’s reliant on any of you.

Agree. Perhaps the mother and brother have been upset by the OP saying things to this affect. If she isn’t reliant on you and is happy where she is why try and force her to move.

Kisskiss · 01/01/2025 10:19

I think you need to ask him directly ( probably on a call ) why you weren’t invited to his for Christmas . It sounds weird

TheBluntTurtle · 01/01/2025 10:15

That sounds horrible OP - I’m so sorry. If I was giving them the benefit of the doubt I’d say maybe they didn’t deliberately exclude you but forgot to include you - but that seems very unlikely given you were making plans to spend Xmas together. They are all to blame- even if it was your brother making the plans your sister and mum still went along with it .
i think you just ring your brother - it’ll be awkward but how else are you going to find out why this happened as he’s ignoring your messages?

Oddsquadnumber1 · 01/01/2025 10:03

Pinkyblue123 · 29/12/2024 21:47

I told him how upset I felt about being excluded and that I thought we were doing something altogether. He ignored my messages, but I could see he had read them. I asked why ignoring me and he just ignored my until he called me on Xmas day all jovial as well if nothing happened

And what did you say on the call? I'd have told them to get lost if I'd answered at all

SparklingPinkCat · 01/01/2025 09:58

I'd be so offended and hurt, I'd walk away and would have ignored the brother when he phoned on Christmas Day, wouldn't have let him spoil my Christmas Day. You've got your own loving family, enjoy them, you don't need this type of behaviour.

And as for your brother totally blanking you in WhatsApp family group. Wow‼️ so rude and very telling. When someone treats you like that, walk away. Gaslighting doesn't even cut it xx

CosyLemur · 01/01/2025 09:53
  1. No one wants a motor home parked on their drive at Christmas!
  2. why are you pissed off with your mum and sister, when it was your brother that organised it?
  3. you sound really judgemental about your mum!
1HappyTraveller · 01/01/2025 09:38

EnterFunnyNameHere · 01/01/2025 09:35

It's so hard to suggest what to do. It's easy to suggest the nuclear option when it's someone else who would need to do it!

If it happened to me, I'd be really tempted to put on the group chat that I'm not OK, I'm very hurt, and until someone tells me why I was excluded, I'm not interested in talking full stop. And attempts to gloss over and avoid to be met with "you knew full well i was trying to organise something and I was deliberately excluded from the event. If you're not ringing to explain why, we've got nothing to discuss".

But would i have the guts? No idea! It definitely feels like they are collectively wanting to brush this under the carpet rather than admit how shitty they've acted!

I agree completely with this response ☝🏻@Pinkyblue123

In terms of having the guts, being completely honest I would actually do this! I have no issues with confronting things head on and I also hate liars which is EXACTLY what has happened here. You haven’t just been left out @Pinkyblue123 they have all lied to you and that’s not okay!

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 01/01/2025 09:38

@Pinkyblue123 sorry but it sounds like "nest, shove, out"!!!! to me!

Tiredofallthis101 · 01/01/2025 09:36

Maybe SIL doesn't like you? Or ad PPs have said maybe it was the easiest thing, they may not have had space for everyone like you with only inviting your mum if wider plans didn't work out. I'd ring him and tell him how you feel - and see if you can get an answer from him.

EnterFunnyNameHere · 01/01/2025 09:35

It's so hard to suggest what to do. It's easy to suggest the nuclear option when it's someone else who would need to do it!

If it happened to me, I'd be really tempted to put on the group chat that I'm not OK, I'm very hurt, and until someone tells me why I was excluded, I'm not interested in talking full stop. And attempts to gloss over and avoid to be met with "you knew full well i was trying to organise something and I was deliberately excluded from the event. If you're not ringing to explain why, we've got nothing to discuss".

But would i have the guts? No idea! It definitely feels like they are collectively wanting to brush this under the carpet rather than admit how shitty they've acted!

1HappyTraveller · 01/01/2025 09:32

Your brother is the AH here. He has not invited you on purpose. It’s selfish and mean.

I disagree with others that your DS and DM aren’t to blame and just don’t want to be involved. Tough. They knew you weren’t invited, they didn’t tell you, they went along with it and also left you out. They are grown arse women not 5 year old children, they sided with your brother. They knew what was happening. They are complicit in this and they too are ignoring you.

YANBU. They are behaving like a selfish deceitful bunch. All of them. Your feelings are valid. I’m sorry that your family have been so dismissive.

SandieWooz · 01/01/2025 09:21

They have no conscience with the way they’ve all treated you. I really would not bother again.

Screamingabdabz · 01/01/2025 09:19

The key to this is your relationship with your brother - what is the history there? Do you get on with wife and kids? I would’ve asked him point blank when he rang all ‘jovial’ on Christmas Day. ‘Sounds like you’re having a good time there John - where was my invitation?’

Swipe left for the next trending thread