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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

NC with sister DM keeps getting upset

60 replies

Givenup2026 · 11/05/2026 13:04

I’ll try to keep this short and sweet (hopefully not a drip feed). I went NC with my sister three years. Probably one of the best decisions of my life. It’s multi factorial, as I have suspected autism (so never felt real attachment) and we’re just completely different people so I’m always on edge around her.

anyway, my DM is visiting and, and my sister has been sending packages so then my DM can give them to her. I eventually got annoyed because well I’m NC and seems to be crossing my boundaries.

My DM got all upset (as she normally does) but I keep telling it’s not her fault but that they should respect my boundaries.

As a side not, she keeps calling my suspected neurodivergence (on a waiting list for diagnosis ) a disease (and that I’m sick) and she has refused to read anything about since I told her I was going to go the formal diagnosis route (a few years ago).

So AIBU about my start sending packages? How about my DH keep getting upset?

I understand it’s not “nice” from her POV, but nobody has really ever even tried to be in my shoes either.

OP posts:
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Givenup2026 · 12/05/2026 16:22

SilverPink · 12/05/2026 16:16

Is she married? Maybe she’s trying to hide the parcels from her husband so when your mum rocks up with them it looks like she’s just brought them all as gifts.

That’s potentially a good point! Something for my sister to discuss with my mother

OP posts:
SilverPink · 12/05/2026 16:16

Givenup2026 · 12/05/2026 13:43

I actually don’t know anymore!

Is she married? Maybe she’s trying to hide the parcels from her husband so when your mum rocks up with them it looks like she’s just brought them all as gifts.

Arrowthroughtheknee · 12/05/2026 13:55

if they are adressed to you they are yours. Open them then use or sell them.

Givenup2026 · 12/05/2026 13:43

SilverPink · 12/05/2026 13:05

Why does she need to order so much stuff? Isn’t she able to buy these things in her country?

I actually don’t know anymore!

NC with sister DM keeps getting upset
OP posts:
bigboykitty · 12/05/2026 13:07

sesquipedalian · 12/05/2026 11:36

OP, as far as the packages go, I actually have some sympathy with your DSis because of the absurd rules that are currently in place. An example - I sent a friend in France a fish knife, that cost £29, and they were charged 20 euros’ duty on it!! And of course postage to Europe is quite a bit more than postage to the UK. I can understand that it’s irritating from your POV to have to receive the packages, but try to think of it as doing a favour to your DM rather than for your sister. That way, you won’t upset your mother, and you can continue NC with your sister.

The sister should have treated the OP better, then she wouldn't have to deal with this frankly tangential issue. As it is they are no contact so it's now the sister's problem entirely.

SilverPink · 12/05/2026 13:05

Why does she need to order so much stuff? Isn’t she able to buy these things in her country?

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 12/05/2026 13:04

You could take a photo of the heap of packages and forward to DM.. "These are every one of the packages that have arrived. "

I do this with DC's clothes sometimes. they always quibble about things that have been left and another DC might/might not have.

Can't argue with a photo unless they want to say its been altered by AI of course.

Takes seconds and could stop accusations in their tracks, but you may feel its taking responsibility for the packages.

Givenup2026 · 12/05/2026 11:50

sesquipedalian · 12/05/2026 11:36

OP, as far as the packages go, I actually have some sympathy with your DSis because of the absurd rules that are currently in place. An example - I sent a friend in France a fish knife, that cost £29, and they were charged 20 euros’ duty on it!! And of course postage to Europe is quite a bit more than postage to the UK. I can understand that it’s irritating from your POV to have to receive the packages, but try to think of it as doing a favour to your DM rather than for your sister. That way, you won’t upset your mother, and you can continue NC with your sister.

i actually didn’t mind it until it came clear that I also needed to keep track of the packages once received and then deal with my DM failing memory of thinking there should be more packages because she misunderstood

OP posts:
sesquipedalian · 12/05/2026 11:36

OP, as far as the packages go, I actually have some sympathy with your DSis because of the absurd rules that are currently in place. An example - I sent a friend in France a fish knife, that cost £29, and they were charged 20 euros’ duty on it!! And of course postage to Europe is quite a bit more than postage to the UK. I can understand that it’s irritating from your POV to have to receive the packages, but try to think of it as doing a favour to your DM rather than for your sister. That way, you won’t upset your mother, and you can continue NC with your sister.

Givenup2026 · 12/05/2026 11:27

pikkumyy77 · 11/05/2026 22:20

If you love those people you have done very well in life as your father, mother, and sister have been vile to you. You have worked hard, it seems, to thrive and live and love. Your mother didn’t—she didn’t treasure and protect you the way she should. Maybe she had a hard life, as you say, but she could have fought for kindness and love for you even so. She has the luxury to do so now, presumably, but is disinclined to listen to you or to be as generous as she is to your sister.

Do what you can to preserve your precious time eith your own family. Let your mother snd sister do their group grope without you. Just refuse the packages and trll uour mother you won’t engage in tax fraud gor your sister.

Very kind words thank you!

obviously I have no idea what she tells my sister about me (nor care tbh), but to me it’s always been clear, they complete ignore my boundaries and completely deny my experience. Just by itself that’s in toxic territory.

OP posts:
pikkumyy77 · 11/05/2026 22:20

If you love those people you have done very well in life as your father, mother, and sister have been vile to you. You have worked hard, it seems, to thrive and live and love. Your mother didn’t—she didn’t treasure and protect you the way she should. Maybe she had a hard life, as you say, but she could have fought for kindness and love for you even so. She has the luxury to do so now, presumably, but is disinclined to listen to you or to be as generous as she is to your sister.

Do what you can to preserve your precious time eith your own family. Let your mother snd sister do their group grope without you. Just refuse the packages and trll uour mother you won’t engage in tax fraud gor your sister.

Givenup2026 · 11/05/2026 19:13

Jk987 · 11/05/2026 19:10

Low contact would be far better than no contact. You said you deeply loved your uncle but earlier you said you don’t really get attached to people because of autism.

Yes, in my whole life I’ve only ever loved my DM, my uncle, my nanny, the “gardener” (who came with the house so to speak), my husband, my 2 children and all of my dogs and cats. Oh and one friend.

Ive certainly have never felt anything for the rest of my family

OP posts:
Jk987 · 11/05/2026 19:10

Low contact would be far better than no contact. You said you deeply loved your uncle but earlier you said you don’t really get attached to people because of autism.

Givenup2026 · 11/05/2026 19:05

Nearly50omg · 11/05/2026 18:09

I wok suggest going NC with BOTH your sister and mother as they are both horrible people and your life will be much nicer and less stressful without them in it!!

TBF my DM did try her best with had life gave her. A mother who abandoned her to actual strangers, then marrying my father who was violent and abusive…. She just wanted a normal, happy family.

OP posts:
2chocolateoranges · 11/05/2026 19:02

Nearly50omg · 11/05/2026 18:09

I wok suggest going NC with BOTH your sister and mother as they are both horrible people and your life will be much nicer and less stressful without them in it!!

I totally agree, they sound like 2 peas in a pod.

id start getting my own parcels delivered in my dh or child’s name so that you know all parcels delivered in your name is from your sister and you can return to sender and not accept. She’s got a cheek!

bigboykitty · 11/05/2026 19:00

DilettanteRedRagger · 11/05/2026 16:52

I mean, I’m officially diagnosed autistic, and to me this is a matter of whether you think you have a right to control your mother’s business or who she receives mail from. If the packages arrive in your mum’s name, who cares? If they arrive in your sister’s name and you have to accept them, tell her to stop being a cheeky fucker - if she wants your house and your mum to receive her packages, then yes, they need to be in your mum’s name. Because if they’re in your mum’s name, then it’s your mum’s private business and nothing to do with you.

OP has already said that the parcels arrive addressed to the OP. It's a complete overstep.

I would tell your mum that you'll be refusing all parcels from your sister from now on and just do that. No exceptions. It's just an attempt by your S to insert herself into the situation. Your mum sounds like a handful too.

ValleyClouds · 11/05/2026 18:47

Givenup2026 · 11/05/2026 18:37

I just genuinely want her to stay away from my life.

Yeah me too! Couldn’t care less if I never saw her again

Givenup2026 · 11/05/2026 18:37

ValleyClouds · 11/05/2026 18:25

If it helps at all I am in a similar situation, I’m disabled and forced to tolerate my sibling who I despise for the sake of my aging DM. It’s rough, but I crack on with it. I don’t want my DM to die but I look forward to telling sibling to get to fuck, permanently

I just genuinely want her to stay away from my life.

OP posts:
ValleyClouds · 11/05/2026 18:25

If it helps at all I am in a similar situation, I’m disabled and forced to tolerate my sibling who I despise for the sake of my aging DM. It’s rough, but I crack on with it. I don’t want my DM to die but I look forward to telling sibling to get to fuck, permanently

Nearly50omg · 11/05/2026 18:09

I wok suggest going NC with BOTH your sister and mother as they are both horrible people and your life will be much nicer and less stressful without them in it!!

Givenup2026 · 11/05/2026 17:15

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 11/05/2026 17:10

"started shouting at me in the middle of a shopping centre and I obviously just collapsed into tears, and my DM at some point said that there was an ambulance and maybe I could be sectioned too"

Well now I can see where your Sister gets it from
So sorry OP.. They both sound really awful. Neither of them sound like people you could reason with.
Threatening to have you sectioned because they've bullied you into tears is normal behaviour and I do think you need to protect yourself from them.
BTW...Not a legal expert but I believe she has no authority to have you sectioned if you live with your spouse. And that is rather the point. She has no authority over you any more and if someone shouted at me like that in public place... I'd get an uber home and lock the door. Give yourself permission to turn on your heel and walk away.

It would also make me much less worried about DM being upset because you and Sis are NC.

And I also think that having someone to talk to about this in real life would really help you work out how best to deal with it.

I would hand the packages to your mum and say this is the very last time. I will be refusing to accept any further parcels and telling them to take back to sender. They are not my responsibility. If they keep coming they will be binned.

What does your DH think.

My father always threatened my mother with sectioning her and taking us away, so I think that’s where it comes from. Coincidentally my uncle was actually sectioned, so it can hit too close to home.

My DH thinks (or at least used to) try to have a relationship with my sister, but since I’ve gone NC he’s seen how much better of been feeling, so I think he’s changed his mind.

My exH always thought she was a complete bitch and was best to not have her in our lives.

OP posts:
DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 11/05/2026 17:10

"started shouting at me in the middle of a shopping centre and I obviously just collapsed into tears, and my DM at some point said that there was an ambulance and maybe I could be sectioned too"

Well now I can see where your Sister gets it from
So sorry OP.. They both sound really awful. Neither of them sound like people you could reason with.
Threatening to have you sectioned because they've bullied you into tears is normal behaviour and I do think you need to protect yourself from them.
BTW...Not a legal expert but I believe she has no authority to have you sectioned if you live with your spouse. And that is rather the point. She has no authority over you any more and if someone shouted at me like that in public place... I'd get an uber home and lock the door. Give yourself permission to turn on your heel and walk away.

It would also make me much less worried about DM being upset because you and Sis are NC.

And I also think that having someone to talk to about this in real life would really help you work out how best to deal with it.

I would hand the packages to your mum and say this is the very last time. I will be refusing to accept any further parcels and telling them to take back to sender. They are not my responsibility. If they keep coming they will be binned.

What does your DH think.

Givenup2026 · 11/05/2026 17:09

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 11/05/2026 17:08

I think people are getting hung up re the packages because OP said “sent” rather than “ordered”. It sounds like she orders packages on line addressed to OP, for the Mum to collect.

YANBU though OP. I would refuse to accept any packages.

Yes that’s exactly what’s happening!

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 11/05/2026 17:08

I think people are getting hung up re the packages because OP said “sent” rather than “ordered”. It sounds like she orders packages on line addressed to OP, for the Mum to collect.

YANBU though OP. I would refuse to accept any packages.

DilettanteRedRagger · 11/05/2026 16:56

Givenup2026 · 11/05/2026 16:55

They arrive in my name!

Ok, totally bizarre to me. Yes, your sister is a CF for expecting you to facilitate this if she knows you’re NC. That’s putting you right in the middle and inconveniencing you; I accept packages for people I like, not people I’m NC with. Fuck that noise.