Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Don't know who is at fault here...me/DH or sister

128 replies

Rioja81 · 26/12/2023 20:15

There's a lot of back story that'll take too long. But to summarise, I'm the older sister,arrived with a number of children. Younger sister is single and has recently (a couple of years ago) had some fairly serious health issues. Totally fine now. We get on ok, are a close family but sister and I aren't very close, we are very different characters and there is a lot of 'water under the bridge '.

Because of this water, DH isn't her biggest fan, but he is welcoming to her and was very supportive during her illness etc.

Anyway. We were hosting this year, sister and my parents (they love 5 mins away, she has a room there but lives elsewhere).

Parents hinted that she would like to stay with us Christmas Eve, I said that wouldn't work as we don't have the space. To be honest, we also don't have the kind of 'easy' relaxed relationship where I would want her to stay over if not necessary, I knew that we would all be together from the Sat through till Monday anyway and DH and I could do with time to decompress without her there.

So we have them round on the Saturday for drinks etc, halfway through she asks again if she can stay over (but in a really wheedling tone, it was very obviously done in front of the kids and my parents to make it harder to say no). Again, I say that won't work for us for various logistical reasons.

She got tearful, disappeared for 10 mins or so, then we all carried on. Then she asked me to go elsewhere with her for a chat away from DH etc, and basically had a bit of a tantrum. A lot of tears, and accusations of my being cold, closed off, unsupportive, she might go to her grave without seeing any children opening stockings etc. Eventually I cave, as I always do. DH overhears, and says in front of my parents that this always happens, tears to get her own way. I beg him to just give in for my sake, as the tension and inevitable recriminations on me are too much to take at Christmas. Which he does, gracefully. Tells her it'll be fine etc.

Dad is looking disapproving (of me), she is still sniffing, telling me I'm not a good big sister etc in effect.

Christmas eve, very tense, feel like shit all day. Eve comes, she says that she won't stay as she can tell she isn't wanted. I suggest coming first thing to join in stockings, which she does.

Day passes ok, the vibe is still very much that we have done her wrong.

So today we are doing our own thing, she goes home. DH and I decide last minute to take kids to a boxing day thing in the morning. She hears, sends a sarky text message along the lines of "thanks so much for my invitation etc". And then asks whether "all that tension yesterday was all because her emotions were triggered 🤷"

I am so in the FOG in this relationship that I don't know whether I am a bad sister, DH is a bad BIL or whether her behaviour is unreasonable. I'm not strong enough for AIBU as this pattern has been a regular occurrence in my life. What do you all think?

Parents are being very short with me today so I think I'm on the naughty list there too.

OP posts:
Rioja81 · 26/12/2023 20:19

I'm sorry it's so long. I have noone objective to ask as my parents will always be on her side and DH will always be on mine.

OP posts:
Redshoeblueshoe · 26/12/2023 20:24

Actually I think your sister and your parents are both in the wrong. My adult DC have virtually nothing to do with each other. I don't get involved.

judgedreadful · 26/12/2023 20:31

Listen to your husband your to wrapped up with your emotions to see your family are emotionally abusing you.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

mayorofcasterbridge · 26/12/2023 20:36

Your home, your rules.

Your sister is BU and you can see why she is the way she is because your parents enable her. She's spoilt and entitled.

Stand firm!

NewYearNewMeBullshit · 26/12/2023 20:37

You have a good husband

PlantsFallLikeDominoes · 26/12/2023 20:43

I think it's a bit crap that she couldn't stay over on Christmas sorry OP. She obviously wants to be closer to you than you do to her, you're not wrong as such but I can see why she got upset.

zurala · 26/12/2023 20:45

She's ridiculous and manipulative and your parents are enabling her.

Rioja81 · 26/12/2023 20:47

I think this is my issue. I do understand why she was upset. I don't agree with the approach, but I do see why she wanted to stay. I think if the background wasn't what other posters have commented on of her always being backed up, and being quite a manipulative person in her interactions with me then it may be different. I feel my heels digging in when it comes to her sometimes which isn't right I know

OP posts:
Hibernatalie · 26/12/2023 20:48

Her well-being isn't your responsibility.

TheSuggestedAmendment · 26/12/2023 20:56

I think you need to stop putting all of your family through this. It isn’t that I think this is your fault, I just don’t think anyone else is going to fix it - it is on you.

So stop imagining your parents and sister are ever going to be easy to deal with. Don’t let them near special occasions they can leverage. Just see them on boring weekends that they can’t leverage. Prioritise your DC and keep all this drama away from them when it really counts.

And don’t feed the drama. Ignore pass agg texts and don’t reply. Walk off from tears.

Nicole1111 · 26/12/2023 20:56

Your husband was supportive of your wishes and was advocating for you in challenging her, as he is probably tired of seeing your wishes come second place. The fact he changed his position as he could see it was better for you shows he’s willing to be flexible and adapt to support you in what you need in that instant.
Your parents however clearly don’t think your needs and wishes are important and it’s time to ask them outright “Why are her needs and feelings always more important than mine?”.
With regards to your sister every time she gets what she wants the manipulation is reinforced. Unless you stop responding the way she wants she will never have motivation to change. You should reinforce the positive behaviours and remain firm with your boundaries around the negative ones.

Lweji · 26/12/2023 20:58

"but I do see why she wanted to stay"

Really? Why?
If she has a room with your parents, who live close by, there is no need to stay with you and disrupt your home arrangements.

Olika · 26/12/2023 21:01

There was no need for your sister to stay as she has a room at your parents who live nearby. When you and your DH decide something, you should stick to it. Stop letting your sister and parents quilt trip you.

BCBird · 26/12/2023 21:01

She sounds like an absolute PITA

boomtickhouse · 26/12/2023 21:01

Hibernatalie · 26/12/2023 20:48

Her well-being isn't your responsibility.

This.

She's manipulating you and your parents. Your parents are prioritising her over you. That's not ok.

MyEyesMyThighs · 26/12/2023 21:03

Were her health issues mental health related? That would explain the dynamic a little more, if people are walking on eggshells around her and trying to make her happy.

If not, then your parents are doing her no favours in encouraging this behaviour and validating it.

Can you go for coffee with her and talk about expectations. You are busier and therefore she takes up less space in your life than you do in hers. You can explain this isn't a value judgement or about liking her, it's about being married with kids

TwinklingLightsEverywhere · 26/12/2023 21:03

Do you know why she seems so desperate to be there when the kids go on an outing and open their stockings? She hadn't had a loss or is infertile or anything like that?

Wouldn't excuse the behaviour anyway but knowing what she ultimately wants (time with your kids?) would make it easier for you to decide whether you want to meet that need and if so how to do it in a way that works for you.

Obviously her motivation might just be to want anything that won't work for you see she can paint you as the bad guy.

FictionalCharacter · 26/12/2023 21:05

judgedreadful · 26/12/2023 20:31

Listen to your husband your to wrapped up with your emotions to see your family are emotionally abusing you.

Exactly. Your sister is manipulating you in a quite ridiculous way. She isn’t upset, she’s angry that she doesn’t have you wrapped around her little finger 100% of the time. And the problem is right here:
Eventually I cave, as I always do

Listen to your husband.

ElevenSeven · 26/12/2023 21:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

nepthysrising · 26/12/2023 21:06

Protect yourself! Create some distance between the two of you. Meet her outside your home, it needs to be a haven for you. Much luck to you

SiennaMillar · 26/12/2023 21:08

Sounds familiar! I’ve chosen to finally listen to my DH who has been telling me, for years, accurately, that my sister is no good, and brings chaos into our lives. So, without knowing the ins and outs of your situation, I’m inclined to suggest you should listen to him and be firm against your sister.

PlantsFallLikeDominoes · 26/12/2023 21:09

I'm not saying how she behaved was right, but if she's upset and would like to be closer and feel included is that something you could manage? I'm not close to my sister, we're also very different people, I think she feels quite on the outside of our family, but she's the one with 'firm boundaries' compared to the rest of us who do things for each other.

Aquamarine1029 · 26/12/2023 21:13

Threads like this remind me how fucking happy I am to be an only child.

Your sister is a manipulative, coercive little brat, and your parents are just as big a problem as she is. It is obvious they have pandered to her bullshit her entire life.

Fuck that and get out of the FOG. You should read them ALL the riot act for treating you so appalling.

weefella · 26/12/2023 21:15

Your sister sounds as though she has all the maturity of a typical 7yr-old. And it probably doesn't help that you and your parents give in to her as though she's a small child stamping her feet to get her own way.

I'm with your DH. It's time for your sister to grow up and for you and your parents to stop enabling her tears and tantrums.

Rioja81 · 26/12/2023 21:19

I don’t think it is about me per se, there is an element that she feels I am a little deficient compared to her, as I’m not a very open, emotional person. I’m good in a crisis, good for a listening ear and practical support but not a crier or a hugger. For example during covid our mum was very poorly, mental health related but very serious…she was hospitalised and it was horrible. Because we are nearby I visited every day, had my dad with us every day for dinner etc, made the practical arrangements etc, chased doctors blah blah blah. She lives further away so only visited twice in the 3 months she was in there, and my dad told me off for not being understanding enough of how hard it was for her, work, moving house etc. I wasn’t saying she should be there more or whatever , he was talking about how hard and stressful her life was, I tried to point out that she was moving to a house she loved, with a man she loved (no longer together, she broke up with him) and so in the context of what we were all going through, I was saving my worry for mum. Apparently that attitude was wrong and I was the main cause of her anxiety in life etc. On talking to her to update her she said she hoped mum was out by the time she moved closer (selling house) as she “needed her mum”.

She isn’t infertile, but as a result of her illness it has been suggested she shouldn’t have kids. This is a great sadness for all of us, as I know she would really like to be a mum. She and my kids get on v well, they like her very much. I’m very encouraging of that, open house etc when she is staying with my parents, she can take them out or whatever. I just didn’t want her staying over because A) it’s my space and all day every day together and then not to have an hour before bed to just not have someone there was too much, and B) a little bit of me gets my heels in a bit when I know I’m being played.

OP posts: