Hello everyone. First time posting, so here goes.
As you are no doubt aware, GCSE results out next week. I m seriously considering not divulging DD's grades to SIL. My niece is also expecting her results on that day. I am very confident that both girls will do very well, but unfortunately, my SIL is so jealous and insecure that I just know that she will do everything she can to bad mouth my daughter and her achievements. God forbid that DD does" better "than my niece. To make matters worse MIL also gets in the middle of this in a sort of run with the hare and the hounds kind of way.
The whole situation drives me mad. SIL has always been jealous of me and my two girls. She is jealous, manipulative and insecure. She particularly dislikes OH[she is his brother's wife]. Apparently, he has never paid her enough attention. She has absolutely no reason to be jealous, pots of money, holidays, lovely house. She speaks to MIL in a really disrespectful way. There have been numerous incidents/situations over 20 very long years. Unfortunately, she never says anything to our faces, so it is difficult to really go for the jugular, although I have come close. MIL also needs to take her share of the blame. She is absolutely terrified of her, but is reluctant to stand up to her since she once threatened that she would not see her grandchildren again.
Most of the time, I just dismiss her as a silly little girl, but every now and again, the situation really winds me up. Waiting for GCSE's is hard enough without her stirring things up, and being so un kind.
Everthing that we do as a family, she either copies, or she has already done it, but better. I just can't cope with this competing over children and their achievements.
I am determined not to stoop to her level, but give me strength, it is sometimes so difficult. Any advice etc gratefully accepted.