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AIBU?
....to be really angry at my cousin's wife
Cailinsalach · 02/05/2013 11:32
...not actually doing it of course, just wanting to.... Really badly....
This woman has been married to my cousin for about 35 years. In that time she has had big massive screamy shouty sweary rows with everyone in the family. All her in laws. Everyone of us. Some she has had numerous screamy times with.
She perceives slights and insults where none were intended. We all learned years ago that you just don't joke with this woman, never tease, definitely no banter, she just couldn't take it. So we all tiptoe around her, conversing about the weather and who won the match and completely avoiding anything that she could misinterpret as insulting to her or her family.
Anyway my coping mechanism means that I avoid her, although it means I don't see very much of my cousin who is a really nice bloke. They live next door but one to me and my Dad.
Now this is where my piss goes from a simmer to a rolling boil. My old Dad, 90, met her and stopped for a chat. Dad tends to speak before he thinks and sometimes could word his thoughts better, but there is nothing nasty or spiteful about him. He is a sweet gentle elderly old man. She told him she was feeling unwell with a recurring chest infection and she had been to A&E twice last week then went away for a hen party for two days.
Dad said she should have stayed in hospital. He meant well. He meant she might be feeling better if she was under medical care. So what did the rip roaring bitch do to my poor old Dad? Yup. Screamed and swore and shouted at him. He couldn't even tell what she was saying as she yelled in his face. Now Dad is all upset, not sleeping and having panic attacks. 90 years old and frightened of his nephew's wife.
So this throat ripping idea. Is it really bad?
ChocsAwayInMyGob · 02/05/2013 11:41
What a toxic person. She sounds unhinged. Does your nice cousin enable her? Why has he not tried to reason with her over all these years? Surely her own husband could try and stop these nasty offensive outbursts?
I hope your Dad is OK. He didn't say anything wrong. If you're using up A and E time twice in a week you're hardly well enough to go hen nighting.
Kormachameleon · 02/05/2013 11:43
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
Cromwell44 · 02/05/2013 11:45
Your phrasing in the title seemed a bit extreme but having read the post I can see where you're coming from so YANBU. I think aging, particularly frail, v elderly parents bring out the 'tiger mother' response in us. It certainly did with me.
Take action, it'll make you feel better. I'd write a very cold, unemotional letter to this individual spelling out very clearly that her behaviour was unacceptable and describe how it has affected your dad. Point out his age, his frailty and his innocent remarks and the complete inappropriateness of her response.
Leave it at that, have nothing more to do with her.
You don't say whether she's been tackled about this in the past.
squoosh · 02/05/2013 11:46
I was all ready to say you were being OTT......but no way. I would not accept anyone treating my 90 year old father like that. No matter who they were, no matter what anger management issues she had.
No wonder she feels confident in screeching and roaring as she sees fit if everyone is on tenterhooks around her.
You should all get together and tell her 'NO MORE'.
MaxPepsi · 02/05/2013 11:48
Oh I'd just punch the fucking bitch. Sounds like you would be doing mankind a favour if you did.
However she would report you I'm quite sure.
I'd go up to her. And tell her in very calm and quiet manner just so no one else can hear you that if she EVER speaks to anyone in the same way again that you are indeed going to rip her head off and piss down her throat.
I did something quite similar to my SIL. When she tried to garner sympathy for my 'atrocious behaviour' she had to then explain why i'd said it in the first place. She was soon brought down a peg or two and was told she was lucky i hadn't actually followed it through.
It only takes one of you to finally put her in her place and stand up to her.
Cailinsalach · 02/05/2013 11:48
I wish I knew why she reacts like this to people. It usually comes right out of the blue.
Everyone is frightened of her, including her MIL, my aunt. When my Uncle was alive he would tell her to feck off and feck off home to her own people. After a couple of honest exchanges of opinions with him she developed a different coping strategy. This was basically identify the weaker, less confrontational people and scream at them.
Ah well. Dad said he'll just try and ignore her. Me too. (Grrrrrrr)
RooneyMara · 02/05/2013 11:55
erm, no. It's not a very good idea tbf. I dislike intimations of violence even when said violence may well be required to have any impact
it's frustrating but I think you need to stop thinking like this and start thinking of actual ways to solve the problem iyswim x
Cailinsalach · 02/05/2013 11:56
My cousin, in the past, has been mortified. He has spoken to her and she occasionally apologises for these outbursts. I do think she has a mental health issue but I don't know if she has ever addressed it.
When I was young my Dad told me a swift coward always lived longer than a slow hero. So.....................scatter!
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