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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I think my sister was out of order

92 replies

radiodad · 11/09/2015 12:23

So the background to this is my wife passed away 6 months ago. We have 4 DCs together. DD1 (11) DS1 (7) and DD2 and DS2 who are twins (4).

It has been really difficult DD 1 in particular is finding it incredibly hard. She has just started secondary school and she is also starting puberty and she could really use her mum to talk to.I have tried to talk to her a bit but she finds it a bit embarrassing talking to her dad about it.
She has a therapist but she is very wary of opening up to her. She has always been very shy and takes a while to open up to strangers and she is finding everything even harder now.

So I asked my sister if she could talk to her about everything so she can have a female to talk to about anything she wants. My sister can be a bit self-involved but when my wife died she promised to be there for us for anything and she has been helpful getting food shopping and helping buying the DCs stuff ready for school.

My sister was keen to help and so she picked DD 1 up from school on Wednesday and took her back to hers for ice cream and a chat.
They arrived back later than planned and DD went straight to her room. I asked my sister what they had talked about. My sister said she had promised to keep it a secret but DD was fine and just a little upset because in the car on the way home she had become upset for no obvious reason.
I went upstairs to talk to her later and DD said she was fine and she was just tired.

So yesterday when she got up for school she said she felt sick and wanted to stay home. She didn't eat her breakfast and she doesn't usually have days off so I said fine. I had to go to work but I came back to see her on my lunch and break and she was lying on the sofa and very quiet not even watching tv.

At dinnertime DD 2 was talking about her day at school and then she dropped her fork and DD1 shouted at her and told her to concentrate on what she was doing then stormed off to her room.

I went to see her and she was sobbing into her pillow. I asked her what was wrong and in the end she told me that my sister kept trying to talk to her and DD 1 told her that she didn't want to talk just now. My sister told her that it was tough and she was going to talk to her because I was fed up of her whingeing (I have never said that). DD1 asked my sister if that was true and my sister said yes it was and everyone was really disappointed in her because She should be a mother figure for the younger DCs and she told her that sister was the only one who understood her so DD had to talk to her.
DD said that she didn't believe that I would say that and my sister insisted that it was true.
DD was really upset so sister talked to her for a bit about how unfair I was and how sister was the only one my DD could trust because teachers would report to me if she said anything. Then she swore DD to silence and told her that if she blabbed I would be really cross and probably tell the school that DD was a problem kid and all the teachers would hate her and her friends would stay away from her. Then sister repeated this in the car on the way home to remind her to keep quiet.

I told DD that sister was wrong and I would never do that and I loved her. She was still really upset , we talked and I reassured her for hours and she couldn't get to sleep till the early hours of the morning.
When she woke up I convinced her to go to school and I am hoping she will be okay today.

I called my sister and asked her why she did that and she said it was to get DD to open up. She was unapologetic because she says that her plan worked as DD did talk to her. She doesn't think she was in the wrong and became upset with me when I told her how angry with her I was. She says anyone would have done the same and I just can't see that because I am grieving and jealous that DD opened up to her and not me.
She claims to have spoken to my mum and my mum agrees that sister did the right thing.

So AIBU or was my sister out of order to say that to my DD.

OP posts:
MythicalKings · 11/09/2015 12:25

She was a total cow. Don't let her near your poor DD again. Angry

SevenSeconds · 11/09/2015 12:25

From what you have said, YANBU at all and your sister was massively out of order. I hope your poor DD is ok Flowers

BoredAdminGirl · 11/09/2015 12:26

YANBU

Your sister sounds vile.

Sorry for your loss

mamabear1234 · 11/09/2015 12:26

God lord. Your sister was so out of order!!!!! I feel terrible for you. I hope you're getting all the help you need. X

Parietal · 11/09/2015 12:26

from your description, sister was definitely out of order. no one should tell a child to keep secrets from their parent or from teachers, especially not in this context.

msrisotto · 11/09/2015 12:27

The way you've told it, how could you possible BU?? It sounds like she downright bullied your poor DD. Are you sure it was really like that? It just sounds so extreme and I find it hard to believe that anyone else would say she did the right thing.

TeenAndTween · 11/09/2015 12:28

YANBU!

I would be keeping sister at arms length from now on. Disgraceful.

Please encourage DD to get to know her pastoral support at her new school. Even if she doesn't want to talk to them yet, building up a relationship now will mean she can talk to them later. It is good to have someone at school you know and trust if it all gets too much during the school day. (DD1 made good use of pastoral support during her time at secondary).

NealCaffreysHat · 11/09/2015 12:29

If my sister did that she wouldn't be seeing my DC ever again. What she did is not normal. Poor DD thank goodness she told you what was said.

MTBMummy · 11/09/2015 12:31

Your sister is completely out of order.

I can't think of anyone who would have done the same, I'm so sorry for your daughter that she's been made to feel even worse during what is a horrible time.

Personally I'd make sure you get some one on one time with your DD and show her how much you love and care for her, and that she doesn't need to step up and fill her mums shoes, that she's right and fully entitled to grieve as long as she needs to.

I'm really sorry for your loss - huge hugs for all of you

FattyNinjaOwl · 11/09/2015 12:31

What a horrible person to say that to a grieving child! Flowers for you OP

dodobookends · 11/09/2015 12:32

That is awful, your poor DD. Your sister was downright cruel to say things like that to a young girl still grieving for her mother.

HeteronormativeHaybales · 11/09/2015 12:33

IIWY I would never speak to my sister again. How very dare she? Angry

I'm very sorry for your and your children's loss Flowers

Doublebubblebubble · 11/09/2015 12:34

She was a total cow. Don't let her near your poor DD again. Angry

100%

You sound like you are trying your very best for your children Flowers I wish you the best of luck x

CrapBag · 11/09/2015 12:35

So sorry for yours and your children's loss. What an awful time for you all.

Your sister, well, sorry I'm going to be blunt, she is a fucking bitch and she wouldn't be speaking to my grieving child again unless it was in front of witnesses. How dare she say such horrible things to your DD and how dare she get her to keep it a secret! She is utterly wrong, no one else would do the same. She is talking bullshit. It sound's like she is the one who is fed up of this (oh no, poor her Hmm) and is trying to get your DD to just stop her grieving and get on with her life so it doesn't inconvenience her anymore.

She is certainly not the right person for your DDs to confide in. Is there anyone from their maternal side they could? I'm guessing your mum is put if she agrees with your sister, although we only have your sisters word for that.

Scobberlotcher · 11/09/2015 12:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TenForward82 · 11/09/2015 12:36

What a cow! Never let her near DD again. That's just awful Flowers

noiwontstoptalking · 11/09/2015 12:39

Your sister was completely and utterly wrong.

If it were my family she'd be having no unsupervised time with my children.

I'd also be having a word with my Mother given that she apparently thinks this is ok.

It was lovely of you to try and find an adult female to talk to your DD though, perhaps be open with DD and ask her who, if anyone, she'd like to discuss periods etc. it might be you, it might be a friend's Mum.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Murloc · 11/09/2015 12:40

Bloody hell, your poor DD. Sad

You need to work on rebuilding her trust now, and make sure that your poisonous sister (and possibly your Mum too, if she was involved) is not allowed anywhere near her.

I can't believe that someone could be so staggeringly insensitive.

InimitableJeeves · 11/09/2015 12:44

Your sister needs to be kept well away from all your children. It could be useful to talk to your mother, tell her what DD says, and find out if she genuinely supports your sister.

ShadowLine · 11/09/2015 12:46

YANBU. That's a horrible way to talk to a child.

CocktailQueen · 11/09/2015 12:46

Oh, your poor dd.

Don't let your sister anywhere near your dd again. She was completely out of order and that's a horrible way to treat a grieving child. Unbelievable.

Are there are any other adult females your dd could talk to? A friend's mum, a teacher?

I'm so sorry for your loss - it all sounds very difficult and you're trying your best.

Ohfourfoxache · 11/09/2015 12:47

Holy fuck Shock

Your poor dd, and what a bitch your sister is Angry

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 11/09/2015 12:47

I'm amazed you even need to ask. Your sister was a complete bitch, manipulative, evil, cruel even to make your DD think those things about you.
I just can't even imagine what went through her head to say those things to a child whose mother only died a few months ago - she's unbelievable! Shock

I hate to say it but I'd keep your sister far far away from all your children from now on. What she has done is full-on emotional abuse.

I wouldn't believe a word she's said about your mum, btw - if she told your mum that she had said all those things to your DD1 and your mum said she did the right thing, then your mum would have to be an utter bitch as well; but actually I'd put money on your mum not having got the true story at all.

Have you spoken to your mum? I would definitely speak to her first, because you need to find out what your sister said and whether your mum agreed with what she actually did, not what she said she did - and if she really genuinely agreed with your sister's actual actions, then I'd be keeping my children away from her too, because there's no knowing what other abusive crap they're going to fill your children's heads with Angry:(

So sorry for your, and your children's loss - I hope that you get support from someone who truly cares about your children's wellbeing. Thanks

MrsDeVere · 11/09/2015 12:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

herderofcats · 11/09/2015 12:48

Could you get her a couple of good books about puberty/growing up/being a teenager? Then she can check stuff without having to ask anyone.

Perhaps someone here may have a recommendation?