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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Urgent advice on how to handle unwelcome guests

83 replies

NewinTown25 · 23/07/2017 23:01

Urgent advice needed!

Please kindly advise me on how to handle a current dilemma I am in. I have a half brother who lives in another country with his family. We do not get along at all and have had major disagreements over the years. We are also not in regular contact, infact the only times he calls me and we talk is when he wants to come to stay at my house with his wife and kids for holidays at the end of which we would all be emotionally drained from arguments, snide comments and criticisms from the wife about almost everything. These holidays have happened about four times in the course of 12 years. The whole family including me recently had a major falling out with him over a family matter which was never resolved. He announced yesterday on our family WhatsApp group that his family is relocating to the country where I live. While I wish them the best, I dont want to have anything to do with them. This evening I saw a missed call from him after not having spoken for months and I suspected he wanted to discuss coming to stay with me until they settle down which would be typical. I am not emotionally prepared for this. Please advise how best to handle this diplomatically without hurting feelings further.

OP posts:
FetchezLaVache · 24/07/2017 13:42

You know the request is almost certainly coming; get clear in your mind how you are going to deal with it. I would recommend NikiBabe's approach as it will head any wheedling/pressure/guilt-tripping off at the pass.

LaGattaNera · 24/07/2017 13:47

Don't return his call
Don't answer if he tries again
If you are put on the spot and asked, just say no.
Why should you and your family be made unhappy simply because it suits his to stay with you?

Lottapianos · 24/07/2017 13:49

'I was you, always putting people first who just walked all over me & used me. I stopped. It feels great and trust me the feeling of liberation & of taking control back again is wonderful.'

Just wanted to second this. I am a recovering people pleaser Smile and life is a lot more pleasant now that I have started saying no more often. It gets much easier with practice

FetchezLaVache · 24/07/2017 13:53

X post! That's what I get for taking half an hour to type three lines.

Glad it's sorted, OP - I wonder if that's meant as an olive branch, as surely he and his wife are capable of looking at properties on their own?

Tiddler7 · 24/07/2017 13:58

And if in the future he doesn't want to take a NO as an answer, ask which part of "no" he doesn't understand: N or O Smile

mydietstartsmonday · 24/07/2017 15:23

Do not be lolled into a force sense of security, it could still happen, do not be put on the back foot. Good luck.

Spangles1963 · 24/07/2017 16:13

Is he aware of the tension and bad feeling between you? Because if he IS,I'm very surprised he would even consider asking you this! There is no way that I would ask to stay for any length of time in a siblings/relatives house if I knew that there would be constant arguments and nastiness. He sounds a bit dense imo.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 24/07/2017 16:39

That's great news OP, a welcome weight off your mind, I imagine.
However, if he comes at you again, you'll be verbally, well equipped to deal with him ! 😄

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