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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed with my sister's view of my life.

61 replies

Jellybellyqueen · 13/11/2017 22:29

Dsis is a couple of years younger, went into work from education, whereas I stayed on to get a degree and post grad (and three student loans). This meant I had a better paid career initially, but obv had loans to pay off.

We both gave up work after kids, she has walked into her present job through conversation with a contact, I am unable to find one atm. Despite starting off with school hours shifts, our parents now regularly pick up her kids from school and give them dinner before dropping them home. If I had a job that required the same help they'd be exhausted.

My dh often works away, due to his job we've moved a few times, have always had a house much smaller than dsis, with much bigger mortgage and considerably less equity. Most of our savings went in the last move.

She has at least six plus weekends or hobby breaks a year (by herself), with an extended family holiday and usually another week somewhere else. We go on the extended family hol with them, with a few day trips at weekends with our kids.

Her sil is v well off and will be leaving everything to dsis dc, as will her mil (I don't know why I needed to know this). My kids have the tiny trust fund account we set up for them as babies. Sil regularly gives dsis and kids nice shoes/clothes, masses of presents at xmas etc. I pass down clothes/coats etc to dsis, obv nothing comes my way from anyone.

Im sure theres more, but this is quite long. My issue is that despite us getting on well, dsis (and our parents) seem to have the set view that we are so much better off financially than her, which is just not the case. Her dc do 4 after school activities between them, mine do one each, she complains about the cost, but can't be that hard up if they can afford it.
I know someone will say I'm just jealous - I've always been happy for her good fortune, but it's increasingly grating on me that everyone thinks she's badly done by and has to work so hard, despite the fact that I and dh have worked just as hard (if not harder) and in reality are in the same position. Our children will be substantially worse off than hers in the long run, but she doesn't appear to appreciate this either, still thinks we are much better off and speaks/acts accordingly. I'm not expressing it very well, but it's like reverse snobbery, if thats a thing.

AIBU to be increasingly peeved to be seen as the one who doesn't need any help, while she gets a bunch of sympathy and handouts? What can I do to feel less peeved about it (apart from pull up my big girl pants and ignore)?

[I'm aware neither of us are on the bones of our arse, so are luckier than some. The issue is more the inequality of treatment rather than the value of material goods/finances involved.]

OP posts:
Aderyn17 · 14/11/2017 13:25

Karri it really does offend me when people ask what the point of education is, if a person is just going to sah. Education is never wasted. People who sah are just as entitled to fulfil their potential as anyone else. Earning money is important but it's not the only important thing.

As an aside, my education has turned out to be quite handy when my dc were going tbrough GCSE's and A levels.

Theresamayscough · 14/11/2017 13:26

Why can’t you find a job? Maybe focus on that and pehps take a lower paid job to get back working.

You make choices as adults and you both made yours.

Your parents don’t owe you or your dsis childcare. It’s a privalage.

Meaning this nicely stop moaning and comparing and start doing.

Bluntness100 · 14/11/2017 13:36

I would asssume this is because your sister works and you do not.

So she has to work to afford the holidays, the after school activities, you do not. She probably can’t afford child care so your parents help her. If she did not work, she would not be able to afford these things. You do not work and can.

What her children will be left in wills, how she got a job, and the equity in your house is irrelevant.

The reason people think you’re better off is she has to work to afford things, you do not.

HeartStrings · 14/11/2017 13:41

I think everyone always sees other people as better of than them, regardless of who they are.

It doesn’t matter about anyone else, you have a home, clothes on your back, healthy and happy children, food on your plates, warmth, electricity etc..

Plus a lot of things that money can’t buy. You and your Dsis have a good relationship. Life’s too short to be pissed off over stuff like this. Let it go and enjoy you’re own life’s personal journey.

NeverTwerkNaked · 14/11/2017 14:38

How are people referring to the sister as “child-like” ? She goes out and earns her money, her parents just help with the logistics. It’s a bit much to think of someone who earns money for their family as “child like” Hmm

MadamPatti · 14/11/2017 16:03

Yanbu. I had this with a friend, and it really ground my gears. I called her out on it and as a consequence we are not as close as we were, which I feel sad for. Not sure what you should do mind, probably rise above it as you’ve described. X

Jellybellyqueen · 14/11/2017 20:43

Thanks for the replies. A mixed bag, but at least some ppl seem to understand that it's not about the money, but the viewpoint.

I prob do sound bitter and jealous from the op, tbh its only just creeping up on me now because her viewpoint hasn't changed despite the fact that she is doing better than me but still sees it the other way round. I can't afford plenty of stuff so its not a case of being able to afford whatever i want without working. Pp said she works to afford these holidays and i can afford them without working - I can't afford the same, because I don't work, so thats not a valid comparison. (I realise that sounds like a comparative 'its not fair' comment, but couldn't think how else to word it.)

I haven't been sitting back complaining without doing anything - I have had some seasonal work, but am restricted by school hours and dh living away for a great deal of the time, employers just want someone who can do the hours/days stated, I've found so far. My original career is out of the question atm due to hours required and dh job. I could ask parents to cover childcare but they get tired easily, dm is frail and doesn't drive unless its an absolute emergency. On one occasion I asked if they would be around to pick kids up if i didn't make it in time, they'd already said yes to dsis and didn't even consider they were available for mine until they had a change of heart overnight. On one occasion I had asked first, dsis asked a few days before, and they twisted themselves in knots to pick up all dc. So I cant see how it would work if i had a regular job needing them to pick up my dc as well. I wouldn't want to put that pressure on them, but think they would be as fair as possible and it would make them ill. They have previously said they wouldn't look after gc every day, but if we both worked different days it could come to that, so i know theyd not be happy doing it. I never asked anyone else for childcare help, thats partly what led to me leaving my last good job, so it niggles a bit to be in this situation. I know that the cost of childcare for this period would wipe out a large proportion of wages.

Dsis did in fact practically walk into the job. It came up in a conversation, she then had an informal chat with the manager. It does happen.

I'm not sure what I would want out of it, except for them to realise she's actually doing pretty well, has good help from loads of ppl to enable this and the fact that just because someone isn't working doesn't mean its because they can afford everything and dont want to. (I do know her financial situation because she tells me. She was shocked to realise the size of our mortage (big) and equity (small) when she was complaining about hers, because again she just assumed we were so much better off!)

OP posts:
AuntieBeast · 14/11/2017 20:59

I'm not sure how networking to find a job is "just walking into it." Shades of when my older sister said my good job "fell into my lap."

Jellybellyqueen · 14/11/2017 21:06

It wasnt networking. She spoke to a random shop assistant in a shop when buying stuff there at the till. Right place,right time. Absolutely no intention of seeking a job until it came up in that convo, so def wasn't networking.

OP posts:
Jellybellyqueen · 14/11/2017 21:25

I do realize how lucky I am in other aspects though, so I'll concentrate on that, address misconceptions when I can, and ignore the rest! Grin

OP posts:
Jellybellyqueen · 15/11/2017 22:19

*respects not aspects

OP posts:
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