Been here on and off for a few years, lurking mostly but decided to set up a new account as I need some perspective on something that happened over Christmas.
My DH and I (together 7 years, married 4 years)had invited his sister (SIL) to spend Christmas with us. We have done this for the past three years as she is divorced (no kids) and there are no other family living in this part of the country. SIL is 41, my DH is 40.
SIL has never been easy to get on with. On our first meeting she invited us to stay over at her house, which is a two hour drive away. Later that night (we had all been in her local for a drink) she had been talking about a new guy she was dating, who apparently still lived with the mother of his one month old baby, but assured her it was just until he found his own place. I mentioned in conversation that hopefully he was being honest with her about the situation. She went ballistic, stood up in the middle of the pub and started to shout at me and my DH. She called me a fake, said I was only with my DH be had his own house, then left the pub and actually locked us out of her her house at two in the morning on a freezing January night. Things havent ever been great between us, but for the sake of my DH I have tried to get along, and we see her (she comes to stay at ours) every few weekends.
The year before last, she got grunk on Christmas day and had another blow up because I told her she was a bit rude for banning me from my own kitchen while she was cooking (she offered to cook Christmas lunch while she stayed over). When I say banning me I actually mean it, when I walked in she stoood in front of me and told me to leave. Not in a playful manner, she was deadly serious. My DH told her to stop being silly and she then lost it. Grabbed her keys, called me a bitch and walked out. She drove two hours back to her house, having just drank a bottle and a half of wine!
Fast Forward to this past Christmas. We again invited her up. First day was ok. Christmas morning she got up and did the usual cooking routien (dont ask!). I got up and came down stairs wearing the necklace my DH had given to me for Chriatmas. Its not exactly worth thousands but my DH saved up to get me something special this yeara and I know it wasnt cheap. When I walked into the living room my SIL walked up to me, looked at the necklace and then asked me
"What did you buy my brother that cost the same?"
I was too stunned to reply, I made some excuse and left the room.
Later that morning she again stopped me from goong into the kitchen. I told her
"Dont tell me where I can and cant go in my own house"
She lost it and again grabbed her keys and attwmpted to drive drunk back to her house. This time DH grabbed her keys and told her if she went anywhere near the car he would call the police.
When she asked me about the necklace she was sober. That wasnt a normal thing to ask somebody was it? I only memtion the other things for context. Is this normal behaviour?
AIBU for letting her get to me and "answering back".?