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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not try again with DB?

121 replies

Biancadelrioisback · 31/08/2019 15:20

Backstory:
My brother is 2 yrs older than me. We grew up privileged, in a nice area with very lovely parents, wanted for nothing. He was always very academic, always had top marks in science and maths, played football and was quite good, relatively attractive so no problems with finding girlfriends etc. I was more arty, loved writing and performing, good singer etc. We went to different schools (single sex) yet he was always in competition with me. I was still good at school and always had really good but not always top marks which he used to rub in my face, calling me thick etc. He just has a very nasty streak. If he could hurt me, he would. As he's very clever, he was very good at doing this subtlety and wearing me down over many years. As an example, when I would dress up for an occasion, he would side eye me and snort/laugh then just turn his back on me. I would call him out all the time but again, because it was always subtle, he could deny it or make it seem like I was overreacting. But this was constant.

When he went to uni, my life was much better, I had freedom and he was gone. He was quite nasty to my DM too, he would ignore her calls and texts all the time, told all his mates that she was really annoying and pathetic, but she loves him so when he did bother with her, she was almost grateful. He studied an academic subject at a very prestigious uni and did very well, went on to get his PHD and now has a successful, well paid career. I studied an arty subject at uni (still got into a good one!) and went on to be a wedding and events planner for a number of years. He mocked and belittled my course and later, my career whenever I saw him. He would always put me down wherever he could and caused issues between me and my friends/boyfriends. He told my first long term boyfriend that I was cheating on him and had 'proof' which was completely fabricated.
Now I always have been a very confident person, I call out shitty behaviour when I witness it, I've always had lots of friends and a great social life, I've taken lots of big risks and made some crazy choices but I've had a great life off the back of it. He has always played it safe, only had a couple of friends who he isn't close to and treats his wife appallingly.

So now, I have a 2yr old DS with my DH. DB, when I first had DS, started trying to plant the idea in DHs head that DS wasn't his. Saying things like "baby doesn't look anything like Bianca, or you. He actually looks a lot like X, don't you think?"
Now DH isn't stupid and basically told DB to do one.
We bought our first house recently and my parents very generously gave us half the deposit. We are a low earning household despite both DH and I working full time so we would never have been able to save up that money on our own. DB went mad and demanded the same money from our parents even though he didn't need it. My parents also help us with childcare and he has now asked my parents to give him the same amount they save us in childcare fees to make things 'fair'.
Very recently, there was a family get together for my parents 'big' wedding anniversary so obviously DH, DS and I were there.
DB has had nothing to do with DS before but he was actually great with him. DS loved his uncle and they played together the whole time almost. I was hesitant but thought that it was good that they have a good relationship even though I don't have one with DB. At the end of the day, my DS told me I was stupid and thick. He's never said this before. I suspect my DB was saying this to him to stir some shit. When I told DS off for things (playing with food etc) DB would undermine me and do silly things like stick his tongue out at me, so obviously DS copied.

It recently came out that DB is suffering with depression and is seeing a therapist and taking medication, apparently he was toying with the idea of suicide. My DM has approached me and told me I need to be the bigger person and make an effort with my DB in order to help him.
Tbh, I don't want to. I have nothing to do with him unless I absolutely have to, and I don't want that to change. I don't want him in my life. I don't really want him around DS. DH doesn't like him either. My DM has practically begged me as she can't face losing her son which I fully understand.
I just don't know what to do.

(Have changed some details as anyone who knows me IRL would recognise me from this I think)

OP posts:
SequinnedSlippers · 31/08/2019 17:40

SIL is like this. Just poisonous.

Dh is something between grey rock and NC with her. Just enough (meaningless) contact that she doesn’t realise she doesn’t factor into what he considers to be his life at all. If he went fully/openly NC the flying monkeys would start big time.

So I would recommend something similar.
And I think your “my door is always open” gambit with your mum would be a good way forward there.

I would also think about gradually being open with your mum about the extent of what he’s done though. Just now for a wee bit and then space it out so she gradually gets the picture.

FaithInfinity · 31/08/2019 17:40

I agree he sounds toxic and if he’s depressed, you’re definitely best staying NC. If you’re struggling with telling your Mum everything, I would at least spell out the issues and behaviour towards your DS and use that as the specific reason for not being in contact with him.

Grumpelstilskin · 31/08/2019 17:43

A selfish and nasty person like that is unlikely to hurt himself. He is far more intent on causing pain for others and has done so from early childhood. He probably is still in some weird and fucked-up competition with you and begrudges you the relationship you have with your DPs and your D. He is still stuck in some weird infantile stage and wants to get the full attention, which he has managed with his ‘depression’. It really doesn’t matter if it is true or not. He is very toxic for you, even using your DS to hurt you and you have a right to protect yourself and your loved ones. In fact, you really should be protecting your children from his nasty manipulative behaviour. Your parents are actually very out of order to downplay and ignore him physically endangering you. You owe them nothing on that score. I would personally go either NC or at least, as low contact as you can. Your mental health is a hell of a lot more important than this shitgibbon!

Blueoasis · 31/08/2019 17:50

He doesn't have depression and he isn't going to commit suicide. It's for attention from his mum because he believes you or his own dad is getting more than him.

Go nc with him. He would not for a second help you if it was you who was ill.

BelindasGleeTeam · 31/08/2019 18:00

@berylreader can I join the shitty siblings club.

Mine has ruined our family. Like OP he's a twat. But plays the victim, constantly.

Used his MH issues as a way to excuse his truly awful behaviour.

And now is back living with my parents. I now refuse to stay there and am as LC with him as I can be. I get asked to be the bigger person too. No. No I won't be. That boat sailed years ago.

It's basically meant though that my parents hardly see my kids now. I'm so angry with my brother.

AguerosAngel · 31/08/2019 18:02

Agree with PP’s that he’s toxic.

I would do as others have suggested and say you’ll be a shoulder to cry in if he wants and then just grey rock him when he starts.

He’s probably not got depression and has no intention of suicide, he’s just trying to get at you and your DM.

Fuck him.

Cryalot2 · 31/08/2019 18:09

If he does not make you happy , keep a wide birth. You don't need to be stressed..

Poochandmutt · 31/08/2019 18:16

Nah ,cut him loose ..you don’t need his crap

BendydickCuminsnatch · 31/08/2019 18:19

Wow, he is a piece of work. Don’t feel you need to expose yourselves to him. He needs to take some responsibility and if a repercussion of his behaviour is you not pandering to him, then so be it.

HeffaLump1 · 31/08/2019 18:28

We bought our first house recently and my parents very generously gave us half the deposit How does he know about the financial help you have been given?

Im presuming it is your parents that have told him. Well more fool them if so, and they need to take responsibility for talking about personal matters to him and causing more problems. That should be between you and them, unless they wanted plaudits from him for helping you out. I cant see why they would have told him.

BumbleBeee69 · 31/08/2019 18:33

Perhaps his arrogance selfishness and bullying ways have worn thin with everyone around him, and it's come back to haunt him tenfold. Personally.. I would shut the door firmly in his face Flowers

LampLighterInn · 31/08/2019 19:03

Hi OP,
Your DB sounds monstrous and actually scary. The fact that throughout your life he chose to insidiously create situations to put you down in one way or another and actually enjoyed doing so, raises my concerns tremendously.

Thank goodness your DH is supportive! I’m unsure whether explaining DB’s behaviours towards you to your DM would be beneficial. In my own experience families often minimise unacceptable behaviours in order to protect a family dynamic that, in their eyes, is a fairly nice, normal, even happy one. It brings an unwelcome reality to the case of a parent who doesn’t want to see the truth about one of their DC’s.

I would recommend NC for your own sanity and for the safety of your family, particularly your DS. What a nasty, vindictive person your DB is to attempt to infect your own child with his perverted and distorted opinion of you.
Stay away.

ssd · 31/08/2019 19:04

HeffaLump1, I can imagine the brother asked his parents how on earth the op can afford to buy a house and his mum said they gave the op half the deposit.

Someonetookmyusername · 31/08/2019 19:28

He sounds terrifying, I would stay as far away from him as possible.

^^this.

Either he is feigning mental illness to keep his wife abs your mother onside, or he is the architect of his own problems. Either way don't get sucked in.

On a thread here I saw a wise person writing about her time in a mental institution. Basically she said that people aren't nasty pricks because they are mentally ill. When depressed, nasty bastards get their depression cured they're still nasty bastards.

Cloudyapples · 31/08/2019 19:34

Do you get on with his wife? If so offer her support, but I don’t think you should be emotionally manipulated into making an effort with him. He has never suggested in anyway that he wants a close relationship with you, so I don’t see what difference your do thinks you making an effort now would make to his depression? As he’s clearly shown for many years that he doesn’t value you or your opinion so why would he now?

Drum2018 · 31/08/2019 19:47

@Blueoasis has a point. He could well be attention seeking. In any case, even if he was in deaths door, I wouldn't have anything to do with him. He's vile. I wouldn't bother pretending to your mother that your door is open to him. She'll be making a fool of herself passing this fake information on. Instead of telling her that lie, tell her the truth as to why you don't want anything whatsoever to do with him. Stay away from him.

Biancadelrioisback · 31/08/2019 19:52

heffalum it was quite obvious we couldn't afford to buy a house. Were low earners, rented for years, never able to afford a holiday, fell pregnant by accident with DS which obviously put us in a weak position financially. When we got married, we just went to the registry office and meal in after. Couldn't afford to go on the big family holiday for my dad's 60th to Jamaica etc. When we were suddenly able to buy a house, he grilled us where we got the money from, we didn't tell him. He went round to speak to mum and dad and basically said either they've given us the money or we've done something illegal and if we've done something illegal, he'd report us. So my mam told him. She phoned me to apologise but said she felt she had no choice.

OP posts:
Biancadelrioisback · 31/08/2019 19:53

Cloudy I do get on with his wife. She regularly comes round for a cuppa and to play with DS. We just don't discuss DB.

OP posts:
HeffaLump1 · 31/08/2019 19:59

So he not just bullies you, but your parents too. Wow he is despicable. You are so right not to be emotionally blackmailed into contact with him. He will add nothing to your life but guilt. Because he will make you feel nothing you do will ever be enough.

Jimdandy · 31/08/2019 20:02

He sounds vile I would go low/no contact with him. Or no contact but just brief acknowledgment at family events.

The only thing I agree with him on is giving him to same amount of money as you got as half the deposit, as that isn’t fair to treat children differently. But other than that’s he’s spiteful/bonkers.

Someonetookmyusername · 31/08/2019 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn - posted on wrong thread.

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 31/08/2019 20:07

A selfish and nasty person like that is unlikely to hurt himself.

I have to disagree with this actually. Having previously worked with offenders a significant number of them did use self-harm and even suicide attempts as a way to control those close to them or to 'get back at' relatives or ex-partners who they perceived to have wronged them. One of the most extreme cases I came across was where a man who was incarcerated for assaulting his Mother, on the day he was released waited until he knew she would be out at a regular weekly commitment she'd kept for years, let himself into her home and hung himself in her living room with a note that said something along the lines of "now every time you close your eyes you'll see this and know it was your fault" plus a lot of other horrible, insulting things. People don't just kill themselves due to depression, anger and jealousy can be the motivating factors too.

Regardless, OP you are not responsible for your DB's safety. He may well be suffering from genuine depression, Mental illness and being a cunt are not mutually exclusive. It is even possible that some of the behaviours he has displayed in the past could potentially be attributed to undiagnosed mental health issues that have been brewing since adolescence. But that doesn't mean you should have to tolerate any behaviour that makes you, your DH or your DS uncomfortable or that you feel is detrimental to your own well-being.
You are right not to leave your DS with him and if I were you I would go very LC and probably NC once DM was no longer around but that is a very personal decision and must be your choice.

Someonetookmyusername · 31/08/2019 20:07

Oops wrong thread, I've reported myself

NoCauseRebel · 31/08/2019 20:12

Threads like this one should be shown to posters who want to have another baby in order to give their existing child a sibling.

Sibling relationships are rarely close IME and although some obviously are, there are never any guarantees.

Snowfalling · 31/08/2019 20:14

Op, you are letting your mum off very lightly here. She has enabled this bullying of your brother's. She saw first hand how manipulative he was, ready to report you for 'illegal activity' wrt buying your house, he forced information out of her, and she's still putting the onus on YOU to have a full relationship with him. She wants you to be the bigger person, you have appeased her your entire life. Now it's time to say enough, I will have nothing to do with him.