Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Brother's child

102 replies

Auntzilla · 05/07/2021 12:21

My brother and I are 18 months apart and have always been close and got on and this closeness has remained throughout and was not altered when we got married. I see him all the time and on occasion he has socialised with DH on his own.

This close bond mirrors the one our mother has with her sisters and as a result we are close to our cousins.

Sister-in-law is one of four full siblings , two half-siblings and three step-siblings one of whom was raised by SiL's mother, all but one of them are married/partnered.

SiL is different to me and has different priorities. I get this, we can't be all alike, she is pleasant and never rude but she has no interest in me which is fair enough but is completely indifferent to my children which upsets me. She is very 'down to earth' though in spite of being quite 'posh'. She has never ever stood in the way of my brother's relationship with us but rarely comes over or out with us.

They planned their wedding and she moaned and moaned about her father and step mother objecting to her step mother's children not being invited to the wedding and her father refusing to come. I thought SiL was a bit off not inviting them. Then invitations went out and one of my aunts asked my mother if brother realised my cousins had GF/BF as they weren't invited. Bombshell my husband (and at the time my one child)was not invited to their wedding either with no explanation was given in my invitation.

Well parents went round not all guns blazing but to gently ask what was going on. SiL simply said that as there was not going to be any dancing people didn't need their partners and if DH was invited five other people would have to be invited. Well wedding happened and her father and stepmother did come. I was a bit upset that my cousin's partner came as he was the Best Man. All through my brother kept apologising saying they could not afford to invite so many people.
Well years roll on I have two more children and their child has been born (in the middle of a pandemic). Baptism next month and just parents invited and cousin who is Godfather. This time neither DH or I are invited let alone the kids as once again this would mean around 20 others would have to be invited.

AIBU to feel that her father couldn't keep it in his trousers all those years ago so my family miss out on important occasions now! I am utterly insulted.

Am I unreasonable to think this. I am upset and my parents a weird mixture of anger and upset.

OP posts:
Holly60 · 05/07/2021 14:49

[quote tallduckandhandsome]@Holly60

Huh?? I have nieces and nephews on my husbands side- they aren’t my blood relatives but I am their aunt and they are my DCs cousins, so what else would they be? I’ve never heard anyone differentiate like this IRL, ever!

But you'd probably never see them again if you got divorced. So they're your husband's nieces and nephews.[/quote]
Of course I would! They are my children’s cousins for one, and I’ve known them since they were born and have watched them grow up! What if my husband dies before me- should I just cut them all off because they aren’t blood relatives?? I actually can’t believe anyone thinks like that, surely??

bananafish · 05/07/2021 14:49

You don't sound as though you like your SIL, t all. Not even a little bit. I'm sure she's not stupid and has picked up on that. It might account for her not prioritising your attendance at these family events.

Anyway, I can see why your nose is out of joint, but she's perfectly entitled to curate her guestlist as she wants, and it doesn't sound as though your brother (who all this should be really be directed towards) has an issue with it either.

You're just going to have to suck it up. And stop being so judgy pants about her - or you'll end up with a proper schism between you and your brother. He will, quite properly, pick her over you.

Bumpsadaisie · 05/07/2021 14:50

If this were me I'd be thrilled at having legitimate reason to not have to go to a formal family event 🤣

Do you really even want to go to a baptism?

Sobeyondthehills · 05/07/2021 14:51

Popcorn, anyone want Popcorn

BungleandGeorge · 05/07/2021 14:51

I got confused about who did and didn’t get invited? It’s unusual not to invite your brother in law (married to your sister) to your wedding, I’d say he’s part of the wedding party. Not unusual not to invite all the cousins if not close to them. Did she invite the step siblings?

Chewbecca · 05/07/2021 14:51

Is this a reverse?

I do feel sorry for you, it’s disappointing to think you are close to your family but it’s been made clear your feelings are not reciprocated.

However, I think you need to stop blaming the SIL and her father.

This is about you and your brother. If he wanted you and your family at these occasions, he should/would/could say something. If you want to discuss this with him - go ahead but his actions have spoken quite loudly already & you probably won’t change his mind, merely change your understanding of the situation.

Holly60 · 05/07/2021 14:52

@tallduckandhandsome and if my husband and I had divorced when we were younger I still wouldn’t have gotten away from them as they were over at our house all the time hanging out with my DC. I very much doubt my DC would have stopped having their cousins over just because mum happened to say ‘but I’m divorced from your dad now’ Hmm

FuckUcuntychops · 05/07/2021 14:53

What the actual fuck have I just read?

HoppingPavlova · 05/07/2021 14:53

AIBU to feel that her father couldn't keep it in his trousers all those years ago so my family miss out on important occasions now! I am utterly insulted.

Mumsnet never fails to disappointGrin.

AnneLovesGilbert · 05/07/2021 14:54

Baptisms are boring as shite.

And you’ve got a brother problem. He’s not prioritising you being at stuff. Don’t blame his wife.

Theunamedcat · 05/07/2021 14:54

Next family event just invite your brother its clearly the done thing now

And accept your never going to be a close family again

NoSquirrels · 05/07/2021 14:56

AIBU to feel that her father couldn't keep it in his trousers all those years ago so my family miss out on important occasions now! I am utterly insulted.

Well, yes. YABU on this score!

Am I unreasonable to think this. I am upset and my parents a weird mixture of anger and upset.

YANBU to feel upset about not being valued by your brother, though.

Take it up with him. He’s your close family, your issue is with him not your SIL’s father.

Nanny0gg · 05/07/2021 14:56

If you're that close to your brother, why hav

Nanny0gg · 05/07/2021 14:56

Haven't you talked to him?

Rhiannon13 · 05/07/2021 14:56

Maybe a bit of self-reflection regarding how you're coming across to people OP? Based on your post, you wouldn't be top of my guest list either.

ThursdayWeld · 05/07/2021 14:56

AIBU to feel that her father couldn't keep it in his trousers all those years ago so my family miss out on important occasions now! I am utterly insulted

Yeah, it's an absolute mystery as to why she invites you to as few things as possible.

Chewbecca · 05/07/2021 14:57

This is what I think is the summary

Brother & SIL’s wedding
OP - yes
OP’s DH & DC - no
SIL’s step siblings - no
OP & brother’s cousins - ?, poss yes
OP & brother’s cousins partners - one who is best man

Brother and SIL’s baby’s baptism
OP, OP DH, OP DC - no
BF cousin - yes
Other cousins - no

Holly60 · 05/07/2021 14:58

OP I think let the dust settle and then organise a get together for your parents, your DB and his family and your family. Take a nice gift for the baby and have a lovely day

walkoflifewoohoo · 05/07/2021 14:59

Christ. YABU

Cameleongirl · 05/07/2021 15:08

It's definitely upsetting to realize that your sibling isn't that bothered about you, but you're directly your ire at the wrong person.

One of my relatives thought he was close to his brother, but has gradually realized that the brother isn't particularly bothered about spending time with him and doesn't always invite him to family occasions. It's hurtful, but the brother is responsible for it, not his wife.

Cameleongirl · 05/07/2021 15:08

*directing

RandomCatGenerator · 05/07/2021 15:08

@Chewbecca

This is what I think is the summary

Brother & SIL’s wedding
OP - yes
OP’s DH & DC - no
SIL’s step siblings - no
OP & brother’s cousins - ?, poss yes
OP & brother’s cousins partners - one who is best man

Brother and SIL’s baby’s baptism
OP, OP DH, OP DC - no
BF cousin - yes
Other cousins - no

This was very helpful indeed.

Also bizarre that you were annoyed that her stepmother came? Her stepmother who has been, from the sounds of it, involved in the bride’s life since childhood?

……?!

The cousin over step sibling thing is totally totally bizarre too.

You’re not that close to your brother any more.

WorraLiberty · 05/07/2021 15:11

she is pleasant and never rude but she has no interest in me

I can't imagine why...

KatherineJaneway · 05/07/2021 15:17

Reverse?

BungleandGeorge · 05/07/2021 15:22

With the comment about the dad I presumed the step siblings might have been living with dad and step mum and the bride with her mum. Many people hardly know their step siblings tbh as they weren’t brought up in the same house/ didn’t have visits together etc. So very possible cousins might be closer. The step and half siblings probably all depends on how much time they’ve spent together and whether they have a relationship etc. If they were brought up together id just describe them as siblings but it could vary a lot on circumstances!