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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To NOT want a relationship with my lovely sibling?

111 replies

ConfusedSister · 23/07/2021 19:48

This is a strange one, but I have no one in my personal life that understands my feelings around this and I just sound so ungrateful.

Basically a decade ago my estranged father died. I went to the funeral where I met my biological half brother for the first time. There were 2 brothers on my dads side with different women.

Brother number 1 was pleasent but didn't have much interest in a long term relationship and neither did I. So we had a couple of weeks of finding out information about eachother we never knew, exchanged numbers and had no further contact since. We both had our own lives and families/friends so left it there.

Brother number 2 I will call John. Since the funeral John has made a LOT of effort to maintain contact and form a sibling relationship.
He has no other siblings and other Brother number 1 basically told him directly he wanted no further contact or relationship.

I on the other hand was open to keeping contact as I didn't mind either way really. However John over the years has become a nuisance although lovely.

He sends birthdays and Christmas cards and presents. He insists on traveling across the country to see me and wants me to see him which I have obliged on occasion due to a sense of duty/obligation to him after all the effort he puts in.

He rings me very regularly and makes it clear he wants an active role in my life as a sibling.

Now here is where I don't know if I am being an unreasonable ungrateful cow or if my reaction is normal/reasonable.

I already have siblings that I grew up with from my mother's side. I don't particularly get on with them and don't put in a fraction of the amount of time I feel I have to do for John. Me and my siblings don't ring eachother constantly and see eachother at Christmas at my mums and maybe once during the summer. We are all happy with this level of contact.

If my siblings were to start calling me like John does I could say to them 'stop annoying me and no harm done. We have that sort of relationship as raised together.

John essentially is a stranger I have little in common with other than the fact we have the same dad. The relationship feels forced and unnatural to me.

John has a wife and children and he tries to force some kind of 'auntie' role from me. He will ring me and put the kids of the phone to speak to their 'auntie'. But it's awkward for both me and the kids as I have met them a handful of times over the years. He'll send me handmade gifts from the children which is sweet but essentially feels like a strangers child's gift I'm expected to put on my mantelpiece and feel sentimental about.

I find myself avoiding calls from John and dread seeing texts pop up from him. It feels almost like a burden.

I keep telling myself to be grateful I have someone who genuinely cares and WANTS to see me and cares about my wellbeing.

But if I'm honest, the relationship is just awkward and unnatural as we weren't raised together and have nothing in common. It's a forced relationship.

I don't know if I am making any sense or if anyone understands.

I'd appreciate advice. Even if it's a kick up the ass to say I am ungrateful and selfish to feel this way and to keep making me effort.

I'm on my phone so apologies for any typos.

OP posts:
Benylin · 23/07/2021 20:44

I can understand what you mean and how you feel. I have two 'proper' siblings and then two half siblings and the relationship is just not the same. I'm very close to my 'proper' siblings, one half brother I have no contact with and the other I do a bit but like you it feels forced as we only have my dad in common and he was actually absent for both of our lives. I don't really have any real advice as I'm also stuck in the obliged to keep in touch cycle!

ForeverSinging · 23/07/2021 20:44

Poor John.

Bluntness100 · 23/07/2021 20:44

@NannyAndJohn

He's not your sibling, he's creepy stranger.

Tell him you want no further contact and block his number.

What a horrible post .
Grainjar · 23/07/2021 20:48

I think it costs very little to be nice. Relationships are built over time. I'd have him anyday over my horrible sibling I grew up closely with. I wish my parents had had extra marital affairs so that there was a hope of a nice sibling.

Ghosttile · 23/07/2021 20:51

Do you have or want a good relationship with any of your family?

ragged · 23/07/2021 20:52

I don't think yabu at all, but I feel bad for John.
I suspect you might be willing to continue some relationship with John, on terms that don't feel like a burden to you. That probably means mostly Christmas cards & occasional Facebook comments. Barely more. Maybe meet up once in a while for a little chat when you happen to be in same city, every few years, not special efforts.

This means some very straight talking with kindness to John, with firm clear simple boundary setting. Make it clear it's not about him it's just about how much energy you want to invest in any sibling relationship; your preferences are about you.

LazyViper · 23/07/2021 20:52

I get it OP. Met half-siblings as an adult and although I have regular contact and a reasonably warm relationship with one, it’s a fairly polite and occasional thing with the other. I just have more in common with one than the other temperament-wise, I think.

He’s probably watched Long Lost Family and thinks it’s an automatic happy ever after. But you can’t force a familial bond you don’t feel. Be compassionate but don’t let him push you into a situation you aren’t happy with, or you’ll just resent it all the time.

EmeraldShamrock · 23/07/2021 20:52

I wouldn't like a forced relationship either.
You are not ungrateful or selfish, he is needy while you're content.
No practical advice. Flowers

SavageBeauty73 · 23/07/2021 20:56

@NannyAndJohn

He's not your sibling, he's creepy stranger.

Tell him you want no further contact and block his number.

What a horrible post. He's a sibling albeit found later in life. I feel sorry for him. He sounds lovely. However I get you find it too much.

Can you send him a lovely text saying you are working through your emotions and need space. Don't block him.

Freddiefox · 23/07/2021 20:57

@NannyAndJohn

He's not your sibling, he's creepy stranger.

Tell him you want no further contact and block his number.

Ffs, what is wrong with you. It’s not creepy. He’s just trying to develop a relationship.
HollowTalk · 23/07/2021 21:03

Did you live with your dad? Did he have contact with your dad?

Wannakisstheteacher · 23/07/2021 21:07

I feel so sad for John. He sounds so lovely. Poor man.

Ginger1982 · 23/07/2021 21:15

I feel sorry for John.

MrsMayJune · 23/07/2021 21:26

Sad and I understand why you feel the way you do but it does sound like you do not wish to have a close relationship with any of your family. Your relationships with you family seems fractured from your dad to your other siblings. Maybe something for you to explore.

WrongWayApricot · 23/07/2021 21:55

Reading this has made me really glad I've never tried to reach out to my half siblings. I'm an only child and would love to but the rejection would hurt so much. I feel sorry for John but that's probably bias. If you can't do it then you can't do it, you can't help how you feel. I guess the sooner you let him know the less painful it will be Sad

Heyyeahyouwiththesadface · 23/07/2021 21:58

YANBU.
DH was in a similar situation. His half sibling was raised an only child but DH has full siblings. I was dragged into the contact with half sibling but had to take a step back as the messages were getting rather frequent at one point. DH was alway half hearted with responding at the best of times so, thankfully, a decade on it has reduced to contact at Christmas, birthdays and maybe a dozen random times a year with infrequent meet ups.

I feel sorry for John (&DH’s sibling) they have lost parent/s and just want to ‘belong’ but you can’t force a connection with someone when your only connection is a bit of DNA.

Neondisco · 23/07/2021 22:06

I think you need to work out why you don't want a relationship with him. You sound very closed off to it. Almost irrationally so.

Perhaps some therapy would help with this?

Sssloou · 23/07/2021 22:16

I keep telling myself to be grateful I have someone who genuinely cares and WANTS to see me and cares about my wellbeing.

I am not sure he does - it seems that he is getting his own emotional needs met rather than caring specifically about you. Seems he has poor / clumsy social skills and is not sensitive to your boundaries - a bit engulfing.

Whenever someone / something makes you feel confused or uncomfortable - immediately attend to that feeling and do something with it. In your case whenever the FOG (fear, obligation, guilt) starts to rise - know that this is your boundary - stop, step back, think things through and shift gear.

If you don’t you are not being honest to yourself. It’s not a big deal to shift / renegotiate communication patterns rather than letting things build into resentment. Nip things in the bud.

Your feelings are real - and are your smoke detector for YOUR boundaries - it’s up to you to notice and implement them assertively rather than be a resentful people pleaser - that’s not fair on anyone.

Gilly12345 · 23/07/2021 22:33

I feel really sorry for him, he deserves better, I do understand your predicament but all he wants is an extended family life. Can’t you have a tactful word with him about your concerns? You can choose your friends but not your family. Poor guy.

Flyingantday · 23/07/2021 22:41

@Sssloou

I keep telling myself to be grateful I have someone who genuinely cares and WANTS to see me and cares about my wellbeing.

I am not sure he does - it seems that he is getting his own emotional needs met rather than caring specifically about you. Seems he has poor / clumsy social skills and is not sensitive to your boundaries - a bit engulfing.

Whenever someone / something makes you feel confused or uncomfortable - immediately attend to that feeling and do something with it. In your case whenever the FOG (fear, obligation, guilt) starts to rise - know that this is your boundary - stop, step back, think things through and shift gear.

If you don’t you are not being honest to yourself. It’s not a big deal to shift / renegotiate communication patterns rather than letting things build into resentment. Nip things in the bud.

Your feelings are real - and are your smoke detector for YOUR boundaries - it’s up to you to notice and implement them assertively rather than be a resentful people pleaser - that’s not fair on anyone.

Agree with this… I’m surprised at everyone thinking that OP owes something to ‘John’. I don’t think it’s wrong to trust your gut on this, he sounds over invested and it’s making you uncomfortable. If he was an ex boyfriend a colleague or someone who latched on to you at a book club etc, people would be advising you to politely distance yourself. Just because you share some dna it doesn’t mean this man is necessarily healthy to have in your life. I would try to put some distance in, maybe just Christmas/birthday cards.
robotcollision · 23/07/2021 22:45

This is really tricky. On one hand. I feel so sorry for John who is clearly very happy to have met a sibling and wants to establish a blood-family bond. But... he's not reading your response. So far,. the relationship is all about you meeting his needs, what he wants and suppressing what you want and need. I think you need to tell him gently that you are just not that full on, and don't have anything like this close or intense a relationship with your other siblings, and that much as you like and love him, it's too much for you. You could suggest a once-a-year meet up. Make the effort then to have a BBQ together, see his kids, make a bit of fuss of them, catch up with him and then just leave it at Christmas cards.

Chisandbiscuits · 23/07/2021 22:45

Do you get on with any of your family?

ConfusedSister · 23/07/2021 22:47

Thank you so much for all your replies. I have re-read every single one. .

I think a poster hit it on the head that I already feel 'fulfilled' and whereas he has a void.

In regards to my own siblings, I could call any of them right now and they'd be there for me and vice versa but we don't speak regularly outside of occasions other than a family WhatsApp where we exchange pictures and sporadic updates.

This is the perfect level of contact for us. There's no hard feelings about it as we know we're there for eachother if needed but don't have reason to speak regularly as nothing in common to speak about.
We'll also do a long weekend away together every other year and do things like help eachother move house or drop off shopping if one of us is ill etc.

With John I believe he has a hollywoodesque view of family like someone else posted.
It may be due to him being an only child that he's built up how siblings are in his head. That siblings are close and regularly hang out and stuff.
He obviously sees other people's children being close to their siblings and wants that for him and his children. But I already have 4 other nieces and nephews that I find difficult to make time for in busy life that I've been close too since their birth. Having his children added on to buy birthday presents for and play 'auntie' just doesn't sit right.
I feel awful for saying it but I don't feel any type of bond to his children like I do my other nieces and nephews.
Even of I've not seen my nieces and nephews for 11 years (due to pandemic), the minute I see them again I'm 100% comfortable I'm my role and will pick up the babies and tell off the older ones if their naughty and be a full on auntie. With John's kids they are essentially strangers kids that I wouldn't of telling off or picking up and swinging around.. and I don't want too.

If he were a female of a similar age to myself with similar hobbies then maybe we would be close and I'd want to speak all the time. But that would be because we have things in common not just dna.

Another thing that rattles me and apologies for my tangent..

If he rings me on Friday and I don't answer then he'll ring me again Sunday and again a few days later. Basically every couple of days until I answer or message him back. It's feels invasive.
Sometimes I'll just answer the phone and force the 30 minute awkward conversation just I know I can then have a few weeks peace with nomore calls.

I personally find that weird of John. If I kept trying to ring someone and they regularly ignored my calls and only answered once every 5 times then I'd get the hint and stop calling. Infact I'd only ring them once and if they don't call me back then I'd send a text and leave it at that.

He also tries to play the 'protective big brother' and 5 years ago when I met my dp he wanted to meet him and was trying to give me brotherly advice on relationships/life as he is a bit older than me. The advice was actually really good practical advice but it still rattled me as I didn't ask him and inside I was thinking 'this isn't your place to advise me, my actual siblings wouldn't say this so why on earth would you'. Which is irrational.

I do feel very ungrateful. I mean a lot to him clearly. He puts in a lot of effort. Recently I was in the hospital for minor surgery and he sent me a big bouquet of flowers and a card which was lovely. But then I felt a little panicked again as its further obligation for me to go along with this relationship.

Aaarghh. I feel a terrible person. I guess I'm just happy with my lot and don't want any further obligations and family pressures.

I think that maintaining already stable family bonds and everyday friendships can be hard enough at times (remembering birthdays, christenings, anniversaries, lunch dates with im-laws etc). So having another family added into the mix when your up to the neck with your own feel suffocating especially when you have nothing in common with them.

Also due to my nature, I can't recieve a birthday card and present and then not send John one back on his birthday, that's just poor manners. So the cycle continues.

OP posts:
BMW6 · 23/07/2021 22:50

I feel for both of you. Neither is being unreasonable but sadly his expectations don't mesh with yours.

I think it would be kind to let him know your family dynamics - and the level of contact that you are comfortable with. At the moment he's pushing too hard and you feel smothered - perhaps you could meet up and tell him face to face? I appreciate how difficult that could be, but I think it would be kinder in the long run to lay your cards on the table for clarity.

BMW6 · 23/07/2021 22:53

Just read your latest post crossed with mine. Reinforces what I think - be honest and upfront. Of course he'll be hurt, but you can't maintain a lie.