I have been with my partner for nearly 4 years now. He has a teenage son (14 years old) who we have over every weekend. On Saturday my sister and her daughter (12 years old) came over to visit. My niece is a shy girl when she visits, she doesn't say much but very loud and vocal when with her friends and with those she's used to.
After my sister and daughter left, my partner asked my step-son what he thinks of my niece. Whether she's different from the last time they visited, whether a bit more mature, whether she's shy blah blah............
My step-son goes on to give his opinion and even went as far as saying my niece has a mental age of an 8 year old and how she's clueless, how she will struggle in life cos her parents have over shielded her from the real world, how she will struggle with other kids at school (she's in secondary & enjoying it, not had issues yet). Hearing all the opinions from my partner and step-son, I interrupted and said to them that it wasn't good to judge my niece who they barely know based on a couple of hours they get to spend with her. But they carried on, I know everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I hated hearing them talk about her that way. I was hurt and felt hate and resentment towards my partner and my step-son. It's not the first time they have made "not very" nice comments about my niece. I want to talk to my partner about it but thought i would ask here first if am overreacting. This is my family and they go on and talk about my niece sooooooo negatively.........such luck of respect........ I find.