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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be absolutely furious/heartbroken about SILs baby name choice?

805 replies

CarinaBee · 01/04/2023 19:10

I set up a new account for this, lots of identifying points here but here goes. I am fully prepared to be told that I have no right to influence the name someone chooses for their baby. but to preface, I feel sick to my stomach over this.

my DH is a twin. His sister is known to be somewhat difficult in the family. Bit of a diva, tends to get her own way. She’s 38. We get on ok but she’s quite possessive of DH and likes to see him alone every now and then. Fine by me but does get a little tiring to hear how being a twin eclipses everything and you couldn’t possibly understand if you don’t have one. I can let a lot slide - the fairly frequent requests for money from DH for one thing. They have 2 other brothers. I get on very well with MIL but we’ve had previous incidents where SIL has been jealous because I’ve seen MIL without her for example. They’re close and good luck to them, I’m not trying to ‘steal’ your Mum from you.

DH’s family are a very close supportive unit and I admire that. By comparison, I had one sister and our mother was an unpleasant alcoholic. Mercifully I had my sister who was 7 years older than me and filled every gap left where Mum didn’t.

long story short, she died after a short but awful illness in 2006 leaving behind 2 very small children. I lived with her during her illness and was finally able to repay the devotion, love and care she always showed me. until my daughter came along 2 years ago, I don’t think I have ever matched the love I feel for her and I will long for her until the day I die.

my SIL has had a baby girl and she’s chosen the same name as my sister. I won’t share it here because it is identifying but know that it is not a common name by any stretch of the imagination. She has 2 sons and now “finally has her girl” and has apparently always wanted to use this name. first I’ve heard of it.

DH told me after he got off the phone and it made me sick to my stomach. He wasn’t prepared to say anything but I didn’t ask him to. Disappointed he didn’t though. I said to MIL that I am devastated but didn’t make a fuss and said I wouldn’t mention to SIL. She told her and all he’ll broke loose. It was 20 years ago, I need to let go and I don’t own the name.

dH and I have been having problems lately and frankly this feels like the final straw. I am the least demanding person - actually probably lean towards being more of a people pleaser, prefer an easy life. But this is too much. I have never shaken the feeling of how cheated my beautiful sister was in life and it’s just so hurtful. There are endless girls names to choose from.

OP posts:
Markasread · 03/04/2023 02:51

CarinaBee · 02/04/2023 23:40

Thank you both. That’s really kind.

hadn’t thought of that funnily enough, but v true - we have celebrated every special occasion together, Xmas, Easter etc etc.

I don’t worry about the being alone part but I do worry about splitting DD. I wouldn’t want it to get ugly - DH is a good person - but when the gloves are off I worry about things like custody. He already says he couldn’t bear to not live with her 24/7. His family are on paper better than my option - lots of them, lots of stability. I can provide her with that too obviously. Probably jumping the gun massively but no experience of this. Ideally I would move back to London too (where I’m originally from) but think that’s be a step too far and like I said, I’ve no intention of restricting his families access to her. And that wouldn’t be in her best interests either.

I would move now while you still can. She can see family all the time at other times. You need to be where your support structure is.

Look at how much support your husband has and imagine all of it against you if things turn ugly. You want to be where you have support or at the very least where your have opportunities to progress and meet someone new. That's the priority - happy mum, happy daughter, having a great time zipping up and down to see her dad while you live your best life. You don't want to be stuck somewhere for 18 years where it feels like you're the ex from the past as life moves on.

Fraaahnces · 03/04/2023 03:06

Btw, I have b/g twins that are 16 years old. I deliberately didn’t make a big deal of the whole “twin thing” and they’re very grateful. They have grown up with their own friends, interests and identities. They’re very supportive of each other but also have very strong boundaries. I can’t imagine that either of them would drop their future families to celebrate their mutual birthday together just because they’re twins. That’s borderline emotional incest. My twins know that while they share a birthday, they’re no more closely related to each other (genetically speaking) than they are to their older sister. Each of them are made from a separate sperm and ovum. It’s just random. They didn’t split from the same egg. Your DH has really abandoned you to this woman from the beginning of your relationship and I’m sorry that you didn’t see it earlier. Please take your kids to wherever you have a strong community of friends and hopefully extended family, if it’s not too painful after the loss of your lovely sister. (I also had terrible parents so know not to assume that they got their shit together and became a functional, reliable part of your life.) I wish you all the best.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 03/04/2023 03:11

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 01/04/2023 19:58

How old is the child? I wonder if they would have the decency to change the name or at least come up with a different name to call her by, knowing how you feel.

Quite frankly, withdraw. You don't need to have any sort of relationship with this bitch or the people who condone her. Your husband can, if he must, see her alone occasionally. Very occasionally.

Your kids can see their grandparents when she is not around. Spend Christmas, etc., home as a family and let MIL come by alone if she wants.

There is absolutely zero reason you need ever be around this horrible woman again. Shame to miss out on knowing the niece but that's the way it goes.

I too have lost close relatives, not my sister, thank god, in 2006 and anyone who thinks the pain has gone away in that length of time is an insenstive asshole. Protect yourself and your feelings at all costs.

This.

She seem s vile!

Robstersgirl · 03/04/2023 04:10

SIL probably planned this from the moment she knew she knew she was pregnant.
She knew it would be a permanent, hurtful thing to do, to drive a wedge between you and DH.

It’s sad that your marriage is ending but even sadder that she has ‘won’ by breaking you up.
Bug hugs, it’s sometimes easier as a single parent.
Big hugs OP

nomoremerlot · 03/04/2023 05:45

I'm sorry OP, so very unkind of your SIL.

GretaGood · 03/04/2023 06:40

Why can't you and DH move to London and have little do with his family.

I can see it's sad that she used your sister's name but I don't see holding DH responsible is right and I doubt anything he said would change her mind.
Seems she is winning if it is a battle.

Ruby53 · 03/04/2023 06:54

I’m so sorry that you’re still devastated by the loss of your DS, I do believe you need some support regarding this. Haven’t read through all of the thread yet though so it’s possible you already have.

If I’m being brutally honest, I think your reaction is over the top, I can’t for the life of me imagine, that your SIL would name her DD Camilla, just to hurt you. Sorry 💐

surreygoldfish · 03/04/2023 07:04

I’m so sorry she did this. You haven’t over reacted - there are millions of other names she could have chosen but she chose that one. She sounds awful and I couldn’t respect the rest of the family for facilitating her behaviour either. I would hold your sister’s name ‘dear’ in your circumstances too.

HandScreen · 03/04/2023 07:25

CarinaBee · 01/04/2023 22:25

Wow. Just checked these responses - thank you. appreciate all the different perspectives.

quite a few suggestions that my response is unhealthy. That’s fair enough. For what it’s worth, I’m not living in “a pit of despair” - I have a career and a circle of very close friends and lead an extremely fulfilling life. I don’t ‘lose’ any time to grief but I very much carry her with me. Impossible not to with my nephew and niece who are the absolute spitting image of her. They’re doing well (thank you to the kind posters who asked) but believe me, growing up without a mother leaves an enormous chasm.

as for the name - no, I don’t own it. It makes me think of her when I hear the name - obviously - but I don’t fall to the ground at coverage of the royals for example. But we went to the ends of the earth together as kids and the loyalty was off the scale for each other. I value loyalty and compassion in people. what’s the point otherwise?

it was a total curve ball - she had a gender party where the name was revealed, the baby had a name and we all referred to her in this name. It may be nearly 20 years old but actually, watching your loved one take their last breath and absolutely not wanting to leave because she was needed is something no grief counselling will ever make you accept.

they have asked questions about her in the past - I am happy and able to talk about her 🤔 - and have commented that the circumstances are terrible. I actually don’t care to portray her as a victim because she was anything but, but man alive just choose another name.

curious to know - where do you draw the line in terms of what is just overstepping the mark? Why would you want to?

Goodness me, you're refusing to get grief counselling? That's on you, I'm afraid.

Fraaahnces · 03/04/2023 07:39

@HandScreen RTFT she’s had grief counselling. OP’s sister died 15 years ago. That doesn’t mean that the grief goes away, but she’s been given the tools to live despite it.

VestaTilley · 03/04/2023 07:44

YANBU. No, nobody owns a name, but it is an insensitive thing to do given your relationship with your sister 💐

I’d just phase SIL out if you can - let DH go to family meet ups without you, that sort of thing. I wouldn’t blame your DH too much, he probably feels stuck, but your SIL does sound horrible. I’d just stop bothering with her. I’ve managed not to see mine since last August - I don’t miss her! 😂

HandScreen · 03/04/2023 07:52

Gosh, it wouldn't occur to me to consider my SIL's feelings when naming my child. I would find a reaction like the OP's to be quite unhinged. OP, you really need to take responsibility for your own mental health, it is not you SIL's responsibility.

HandScreen · 03/04/2023 07:54

Get counselling on this topic specifically, and you might be able to feel a bit less strongly - you are having a trauma response, and need help working through that.

hugefanofcheese · 03/04/2023 07:58

Ok but has your SIL had a huge untimely loss that is still painful to her? It's one thing to go with a name she was maybe considering for a baby, or belonged to an elderly granny whom she lost at 90 and another to go for one that is significant in this way. This is my point about not considering other people. Fine, but then the SIL had no right to kick off when the OP was affected by this.

PoppyFleur · 03/04/2023 08:16

OP you have endured so much sadness in your life and yet you sound so thoughtful and measured.

The story about your Fil and the fiancé stealing best friend, and the fact that the name is now taboo, shows that this family should understand how you feel.

so it’s clear that your SIL is being nothing but spiteful, and your DH is being spineless. It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable, he could have told his sister that he thought the name she was choosing was incredibly insensitive. By constantly and silently accepting every thoughtless action SIL makes towards you he is enabling her behaviour. Evil prospers when good people do nothing.

Take one consolation from this, you are clearly living rent free in your SIL’s head.

I think your husband needs counselling because he is so enmeshed with his controlling sister that he is going to lose the best people in his life, you and DC.

i wish you the best going forward, you deserve to be happy.

AnotherEmma · 03/04/2023 08:17

OP, would you consider couple's counselling, or do you feel that's pointless? I suggested it a while back and you haven't responded. I wonder if you'd tried it already.

I think that if your husband's family (and, crucially, the way he puts your sister before you) is the only major issue in your relationship, it could be salvageable if he was open to counselling and making changes.

Easterfunbun · 03/04/2023 08:23

It was intentional. She sounds weirdly possessive over your husband and the whole twin thing. She knows what she did and how this will have big ripple effects. She’s probably trying to sabotage your relationship with your husband.

Easterfunbun · 03/04/2023 08:29

Just want to say, you sound like a lovely person, with true strength underneath it all. You are strong in spirit 💐 💐.

BusyMum47 · 03/04/2023 08:34

@CarinaBee Just wanted to say that you are most definitely not being unreasonable & my heart goes out to you. Your SIL has been spiteful & immature. The rest of the family clearly pander to her awful behaviour & the lack of support from your DH is unforgiveable. Why should everyone continuously have to accept her shit because 'that's just what she's like'?? She's an emotional bully.

Astralitzia · 03/04/2023 08:34

Ruby53 · 03/04/2023 06:54

I’m so sorry that you’re still devastated by the loss of your DS, I do believe you need some support regarding this. Haven’t read through all of the thread yet though so it’s possible you already have.

If I’m being brutally honest, I think your reaction is over the top, I can’t for the life of me imagine, that your SIL would name her DD Camilla, just to hurt you. Sorry 💐

I have to agree with this. I am very sorry for the loss of your sister and the trauma you suffered when you were younger, but you are sabotaging your daughter's family for the sake of your sister who passed away twenty years ago. In the kindest possible way, life is for the living. Our lost ones should be remembered and their memories cherished, but they shouldn't influence our lives to that extent.

Easterfunbun · 03/04/2023 08:35

@HandScreen

Nice try reframing the OP as unhinged. Also counselling isn’t the be all and end all. I worked clinically in MH for years. Counselling has its place, but not always. You don’t need counselling to essentially put up with abusive peoples, that’s not actually what it’s about at all.

The OP is showing true grit here. She is showing good boundaries and she is simply not allowing herself to be treated in this way. So go away with the “MH, unhinged card”.

QueenSmartypants · 03/04/2023 09:26

@CarinaBee

I haven't read all the very many replies, just your posts.

It isn't unreasonable at all that you feel the way you do, about any of it - your beloved sister, losing her, your DH, your SIL, your MIL, your SIL's choice of name...And you're right, therapy won't change your grief for your sister.

I do think, though, that it would be helpful to untangle your feelings and seperate the hurt you feel from different aspects of what's gone on with the ultimate aim of letting go of anger with your SIL and reaching a place of indifference regarding her. Not for her sake, but for yours: anger is a destructive emotion and ultimately the only person it's going to harm is you.

(Not saying you want to hurt anyone).

I think this is something you would benefit from working towards whatever happens with your relationship with your DH.

Your SIL may have chosen the name solely to hurt you, but chances are her reasons a bit more complex and I think you are giving her too much power to upset you.

You'll know better than anyone now that you can't change her behaviour and that no one is going to stick up for you, and I suspect you also feel a huge sense of betrayal and of being let down by your DH and even your MIL. With an absent mother and the dreadful loss of your sister at a young age, when she was also a mother figure to you, I think in addition to your grief there's the unhealed emotional wound of, possibly, abandonment? Of not being looked after, of not having someone in your corner to unconditionally look out for you, be there for you and stick up for you.

So, in addition to your grief about your sister and the need to protect her memory - the (understandable) place of sanctity she holds in your heart (and wanting/needing that to be recognised in your family unit), you're also holding on to hurts from various other corners of relationships with other people. Therapy could help you unpick these and once you're more consciously aware of them, reduce the power they have to hurt and destabilise you.

None of this is to say you bear any fault for your feelings, you don't. But ultimately, the only thing in your control is your own response to your SIL (and DH and MIL). I can imagine your SIL's actions feel not only a slight to you but to your sister also...

I wonder, what do you think your sister might say to you now if she could?

When people deliberately set out to hurt us, or when they simply don't care that their behaviour does, every action feels like a fresh attack on a wound that isn't given the chance to heal. There only thing we can do then, is to put up a shield around that wound and the way to do this is to learn how to emotionally detach from them and their actions.

Your SIL's actions don't affect your sister and they won't alter her importance in your life. The only way her actions will hurt you is if you let them. It's difficult, I know, and detaching yourself from her won't happen overnight but you can do it, you can take her power over you away from her. She will feed on the family drama created by your pain and betrayal so...take it away. Adopt a policy of indifference and work to reach a point of indifference within yourself.

She is not your family, your DH is, your children and sisters children are.

Re your DH and MIL - the people who love us let us down at times, they can't always help it. It may help you to try to understand why your DH and MIL feel unable to stand up to your SIL and the deep rooted emotional and family dynamics at play there.

Or perhaps your DH is just a dick.

Whatever. Your choice is this: let your SIL have power over you and your feelings, or don't.

Separate your sisters memory from your poisonous SIL and try to identify the different emotions in the surge of pain you're feeling. Once you've done, you can start to lessen it's power over you, too.

Blossomtoes · 03/04/2023 09:32

Such wise words @QueenSmartypants.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/04/2023 09:50

HandScreen · 03/04/2023 07:52

Gosh, it wouldn't occur to me to consider my SIL's feelings when naming my child. I would find a reaction like the OP's to be quite unhinged. OP, you really need to take responsibility for your own mental health, it is not you SIL's responsibility.

Would you name your baby the same as your SILs dead sister?

Drfosters · 03/04/2023 09:50

HandScreen · 03/04/2023 07:52

Gosh, it wouldn't occur to me to consider my SIL's feelings when naming my child. I would find a reaction like the OP's to be quite unhinged. OP, you really need to take responsibility for your own mental health, it is not you SIL's responsibility.

But if you named your child and then found out it was causing great hurt to your SIL you honestly wouldn’t have changed it? I would have in a heartbeat. I’d never want to cause a family member any pain and you are with them for life. In my view no name is worth causing family upset over.