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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell sister her parenting is alienating others

275 replies

OnionsAndLemons · 01/07/2023 06:54

I think my sisters parenting is so extra, that whilst I believe your children should be your top priority, I think her reactions to thinks are out of proportion.

Example: we both think our children should not have to kiss/hug anyone they don’t want to. So I said to her 2 year old after a family meal out, ‘cuddle goodbye?’ Her 2 year old just stood there so I said ‘no?, Ok’ and stood up. My sister pipes in, talking to her daughter ‘we can say no auntie Kate can’t we, tell auntie Kate we can say no’. I was so embarrassed as it was in front of everyone, I said I was not pressuring for a hug. She said oh I know we’re just teaching her she can say no. I agree with the concept but she’d have learnt from the interaction with me alone she can say no.

My mum was doing my sisters 2 year olds nappy. She initially wouldn’t lie down for it and when she did my mum said ‘oh well done, good girl’ or similar. My sister said mum was overdoing it with the praise and asked her to tone it down as girls are taught to be obedient and she doesn’t want that. (Note: my mum treats my son exactly the same, lots of praise when he does as asked). She does this sort of thing with my mum a lot and my mum is feeling constantly criticised and untrusted. My sister told my about the nappy thing, expecting me to agree but I told her you can’t micromanage every interaction.

I have an isofix car seat for my son in my car and bought a cheaper one (but new and from a reputable place) for my mums car for occasional use. My son is the same age as my niece so they both fit in it. However my sister has told my mum her daughter is not to use it as it’s cheap and doesn’t rear face. She doesn’t feel it’s safe. But hasn’t bought one herself. Didn’t share cost with me when I suggested we buy one together they can both use. Has never learnt to remove her own car seat to put in my mums car.

These are a few example but I could go on. Next time she says something similar to me or tell me about something to do with my mum I feel like it’s all going to spill out.

OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 01/07/2023 08:20

‘we can say no auntie Kate can’t we, tell auntie Kate we can say no’

next time she suggest meeting up, say "no" - because you can say 'no'😁

sounds like it's best handled at the point she says the something that's a bit over the top, rather than a separate conversation.
the car seat thing - let her get on with it, if she doesn't provide a seat she is happy with, your Mum won't be able to ferry her child around; you offered a solution, she didn't take you up on it, let her sort it out.

mindfluff · 01/07/2023 08:20

wherearethewindows · 01/07/2023 08:17

@mindfluff I can't understand why you would think it's "obviously passive aggressive" - to me it's her teaching her daughter to be able to confidently verbalise how she feels about her own body autonomy?

I think if you were reinforcing to your child "yes, we can say no" that would still be a teaching moment but if you start telling a child in front of auntie katie "tell auntie katie we can say no"... In most people's books I guess that would be quite performative and passive aggressive

nobodysdaughternow · 01/07/2023 08:23

You ds just sounds like she is quite naturally patronising.

I would imagine she has always been this way and will always be given to patronising the fuck out of every one.

In a few years she will be explaining how she 'cares' about dd's education etc.

Learn to tune her out.

WeWereInParis · 01/07/2023 08:26

I don't know about alienating people generally, but if I was your mum I wouldn't be providing childcare anymore based on the criticism and mainly the car seat issue. I don't understand your sister's issue with the lying down for a nappy change situation - praising a 2 year old for doing something that you've asked them to do and that you actually do need them to do seems fine to me.

The first scenario with the hugging is something I'd just roll my eyes at.

I'm actually with you sister on the vomiting thing. I'd probably want a text if my child threw up, even if it was a little bit. But, for context, my 4 year old has been sick about once in her whole life, she never even spat up as a baby, so for her any sickness at all would be very unusual. I know other children are more sicky though, so maybe wouldn't be worth noting for them.

Batalax · 01/07/2023 08:26

I think you can say to her
”you need to sort out a car seat for mum. It’s not fair that she is restricted in her movements when she’s doing you a huge favour”

mindfluff · 01/07/2023 08:26

@Testina Sorry, I missed the main point of my reply – which is that it's OK to have strong values and ideology in bringing up your kids! I'm 1000% on board with the idea of bodily autonomy, and not socialising girls into compliance.

But I also have LOTS of other beliefs (gentle parenting, capitalism, race, etc) and it's impossible for everyone around me to abide by those standards. Probably you would offend a lot of those ideologies when you interact with my child.

Even without children, some people DO turn every interaction into an ideological battleground, and generally those people are hard to get along with. With children, it's worse if you turn them into a passive aggressive mouthpiece (eg speaking about someone in 3rd person in front of your child).

Perhaps would be good for sister to pick 2 or even just 1 of her biggest "pain points"/issues, explain clearly to the mum, and mostly leave it from there. Plus, wouldn't hurt for the sister to embrace mutual respect as an additional ideology/belief too.

On the parent's side, what they/we can do is try to reinforce the messages we believe in, and help children "unlearn" messages we don't believe in. If you really believe that person (eg grandma) is so toxic to your child overall, then remove them from your child's life. If not, give them some general feedback once or twice and leave it. Don't keep nitpicking and micromanaging like you're Judge Judy.

OnionsAndLemons · 01/07/2023 08:30

@ApplesInTheSunshine this is appreciated, thank you

@Testina I just think it’s hypocritical, it’s difficult to paint a true picture. You know I’m writing here to prevent a fallout, and prevent any party feeling bad. Your posts seem angry

OP posts:
Thesearmsofmine · 01/07/2023 08:30

I think you and your mum need to stop gossiping about your sister tbh.

The car seat thing, she is correct on. It reminded me of my own PIL who wanted to take my dc out in an inappropriate car seat, SIL was happy for her dc to use it but I made sure that my dc didn’t go into it. They definitely thought I was OTT and eye rolled at me.

Reinforcing body autonomy with her child in a safe environment. What’s the issue?

Also I would want to know if my child was sick, even if it wasn’t anything major. It’s just good to know so you can keep an eye on them for the next day or two.

The nappy/praise thing, I suspect of your sister was telling the story it would come across differently.

MrsRachelDanvers · 01/07/2023 08:32

Testina · 01/07/2023 08:17

You know my parents were given to the, “how did we ever up kids” line, sometimes in response to being told that no, we didn’t want 3 grandchildren under 10 squeezed into the boot of their estate car, just like they did in the 70s.

Every new generation will have changes to parenting styles.

Some of it will be fashion and meaningless - I mean I loved BLW, but long term it means fuck all vs purées.

But some of it will be an improvement. Like the car seats. Personally, I think agency and bodily autonomy will be in the improvement rather than fashion category.

If I am a grandparent one day, I hope I’ll listen to my child and have intelligent debate with them about the latest fashions and improvements. Not just trot out the “however did you survive” sarcasm 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes I’m well aware ways of parenting change-and you take on board what you agree with. I brought up my kids very differently compared to how kids of my generation were raised. But we didn’t go around lecturing our parents and grandparents and making g a big deal out of differences. If the ds wants a particular car seat-let her buy one! And given huge rises on anxiety and related mh conditions among our children, I’m not sure our way is better. The world does not revolve around our children to the inconvenience of others. It doesn’t ultimately help our children if they believe that.

Thesearmsofmine · 01/07/2023 08:35

It would have been relevant to say how often your mum is doing childcare for DS. Not having a car seat for ad hoc babysitting is very different to no car seat for regular childcare. You did say it’s for occasional use so I’m assuming it’s just every now and then and not having a car seat is no big deal.

Testina · 01/07/2023 08:38

OnionsAndLemons · 01/07/2023 08:30

@ApplesInTheSunshine this is appreciated, thank you

@Testina I just think it’s hypocritical, it’s difficult to paint a true picture. You know I’m writing here to prevent a fallout, and prevent any party feeling bad. Your posts seem angry

“Your posts seem angry” 🤣
Is that the nonsense you pull on your sister too, when she disagrees with you? Patronising, much?
Not angry at all.
Just pointing out that you griping about a child who isn’t even hers, doing something not to you - and now you say when you’re not even there, just here from family complaining behind her back - doesn’t make you look good and has zero relevance here.

saraclara · 01/07/2023 08:38

I think you and your mum need to stop gossiping about your sister tbh.

It's not gossiping for the GP to express her upset at being constantly criticised over normal, tiny things. It's absolutely allowed. I imagine that part of the conversation is GP asking OP for advice on how to handle this.

OnionsAndLemons · 01/07/2023 08:39

My mum has my niece once a week, occasionally use was for my son who she has less often. That’s just how our working patterns work out

OP posts:
LuckySantangelo35 · 01/07/2023 08:39

She sounds well annoying op

Testina · 01/07/2023 08:42

It’s all very well saying she didn’t want to go halves on a car seat with you.
But what were you suggesting? That she goes halves a car seat that she will never want her daughter in?
You wouldn’t even buy the same value car seat as you buy yourself. So it’s quite likely that the whole cost of that car seat to you was less than your half share of a rear facing one would be.
If she had said going halves on a better, safer car seat - would you have?

If she’s expecting grandma to be walking miles or waiting in the rain for buses… she’s out of order. If grandma has her daughter alone once in a blue moon and tends to stay home - then I can see why she wouldn’t spend out on a second rear facing seat. They’re expensive!

Thesearmsofmine · 01/07/2023 08:44

saraclara · 01/07/2023 08:38

I think you and your mum need to stop gossiping about your sister tbh.

It's not gossiping for the GP to express her upset at being constantly criticised over normal, tiny things. It's absolutely allowed. I imagine that part of the conversation is GP asking OP for advice on how to handle this.

Of course it’s gossiping! Their mum needs to talk with OP’s sister about any issues she may have not OP. I wonder if she is so critical of OP’s parenting when she talks to her sister.

Blossomtoes · 01/07/2023 08:47

Thesearmsofmine · 01/07/2023 08:44

Of course it’s gossiping! Their mum needs to talk with OP’s sister about any issues she may have not OP. I wonder if she is so critical of OP’s parenting when she talks to her sister.

Perhaps OP doesn’t give her cause? It’s not gossiping.

Minniliscious · 01/07/2023 08:50

Is she an NCT Mum? A lot of them that I have come across (not all) think that they are so much more superior because they paid £160 for classes that you can do for free in pregnancy.

My SIL was offended that I had face painters at my DS party. Seriously. Apparently, it was forcing kids to have their bodies touched by strangers? 🤦🏻‍♀️ Told her to lighten up and fuck right off.

alloutofluck · 01/07/2023 09:00

I predict in a few years time your sister will be complaining that your mum spends more time with your kids than her kids.
AAnd if I was your mum I wouldn't offer to change nappies again when your sister is there.
You are right that you can't micro manage every interaction.

alloutofluck · 01/07/2023 09:04

@Thesearmsofmine I think the car seat thing is fine if you pay for it. In the op the sister is expecting the mum to pay for a preferred car seat.

TheLongpigs · 01/07/2023 09:04

OP, I think you're having a bit of a hard time on here from people who are seeing their own parenting writ large in your descriptions of your sisters behaviour, and are feeling defensive about it.

I think you are being completely reasonable. I also do not think that anyone has the right to come on and tell somebody that their experience was not embarrassing when that woman has clearly said that she experienced embarrassment. So I would ignore everyone who has said that - and probably everything else they've said too!

I think the only thing you can do at the moment is to withdraw a bit, and hope your mum feels able to do similar. Your sister may change a bit if she has another child, or just wears herself into the ground or becomes tired of her own tedious parenting commentary.

It doesn't sound like you would get anywhere by talking to her about it – peoples responses here are evidence of that!

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 01/07/2023 09:05

@Thesearmsofmine OP's sister told the nappy changing story to OP,expecting OP to agree with her. So if there is gossiping, it's two sided.

Pleasehelpme12345 · 01/07/2023 09:05

She’s right about the car seat. The first 2 examples are a bit ott but she’s being consistent & it’s her child so up to her

alloutofluck · 01/07/2023 09:09

@AngryGreasedSantaCatcus when people are upset they talk to those close to them. It is unreasonable not to expect people to do that.

Quiverer · 01/07/2023 09:10

OnionsAndLemons · 01/07/2023 07:53

I’m not saying she should use the car seat (and actually will now be looking at getting another one for my mums car, I assumed if it was new and from a car seat company, it would be safe). What I’m saying is she has provided no alternative, did not take me up on the offer to share cost, and says she doesn’t know how to remove her own car seat to put in my mums car.

I was embarrassed because no one was paying attention to me offering a cuddle, they would have all seen my sister telling her daughter to tell me no. Equally her step-son (9yr) sits on my families laps whether they want him to or not. She doesn’t say anything.

My niece recently vomited at my mums house, it wasn’t a lot, was straight after having a bit of a cough while eating and she was her normal self after. So my mum didn’t tell my sister until pick up. My sister said my mum should have text her. My sister spoke to me about it, that’s she just wants communication and I said maybe she’s feeling a bit criticised. Both sister and her husband said they don’t care if they want a text they should get one. So my mum texts a few days later that notices poop was a bit green. Sister said she doesn’t need to know every little thing.

If I were your mum I would have given up offering to look after your niece some time ago. Poor woman must feel that, whatever she does, your sister will find an excuse to criticise.