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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:
curlywurlylover666 · 01/07/2023 09:48

You do you and let your sister do her.

She's trying to do the best she can with all the guidance thrown at her in modern times and yes she might be annoying but just let her get on with it. She will soon relax if she has a 2nd child!

Reg the car seat I am an advocate for rear facing and I've had to had so many debates with family about keeping my children rear facing. Honestly it's tiring having to defend myself over a car seat but I won't budge because car safety matters to me. And yes, I will have annoyed people with my views but I don't care. What is annoying is that people can't support rear facing because they think children should forward face but can't give a justified reason why.

My mum bought a car seat, with no advice or consultation from Halfords. It wasn't even fitted right and she thought it was OK to put my child in. It wobbled and moved all over the back seat and this was a professional fit in Halfords!

I explained I wanted a better seat, so we returned it. I then drove my mums car to the safety centre, to research the seat, had it fitted and paid the difference in price.

Same for in laws car. They wanted to get a seat and produced booster seats that were 15 years old from the loft. So again off I went to the car safety centre and bought an appropriate safe seat for their car. It was £300 and there was no way I would have asked the in laws to pay that for a seat as they are effectively doing me a huge favour in school pick ups etc.

The difference with the car seats is I literally put my money where my mouth is and do something about it myself. Your sister perhaps needs to be more proactive in the car seat issue.

Some will say I'm controlling about it, some will say I'm neurotic but I don't care when it comes to car seat safety and I don't think anyone should be bashed for being strong enough to have views that will keep the child safest.

TaggySitz · 01/07/2023 09:48

The example of her not receiving a text when her child was sick is another bad example. I'd think most people wouldn't mind a text if their child had vominited. Some of the examples paint her as a knobhead, but a lot of the examples are bad examples as they seem totally normal.

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 01/07/2023 09:48

User1438423 · 01/07/2023 09:47

The first two sound annoying PFB, I actually am with her on the car seat though so you lost me. No way would I put a 2 year old in a cheap forward facing seat, and I have four children not a PFB.

Then you provide the seat. Not expect the other person to pay for it or only walk/take the bus even if it's just one day a week.

Wrongsideofpennines · 01/07/2023 09:51

She is right about the car seat. Your 2 years old should absolutely be rear facing.

CarnelianArtist · 01/07/2023 09:53

She sounds a bit OTT but nothing extreme. I'd consider why it triggers you so much. Maybe something to do with your relationship.

We can all look at each others parenting and spot something odd. One friends a bit grumpy with her kid, another feeds them loads of junk etc. But really unless they ask me for advice, or do something very wrong, not my place to say.

Consider reframing and accepting it isn't what you would do but it's up to her how she parents. It does sound slightly unintentionally ruse to your mum. I'm sure your mum can handle herself.

MargotBamborough · 01/07/2023 09:55

Just ignore it.

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 01/07/2023 09:57

Her parenting style is actually not an issue, probably why people don't think it's that bad. The constant moaning,criticism, rudeness and demands, are very much an issue though. OP picked really bad wording for her title , which is probably why she's getting some of these replies. The sister's parenting is neither here or there, it's her attitude and behaviour that are the issue.

saraclara · 01/07/2023 09:59

She sounds a bit OTT but nothing extreme. I'd consider why it triggers you so much. Maybe something to do with your relationship.

No. Read the posts. OP likes her sister, but her mum is being constantly criticised for incredibly minor stuff and it's upsetting her.
MN ers are normally quick to say to parents like OP's sister 'if you don't like how your parent does childcare, then you need to pay for it'.

I'm a GP who does occasional childcare, and my DD is about as chilled a mother as is possible to be. She trusts me completely, and o appreciate that so much. But I still worry about doing the right thing. It's a tightrope. I can't imagine how I'd feel if my DD constantly nit picked and criticised my care to the point that I couldn't even say "good girl" to my GD..

Herecomestreble1 · 01/07/2023 10:00

To be fair she's right about rear facing, it's a lot safer, but she should be buying her own seat for your mum.

FlamingoQueen · 01/07/2023 10:03

I think your sister sounds a pain in the bum. I would stop doing things to help her (for a little bit, not forever!). I would have been humiliated at the hug situation though. I would tell her this. You instantly respected her dd’s ‘no’ then to get a lecture on it, in front of everyone - I think I would have to say something to her.

Marmitecrumpetswithalittlecheese · 01/07/2023 10:04

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Lacucuracha · 01/07/2023 10:04

Jellifulfruit · 01/07/2023 09:30

I don’t see it as performance parenting though. She’s teaching her daughter from a young age that she can verbally use the word “no”. Rather than freezing. If she adopts this when she’s an adult, it might save her from some hairy situations. Of course auntie took the silence as no, most would, but not everyone. Predatory men may not. And may use the lack of a verbal “no” as a way to surpass a rape charge

But you don’t use people who have already accepted a ‘no’ as a teachable moment.

If my sister used me like that I’d just think best to keep my distance from niece because sis is going to embarrass me again.

So what’s sis achieved? Alienating her sister from her niece.

Lacucuracha · 01/07/2023 10:06

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Looks like the sis has arrived.

AngryGreasedSantaCatcus · 01/07/2023 10:06

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Why don't you? Sister doesn't keep quiet, that's the problem.

OnionsAndLemons · 01/07/2023 10:08

I’ve conceded on the car seat and will be getting a new one for my son whilst in my mums car, and have said I’m not expecting her to use it. I do think it’s unfair not to provide an alternative for my mum. I would also more than happily pay half for one my sister was happy with.

Lots of mixed opinions, there probably is a bit more to our back story but I really do try to put that aside which is why others opinions are useful and I can just focus on the issue itself.

The examples may not seem that bad to some, they seem unreasonable to me (I admit with the exception of the car seat). But I hear it from my mum and my sister, my sister does it to me too and it does feel like it’s constant, always something. I feel on edge around them.

OP posts:
Mariposista · 01/07/2023 10:08

Oh dear oh dear. Massive PFB alert.

SleepingStandingUp · 01/07/2023 10:09

Your Mom is a grown up. If not being able to use the car once a week is an issue, she needs to say "Jessica, you need to sort a car seat for Bob so I can go out when I have her, I'm sure your sister would go halves if the issue is cost"

Etc.

Most of these issues are your Mom's and I get you being protective, and it wouldn't hurt to reiterate stuff like "I'm getting a new car seat, do you want to go halves so Bob can use it" but it largely isn't for yo to sort.

Lacucuracha · 01/07/2023 10:11

OnionsAndLemons · 01/07/2023 10:08

I’ve conceded on the car seat and will be getting a new one for my son whilst in my mums car, and have said I’m not expecting her to use it. I do think it’s unfair not to provide an alternative for my mum. I would also more than happily pay half for one my sister was happy with.

Lots of mixed opinions, there probably is a bit more to our back story but I really do try to put that aside which is why others opinions are useful and I can just focus on the issue itself.

The examples may not seem that bad to some, they seem unreasonable to me (I admit with the exception of the car seat). But I hear it from my mum and my sister, my sister does it to me too and it does feel like it’s constant, always something. I feel on edge around them.

Why not just ask her for half the money? Her response will tell you just how much of a twat she is.

Twinsmummy1812 · 01/07/2023 10:11

Honest question because I genuinely can’t remember, but once children were out of the carrying car seats didn’t the next stage face forward? A two year old rear facing? Aren’t their legs smushed up against the seat back? I’m sure by then my children’s legs were dangling over the car seat (they were both pretty tall). Obviously I’m talking back seat only

Fiddlesticks82 · 01/07/2023 10:11

How old are you OP out of pure nosiness

to describe someone’s parenting as “so extra” suggests you are young

NOTANUM · 01/07/2023 10:14

Your sister and BIL are doing a Masters in PFB. They have the passion of the newly converted.
The only way for it to end is for them to have a 2nd child or for everyone to talk about parental anxiety in raising children having a detrimental effect on their wellbeing.
Your poor mum is at the cliff face because your sister doesn’t think she’ll stop minding her GC and that’s probably true. But she needs to draw some lines: she will go in the car, GC will watch tv or eat a treat. If sister doesn’t like it, then an alternative is required.

MrsMiddleMother · 01/07/2023 10:14

Honestly I couldn't stand to be around someone like that. You wouldn't be friends with someone like that, you don't have to tolerate it because she's family. Your poor mum.

OnionsAndLemons · 01/07/2023 10:18

@Lacucuracha I offered to go half on a car seat, she didn’t take me up on it. We hadn’t discussed what kind we’d get so it wasn’t me forcing a cheap one on her.

@Marmitecrumpetswithalittlecheese umm..I’m not even going to bother with you

@Fiddlesticks82 30

@AngryGreasedSantaCatcus you’re probably right. The title probably doesn’t explain the issue very well looking back

OP posts:
theresalwaysguineapigcurry · 01/07/2023 10:19

When I had a baby/ toddler I knew loads of these sort of parents. I was working in an environment which attracts the more boho/ hippie mums and met up with them for coffee sometimes. You're right OP they will end up alienating people.
One of the mums I knew ended up taking her child out of school in reception as she didn't like how the school 'treated' her 'exceptional' daughter. The school slipped up a few times and forgot to use 'they' to the long haired, princess dress wearing five year old girl infront of them. They also wouldn't register her as gluten intolerant without medical reason (which she could never provide). She then signed her up to a home Ed group who actually asked her to leave. They are now both really isolated now. Some parents will really struggle with not having absolute control over their children and making every single decision.
As someone who now has an eight year old with her own mind, I do wonder how they are getting on. None of them put their kids in school so I imagine they're either lonely or have found an echo chamber of similar mums.

Fiddlesticks82 · 01/07/2023 10:20

Op - do you love your sister and close to her and no back story.

be honest