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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to not call my sister who has blocked me when she has her baby

48 replies

Bonny1989 · 26/07/2023 15:00

I will try and keep this brief but the background is complicated. My younger sister has gone no contact with myself and other sibling following a disagreement at Christmas over our children (she thought my children were crowding hers, yelled at my young daughter horribly and I asked her to apologise to my daughter). She and I used to be close but in recent years, every time she comes home from her home abroad she ends up causing awful family fights which drag on for weeks, often over very trivial matters - the last one was because my mum and I stayed on at a party after she went home, she thought we should have left with her. This led to a 3 week long fight with the whole family that ruined our summer holiday. This behaviour isn’t limited to us, she frequently has falling outs with her good friends, her in laws and her husband. Her friends have told me they think she needs professional help which we have also suggested.

She re-initiated contact with my mum a few weeks ago as she is expecting her second child and wants mum to fly over to help her, which mum has done with some trepidation. I’ve since found out she has been texting my dad saying mum is being nervous and needy over there and it’s causing her extra stress and she wants dad to “calm her down”. She is still in touch with dad as he helps her financially. He couldn’t go with mum due to an illness but that was actually quite fortunate because he didn’t want to see my sister, he’s so fed up with her behaviour. I feel awful for mum as she probably is nervous at doing the wrong thing and being cut off from her grandchildren again, she’s also travelling solo which she doesn’t like to do so I imagine that she is a bit on edge. But she was also the only one who really wanted to go over and help and is the only one who wants to try and bring the family back together quickly- my brother and I have now had enough until my sister can change.

My sister is due to have her baby in a few days. I am also pregnant and expecting in a few weeks. I will send her flowers to her house from me and my family when her baby comes, but I honestly don’t know if I should call - she has blocked me on WhatsApp and not responded to any messages from me since January, nor has her husband. I kept these messages brief and focused on our pregnancies they weren’t addressing the fight or in any way aggressive or controversial, just simple how are you have you had your scans etc. I genuinely don’t know if she would answer and I actually don’t want to speak to her if I’m being honest. I’ve thought long and hard and I don’t want to speak to her when my baby is born either, and I’m not expecting any sort of acknowledgment from her that I’ve had another child. I get so much anxiety just thinking about it that I can feel my cortisol levels spiking which can’t be good for the baby.

AIBU to just send flowers and a card and maybe try to text? I am hopeful we can repair this relationship someday and don’t want to look back and regret not doing the right thing at this momentous time.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 26/07/2023 17:13

She sounds like hard work, but unfortunately so do you. Over analysis, laying out all her perceived faults, focusing on your mother and her reasons for being needy. Yes maybe your dad is sick of her, and maybe he is sometimes sick of you too. Maybe the other siblings are imperfect or captain save the days.

Honestly - the amount of assumptions you've made here!

OP doesn't sound like hard work, at all. She has described the situation & been empathetic to her mum & dad's positions.

Of course family dynamics are complicated but in the basis of the information OP has provided, I can't see what she or anyone else in her family, bar the sister, have done wrong.

OP, I'm not sure about the flowers. Perhaps a card. Not a call, and I'm not sure why you'd waste your money on someone who has treated you so badly.

Olika · 26/07/2023 17:37

Flowers and a card is enough in these circumstances. Just leave her with her drama and concentrate on your baby's birth.

Grumpy101 · 26/07/2023 17:51

You're really bending over backwards for her here. She sounds unhinged, controlling and manipulative. She's blocked you. Leave it to her to contact you.

Also leave your mum to it. It's her choice to go over there, she's a grown woman who has raised a family already, she is perfectly capable of sorting out her own relationship with her daughter.

Grumpusaurus · 26/07/2023 18:26

Meh, I would not bother! She isn't reciprocating or being civil. Just remain NC. Will be so much less stressful.

EvilElsa · 26/07/2023 18:42

I wouldn't send the flowers or card.
You've messaged her and her husband, you've had no replies. She hasn't checked in on you and your pregnancy like you have tried to with hers. She won't send you anything. She sounds like a total dick to be honest.

drpet49 · 26/07/2023 20:29

EvilElsa · 26/07/2023 18:42

I wouldn't send the flowers or card.
You've messaged her and her husband, you've had no replies. She hasn't checked in on you and your pregnancy like you have tried to with hers. She won't send you anything. She sounds like a total dick to be honest.

This

Soddingcat · 26/07/2023 21:08

Some folk are just idiots . The end

Viviennemary · 26/07/2023 21:13

I agree with flowers and a card. No text.

Anothernamethesamegame · 26/07/2023 21:23

If she hasn’t even responded to any communication since January then personally I don’t think you should even send a card or present. In your shoes i would step right back away from the situation. Id even ask other not to instigate conversations with me about her and politely tell them that you are having a break from her and don’t wish to hear about her drama with other people.

StaunchMomma · 26/07/2023 22:21

You're being more than the bigger person by sending flowers.

She's ignored your previous messages. Take that as a sign she doesn't want to talk and let her get on with it. If things get worse for Mum, I'd be tempted to get Dad to be 'more ill' and need her to come home early.

I'd just focus on your own pregnancy now, OP.

AdoraBell · 26/07/2023 22:33

I wouldn’t do anything or contact her because she blocked you. The ball is in her court.

Look after yourself and concentrate on your own children.

Soubriquet · 26/07/2023 22:35

I haven’t spoken to my sister in 8 years and I can’t say I miss her at all. We never really got on as kids either

QueenBitch666 · 27/07/2023 00:06

I wouldn't send her anything. She sounds like an absolute pain in the arse. Would you accept her behaviour is she wasn't family?. She's blocked you FFS 🤷‍♀️

DidntSee · 27/07/2023 00:11

I'd just send a card. Not flowers.

FloweryName · 27/07/2023 00:20

She’s blocked you on WhatsApp and has ignored any text messages she sent her. I would take the hint, respect her decision and do nothing.

If she wanted to hear from you she’d respond to you.

SophiaLaB · 27/07/2023 00:29

I would send the baby a gift and a card.

Doingmybest12 · 27/07/2023 00:36

SophiaLaB · 27/07/2023 00:29

I would send the baby a gift and a card.

I agree, she's blocked you but I can see why you'd like to welcome a new baby.

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 27/07/2023 00:47

Stop sending messages on WhatsApp, delete the chat in its entirety and block her right back. Why are you still pandering to her crappy behaviour? Because sending those little messages IS pandering to her.

Canthave2manycats · 27/07/2023 00:52

I think sending a card and a small gift to the baby would be your best option.

peachypudding · 27/07/2023 02:10

Card, gift for the baby, no text, block. Enjoy the peace.

OkImListening · 27/07/2023 06:44

This sounds like my sister. Bonkers. We haven't spoken for 16 years. After the initial stress of the family fall out, I felt my life was much better without her.

Blogswife · 27/07/2023 07:09

I can emphasise . Your efforts to contact her will be fuelling her attention seeking so just send a card & flowers and carry on & enjoy your new baby . She’s made her feelings clear so stop texting & be civil when you have to see her .

Lonnnngsummerholidays · 27/07/2023 07:16

Don’t send anything. She has been very clear that she doesn’t want any contact with you. Respect it and don’t feed the drama. The only way an argument can have continued for 3 weeks is if you feed into it responding. It sounds like you didn’t help the situation.

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