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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Worried my ' strong' sister isn't so strong when it come to her husband?

101 replies

beigeisthemood · 06/09/2023 13:01

So much to write but the bottom line is that my lovely sister, who appears strong and at times main decision maker in the home ... she is a SAHM... isn't so strong after all.

I'm worried that her husband is being a little controlling actually. I really like him and he is very helpful and generous but can be a Johnny big balls at times.... refers to their home and general assets as his in company etc ... that type.
They have a busy and open house. Both close to family but his family spend a huge amount of time there.
They have had family stay for months at a time while waiting to move into their new home. Six of them. Serious special needs ( this is relevant) alcohol use and aggressive behaviours.
Then others who are going through divorce, drug use, criminal activity for to addiction etc. They are very Christian.

So here is my AIBU. My son has been poorly in mood for last few years. Down in himself. Refused to go to school. Became a recluse and then rude, nasty and at times verbally abusive.Refused to help arroyos the house and farm, I am a lone parent with other wains.

It has been awful and awful to live with him.

My sis and I chatted last evening and she told me that she had chatted to her hubby who straight away shot down the idea of my son staying there for a while to sort himself.

I am surprised but not surprised.
I wouldn't be excited about having him there but I know they would be strict and there would be strong rules.I was unable to manage him eventually.

However , he is in a bad place and they , as a couple of have many stay with them, who have been violent, abusive, drug and alcohol addicts, aggressive. All from his family.

I can't help it feel that I have lost complete respect for my bil but more so , my sister.
AIBU

PS My son is not an alcoholic, a drug user, a criminal hut can be verbally aggressive and horrid inside the house . Never outside. Never to other family or to his friends.depressed perhaps but won't get help.

OP posts:
beigeisthemood · 06/09/2023 13:03

I should also say that my sis and I are best friends.We are extremely close.

OP posts:
Shoxfordian · 06/09/2023 13:04

Maybe they don’t fancy someone verbally aggressive staying with them - it might have been difficult with his family and they don’t want a repeat

Tweeps · 06/09/2023 13:07

I had a mental health crisis in my teens and my mother sent me to stay with a family member. I have never forgiven her. I have never needed her more but she sent me away.

beigeisthemood · 06/09/2023 13:08

That's fair enough and thanks. He has never been verbally aggressive to them or their family. It is that he refused school, refused to help out, refused to get out of bed and leave the room.That's my bils issue.
It wouldn't happen at theirs as they wouldn't tolerate it.
I go to work each day so couldn't control it.
My sons dad and his aunt and uncle don't want him and he knows that. I can't kick him out. Nobody wants him. I don't want that for him either of course.

OP posts:
widowtwankywashroom · 06/09/2023 13:11

Maybe they have learnt their lesson with previous people who have stayed and don't want to do it again

widowtwankywashroom · 06/09/2023 13:12

Maybe they don't feel it's their place to do your role as a parent

beigeisthemood · 06/09/2023 13:12

There was no arrangement to send him away. When the idea of spending time at theirs was discussed, my bil shot it down straight away.

How much aggression, nastiness, verbal abuse did your family tolerate though?
Did you get help? Accept help? What effect did this have on everyone? Were you dangerous?

My son won't do either.
So here we are.
Tolerate my abuse or physically remove me from the home... that is what he is telling me in no uncertain terms.

OP posts:
beigeisthemood · 06/09/2023 13:15

I have been unable to fulfil my role as a parent when it comes to him.Absolutely.
Call it failure.Call it what you like.

I presume you have absolutely no experience of this type of thing and if you did you'd give some advice, sensitive and kind @widowtwankywashroom .
You don't belong on this thread

Please go away now.

OP posts:
cheezncrackers · 06/09/2023 13:16

Your DSis and BIL are irrelevant here OP. You have a problem with your DS - but it's not up to them to take him in and rehabilitate him for you - regardless of whether they've done that for others. Maybe your BIL is sick of being the dumping ground for all the troubled characters in his own family? Who knows? Seek help from the appropriate authorities - talk to your GP, social services, school, etc and find out what your options are.

Lilolilibet · 06/09/2023 13:19

I'm sorry for your situation but your bil has every right not to feel like parenting your difficult child.

Prettypaisleyslippers · 06/09/2023 13:21

I think you are clinging onto the idea of your son going to them as respite. They haven’t offered, it’s not an option. Let it go

KingCharlesCoronation · 06/09/2023 13:22

You don't sound worried for your sister.

Maybe neither of them wanted to take your child on but thought you might take it better if BIL took the "blame" for the decision.

Whattodo112222 · 06/09/2023 13:22

Sounds very hard Op. I can't even imagine. Does seem like you're shifting the focus from your son to your sisters husband though.. don't think you can blame him.. its a lot to have someone come and live with you at the best of times.

beigeisthemood · 06/09/2023 13:22

Thank you@cheezncrackers . I have done absolutely everything to access support and provide options and treatments.

This thread is about my sis and bil shooting down my son staying for a while when all and sundry from his family are continuously coming and going.
I am
Also on the edge of cracking.

My sis didn't even argue it with him.
Just accepted immediately.

She has always been strong but in retrospect it's actually his family who keep returning , not hers.

OP posts:
CalistoNoSolo · 06/09/2023 13:22

You can't expect anyone else to take on your troubled son, I'm amazed you even asked tbh. If you are struggling with his behaviour why would you expect anyone else to want to live with him? If you can't cope you need to get professional help. What have you tried so far? Have you contacted his school or SS for help?

KingCharlesCoronation · 06/09/2023 13:26

They don't actually have a responsibility to any child that they didn’t choose to have though. It sounds like you feel entitled to help from them that they are not obliged to give at all.

Screwballs · 06/09/2023 13:26

the hell is this about? This has nothing to do with your BIL, it sounds like you are trying to palm off your son on the guise of them having done it for someone else. That is completely taking advantage. Seek a doctors opinion, get professional help, but dont start slagging off your BIL because he doesnt want to fix your son for you.

beigeisthemood · 06/09/2023 13:27

Again
I've liaised with ...
GP
School
EWO
Psychology
Psychiatry
Friends
Family
Homeopathy

I have genuinely tried everything.
Thank for your thoughts.
I'm so disappointed too. You're all correct though. It's not their problem. It's his and mine. I just needed help. And when I see them helping all round them in his family and not hers ( I'm the one who is closest) it hurts a lot.

OP posts:
beigeisthemood · 06/09/2023 13:29

Again....
I'm not tying to get my son ' fixed' by my bil or sister.
I was clutching at straws and hoped a change f home and a break would help. I've genuinely tried everything besides kicking him out.
That's next sadly.

OP posts:
Screamingabdabz · 06/09/2023 13:30

I’m a strong woman with my own mind but if my husband said no to someone living with us I would listen to him. Taking a troubled teenager into your house is not an insignificant commitment.

You asked. She duly spoke with her husband and said no. That’s it.

I think you need to focus on your son and his mental health problems rather than deflecting to your sister and her family.

widowtwankywashroom · 06/09/2023 13:30

beigeisthemood · 06/09/2023 13:15

I have been unable to fulfil my role as a parent when it comes to him.Absolutely.
Call it failure.Call it what you like.

I presume you have absolutely no experience of this type of thing and if you did you'd give some advice, sensitive and kind @widowtwankywashroom .
You don't belong on this thread

Please go away now.

This is a public forum and I have every right to be on it
Just because you don't agree with my comments, doesn't mean my comments aren't valid.
But hey ho blame everyone else.

DoItAgainPlz · 06/09/2023 13:30

I wouldn't want your son anywhere near me or my home, either.

He's not their problem.

Aquamarine1029 · 06/09/2023 13:30

You are being completely unreasonable. Doesn't your sister have enough to deal with?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/09/2023 13:32

I can just imagine your sister posting the other side to this:

AIBU to say no to my nephew moving in?
dh has an annoying habit of letting any waif and stray, and all their problems, come and live with us. While it passes me off, it's his home too, and tbf he does all the heavy lifting with hosting them. Now, my sister is asking us to take in her son, my nephew, who has a myriad of behavioral issues she can no longer control. I love him and her, but tbh I'm done having drama in my house. I can't have any more people come with their problems and treat the place like some sort of safe house. Frankly, much as I love her, my sister freely admits she hasn't parented well and this is the result. Aibu?

She would get a chorus of
just say no sorry that doesn't work for me
no is a complete sentence
you'd do better signposting your sister to various support sites
maybe just take dn out for the odd day trip so she can have a few hours to herself
well, she's made a rod for her own back
Etc etc.

Nobody would be insisting the sister took in her nephew.

Screamingabdabz · 06/09/2023 13:32

Again
I've liaised with ...
GP
School
EWO
Psychology
Psychiatry
Friends
Family
Homeopathy

…And what was the outcome? What did the psychologist and psychiatrist conclude and suggest?

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