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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think she has NO RIGHT to be angry at ME! **content warning: mentions child abuse**

69 replies

ChildOfALesserGod · 09/09/2023 14:15

A few years ago, I called my older sister (by 8 years) out on her then husband’s sexual harassment of me as a young teen - 12-13 years old. He would have been around 13 years old than me.

He was a disgusting letch who would put his hand out on for e.g a car seat or the sofa so he could grab my bum as I sat down, constantly making sexual references (asking I was wet down there) and even said he would like to pop my cherry in a conversation with my stepfather which my stepfather laughed at. I had no idea what that meant at that time but I clearly remember it due to the reference to cherry and popping it as it confused me as to how they can pop. BIL would often insist on giving me lifts and often would be at our house. My parents witnessed this behaviour. Nothing was ever said. BIL came from a very wealthy family, drove a massive posh car and my family were pretty overawed by him and his family,

Sister’s reaction at the time was to say for goods sake leave her alone and get annoyed with him. I don’t remember her ever saying anything to me about it. He later cheated on her and they’ve been divorced for years.

Anyway, I had a very abusive childhood, physical and horrendous psychological abuse mainly perpetrated by my mother, and about 10 years ago I confronted her about it, she admitted it but said I deserved it, refused to speak to me ever again and cut me, DH and my DC off as did siblings. At that time, one of things I brought up was my ex BILs behaviour and why nothing was done about it, having a teenage DD myself at that time it disgusted me. My mother described as harmless banter.

Sister had messaged me a few years ago saying she’ll try to forgive and forget for me upsetting our mother for bringing up the past and what I’d said about her ex. I said to the effect of you’re fucking joking, what do you need to forgive me for, I’m the one that needs to forgive you for letting your husband do what he did to me! She then blocked me.

Adult DD had recently tried to get in contact with her adult cousins, sister’s daughters, who have ignored her so she directly contacted my sister, her aunt, mostly because she was upset at not being invited to cousin’s wedding who she grew up with. Sister, DD’s aunt, ignored then blocked her.

AIBU to think sister is totally wrong to be angry at me, and by extension DD, for bringing up this behaviour which was allowed to go unchecked and my family of origin is completely fucked up?

Title edited by MNHQ to add a content warning

OP posts:
mbosnz · 09/09/2023 14:18

Having had a similar experience with an utter creep of a BIL, I have nothing but sympathy for you. And no, she has absolutely no reason or right to be angry at you, but that's easier than accepting just how fucked up your family is, and how her now ex husband predated upon you.

hamsterballs · 09/09/2023 14:19

Sorry you went through that, it's fucking disgusting and your family are awful for not protecting you.

I would keep my children away from the whole lot of them!

Wiii · 09/09/2023 14:20

Why would your DD want to spend time in her presence? Just block them all. They sounds horrible.

RoseslnTheHospital · 09/09/2023 14:22

Of course your sister is in the wrong, but why would your DD want any kind of a relationship with that side of the family? They clearly all have no idea about appropriate boundaries and how to protect children.

DowntonCrabby · 09/09/2023 14:23

YANBU at all but why the hell would any of your family wish to be involved with any their toxic shit show?

jakesmommy · 09/09/2023 14:24

You are in no way to blame for what happened, your family should have protected you from that creep.

Duckingella · 09/09/2023 14:33

I'm so sorry this happened to you;thank god your sister divorced this man;perhaps she's ashamed of having been married to a peadophile.

Your family are awful;I had an abusive childhood too;I confronted the main perpetrator of my abuse about 10 months ago;it might have been awkward for them but it's helped me on the road to recovery and yes my mother has sided with the abuser and gave me grief for "upsetting her and him" and "dredging up the past".

You know what;fuck them;I was a child and they were adults.No child deserves any sort of abuse because the adults can't control themselves.

You might find the stately homes thread helpful.

MzHz · 09/09/2023 14:38

You can let go of all this crap @ChildOfALesserGod

let go, drop the rope, drop them and you’ll see how better it feels with people like that in your life.

Phleghm · 09/09/2023 14:38

How horrible. It sounds like your sister was from a dysfunctional, abusive background and she got into a relationship with a dysfunctional, abusive man. It sounds like you were both victims of your upbringing and this horrible man. Because of that, I don't think you should expect an apology from your sister.
I don't think she should have expected an apology from you to your mum either, but it sounds like she hasn't escaped the family dynamics and mindset.
I really feel for the both of you OP.

Toomuvhonot · 09/09/2023 14:40

😐 so many shitty parents out there

rainbowstardrops · 09/09/2023 14:40

You're all well rid of them. You really are.

Rounee · 09/09/2023 14:43

YABU to expect anything from them, or thinking they would act reasonably towards your daughter

Whataretheodds · 09/09/2023 14:46

What you went through was dreadful. Unfortunately you have to accept that you can't and won't change these people or their interpretation of/response to what happened. It would be a hiding to nothing. Set yourself free by having zero contact and zero expectation of them.

JohnnyYenSetHimselfOnFireAgain · 09/09/2023 14:46

You are most definitely NOT being unreasonable here, far from it. The abuse you've suffered is dreadful and the people who should have protected and supported you - your family - couldn't have cared less. They sound absolutely toxic, and quite frankly, you're well rid of them.

Fluffyfluffkins · 09/09/2023 14:46

I am really sorry that that happened to you.
They sound like a bunch of utter freaks that you're better off without.
Nothing good comes from having such toxicity in your life. 💐

KittyKingdom · 09/09/2023 14:48

Why is your daughter in contact with these people?

KittyKingdom · 09/09/2023 14:50

Sorry I meant trying to be in contact with these people. Have you not explained to her the situation?

Isitautumnyet23 · 09/09/2023 14:52

They all sound absolutely horrible. Your Mother is evil and your step-father no better. Your Sister overlooked abuse from her ex and let it carry on in front of her eyes (and probably doesn’t want to face that she did nothing).

Cut the lot of them off forever and concentrate on your little family. That is all that’s important. Does your daughter know the full details? Im always surprised when people say things like ‘she wanted to get in touch with her cousins’. I dont know mine well and see them probably every 10 years at a family occasion. They are lovely but if I never knew them, I wouldn’t go out my way to find them. I’d explain to your daughter exactly why they are cut off and ask her not to have any contact too.

IncompleteSenten · 09/09/2023 14:52

Yes they are fucked up.
Which is why it is for the best they don't want anything to do with you. And your daughter. Why on earth would you even want people like that around your family, fucking your kids up like they did you?

RenovationNightmare · 09/09/2023 14:52

I'm sorry about your abusive childhood. Why would your DD contact your sister, her aunt, because she was upset at not being invited to cousin’s wedding?

LadyEloise1 · 09/09/2023 14:54

Wiii · 09/09/2023 14:20

Why would your DD want to spend time in her presence? Just block them all. They sounds horrible.

This 💯

RightOnTheEdge · 09/09/2023 14:54

YANBU, but why on earth does your daughter want to get in touch with them and be invited to the wedding?
Does she not know how they treated you?

HotWaxToTheMax · 09/09/2023 14:56

@ChildOfALesserGod 🌺
We had one similar in our family who targeted me.
Huge fall out, severed a whole side of my family for me.
I barely think about them now.
Encourage your daughter to move on, she did nothing wrong. Quite honestly they've done her a favour.
If you need some therapy to see you through what you decide next for yourself then please do, as a present to your future self.

DepartureLounge · 09/09/2023 14:59

I understand your DD wanting to reach out to her cousins. It's natural to be curious about extended family, especially when there's been a rift for reasons that were nothing to do with the youngest generation. But if her contact has been rebuffed then it looks as though the toxicity has been passed down yet another generation already and she's well out of it. I hope you can explain that to her in a way she can feel satisfied with. YANBU of course. God knows what the fuck is wrong with the 11% who think you are.

Chippy4me · 09/09/2023 15:01

It’s so difficult because so many people just want to be close to their family but their family isn’t always good for them.
Your family is not good for you or your family.

I think your sister probably had abuse from your parents too which is why perhaps she doesn’t fully grasp how wrong her ex was (or she’s blanked it out) but for her to be angry at you absolutely takes the mick.

If your DD wants to reach out to them then that is her choice but I think you need to stay far away from them as they all sound vile and you are too good for them.