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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone has a great relationship with their SIL

165 replies

Selenaso · 28/03/2024 07:41

My relationship with my SIL has always been tricky. Whenever I see posts about SILs on here it’s always about something negative (though this is AIBU, after all, so probably shouldn’t be a surprise). AIBU to ask if anyone here has a really good relationship with their SIL, and is glad their sibling married them so this excellent person has been brought into their life? It’d be nice to hear some positive stories and think it’s possible…

YABU - my SIL is a demon
YANBU - my SIL is great and a mate

OP posts:
protectthesmallones · 28/03/2024 18:16

I love my SIL, she's been in my life for 45 years. I introduce her as my sister. I've known her as long as my younger sisters anyway.

Gorgonemilezola · 28/03/2024 18:30

Yes, known each other nearly 30 years. She's the bee's knees. We don't live close to each other now, and don't see enough of each other but I love spending time with her.

Other SIL I hardly know - they live overseas and I've only met her twice, very much a case of 'a son's a son 'til he gets a wife', I think BIL's forgotten he has siblings.

Dewdilly · 28/03/2024 18:33

I like all my SILs - two are my DH’s sisters and one is his brother’s wife. One of them I’m particularly close to.

enoughrainnow · 28/03/2024 18:37

I have 6. The one that lives closest I see most frequently and we get on well but don't spend much time together just us, more family get togethers. The others all live 3 hours away so I don't see them often. I would say we get on and they are all lovely but don't see them often enough to be more than relatives.

Previousreligion · 28/03/2024 19:22

My SIL (and her husband) are both wonderful. We have loads in common, and I love spending time with them. She's quite a bit older than me and almost a cross between a sister and mother figure. I've frequently arranged to spent time with her or her husband without my husband present, and all of us go on holiday together. I am incredibly grateful for them as my last boyfriend's mother was a total witch.

smilyfairy · 28/03/2024 19:25

I've known my sister in law for more than 30 years since we were teenagers , She is one of the nicest people I have ever met is so good to my brother . Is a kind and reliable friend . I would trust her over almost anyone I know .

shenandoahvalley · 28/03/2024 19:28

I have 4.

One is not a nice woman, but we rarely see her and everyone is happy with that.

The other three are all lovely women in their own right, just difficult (to various degrees) when it comes to making the sorts of compromises that family life often requires.

So, 3/4 of them are lovely people. 4/4 of them can be difficult relatives. We’re all at an age now where we don’t see each other that much and are very embedded in our own lives, so it’s generally all fine.

ShinyBandana · 28/03/2024 19:34

I could not abide my brother’s ex wife, which was fair enough as she didn’t seem to like me much. I quite like his current partner and am hopeful for the future.

My husbands brothers wife I really like and admire. We don’t see each other often, as we live at opposite ends of the country, but we really enjoy each others company when the opportunity arises

SnobblyBobbly · 28/03/2024 19:35

I get on fine with mine (DH's Brothers Wife) although we don't live close, MIL can be a bit of a stirrer and I'm really close to my own sister so due. To a combo of those things, I wouldn't go beyond saying she's fine. No major issues.

Createausername1970 · 28/03/2024 19:39

One I couldn't care less about.

The other is brilliant, we have similar interests and we go out just us, for meals, theatre shows, concerts etc.

NeedToChangeName · 28/03/2024 19:41

I have several SIL. All delightful and enjoy spending time with any or all of them

FortyFacedFuckers · 28/03/2024 19:41

I love my SIL I am so much closer to her than my sister!

PurpleChrayn · 28/03/2024 19:43

My sister in law is amazing. One of my best friends.

MrFlippersPancake · 28/03/2024 19:47

One of husbands sisters taught our DC, we get on really well thankfully Smile

stormywhethers321 · 28/03/2024 19:52

We get along great. She was my friend first, and I introduced her to my brother.

Evaka · 28/03/2024 19:53

Have four de facto sisters in law. Adore DP's two sisters and his brother's partner, and count one in particular as a close friend. Love my bro's wife. She's very quiet, but interesting and clever and good for him.

Didn't realise how lucky that makes me!

ToddlerMumma · 28/03/2024 19:54

I have two fantastic sisters in law and my brothers are lucky to have them! I really enjoy their company and spending time with them

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 28/03/2024 19:58

I get on well with both my SIL's, I'm a very different person to my brothers wife, in fact my brother and I are completely different si that makes sense. My DH's sister is great, she does stuff I don't understand and makes off choices, but on the whole I wish they lived closer to us as I'd like to spend more time with her and BIL

Liv999 · 28/03/2024 20:00

I have 3 SILs, my DH three sisters and I get on great with them, especially one of them, we socialise together a lot and I class her as one of my closest friends

Tree12 · 28/03/2024 20:03

My husband’s sister lives locally and is one of my best friends. My brother’s wife I rarely speak to (lives abroad, we see them once a year) but she’s nice enough.

elizzza · 28/03/2024 20:03

My brother’s partner (not married but long term, own a house together) is great, we don’t live close but I love visiting them, we all go on holidays together.

My other SIL (my DH and her DH are brothers) is one of my favourite people. Genuinely think we’d keep each other if either of our marriages ended.

ErinAoife · 28/03/2024 20:10

daffodilandtulip · 28/03/2024 07:54

I had two lovely SiL but when I got divorced, they refused to speak to me or the DC again.

Nearly the same boat than you. My SIL was my best friend friend {ex husband sister), when my husband left me she was there for me, she did not like his new partner at all however he has now a new one who she seems to like and she has taken her distance with me. I know her over 25 years and like ex husband she is more or less dumping me.

Pinkypup · 28/03/2024 20:21

I have 5 sister in laws
1 - husbands sister - love her to pieces and would do anything for her.
2 - husbands brothers gf - meh, get on ok. Never be best friends but can manage to talk to her
3 - husbands other brothers wife - full on bitch. For some reason she has a real issue with me and my family. We’ve never had an argument but she is just a bitch
4 - my brothers wife - another bitch. We had a massive argument a long time ago and there was a lot said and neither have forgiven the other.
5 - my other brothers wife - we get on well. Not besties, but would do anything for her.

KohlaParasaurus · 28/03/2024 20:44

My only SIL is my DH's sister. We are, as my grandmother would have said, not one another's cup of tea.

sakura06 · 28/03/2024 20:44

I have 4 SIL and genuinely love them all. One of them I don't know as well as she lives abroad and we have only met a couple of times, but the other 3 are genuinely amongst my favourite people in the world.