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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask about my sister?

26 replies

autienotnaughty · 24/06/2024 06:52

Sister lives other side of the country. She has for about ten years. She's an 8 hour drive away. She typically comes to visit (me, friends and our parents ) 3-4 times a year.

She use to stay with us (2 adults, 4 kids) on her visits for a week or so and share a bed or use air bed in one of my dds rooms. But she and teens started arguing usually about bedtime/lights off. Music on in room, etc. So she started stopping at a friend's house. She won't stop with our parents as they both smoke.

In the last couple years dds are older and are sometimes at boyfriends houses so she will stop in their rooms when they are not there. And stay with friend some of time.

Tbh her visits can be stressful as she's quite a difficult person (snappy) and not use to living with a family and doesn't really enjoy doing family stuff. But obviously we want to see her and for her to spend time with the family .

Last time she came she fell out with friend during visit and stayed in a hotel (we had no room) for last two nights. She's now said she will visit at Xmas and book a hotel.

But other than that she wants us to invite her to stay. Which is tricky as we have four kids in a four bed house. The two adult dd split their time between houses but are normally here 3/4 nights a week. We also find it hard to have her for more than acouple days.

But we never visit her. We have offered couple times in recent years and she declined/cancelled due to work. But two of our kids have Sen so we didn't visit when they were little as they wouldn't have coped. It's only last couple years it's been feasible. But she also can't host and lives in a very expensive tourist area that is ££££ in school hols. So tbh we struggle to afford to go for more than a couple nights and it's a long journey.

Should I feel bad if I don't invite her? I feel like im the reason she can't come.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 24/06/2024 06:54

shes capable of asking to visit when she wants to, no need for you to invite her if you don’t want to.

JumpstartMondays · 24/06/2024 06:55

Nope.

Fromthenotorious · 24/06/2024 06:55

it’s weird
you don’t once mention that you love her or enjoy her company

why don’t you offer to visit her… on your own!! the idea of 6 of you including 4 teens coming may be intimidating to her

Ftctvycdul · 24/06/2024 07:00

What SEN do your children have? Your mention your sister struggles staying with you, as she gets snappy, is she neurodivergent?

If you don’t want her to stay why don’t you leave the younger children with dad and pop down for the odd weekend?

Octavia64 · 24/06/2024 07:01

A lot depends on what relationship you want going forward.

There are other options than you hosting.

You could, for example:

Book a holiday in the U.K. together. That way you make sure you have enough space

Ask if one or more of your DD's would like to sleep over at your parents for a bit to give your sister space

Investigate b and b's or other cheaper options in the area

Honestly not wanting to stay with the parents due to smoking is perfectly reasonable and it does sound like she's making the (eight hour!) journey much much more than you. If she's booked a hotel for Xmas she clearly wants to keep the relationship going.

Do you want to keep the relationship going? You say SEN needs and hotels are expensive but it sounds like she's been making a lot of the effort to keep it going.

autienotnaughty · 24/06/2024 07:05

Fromthenotorious · 24/06/2024 06:55

it’s weird
you don’t once mention that you love her or enjoy her company

why don’t you offer to visit her… on your own!! the idea of 6 of you including 4 teens coming may be intimidating to her

We weren't closing growing up. She bullied me a lot .we got a bit closer in our twenties but she still has some of the bullying traits so I backed off a bit. (We are in our forties now)

I do struggle with her. Especially 1:1.

I could and have offered to visit but it is tricky as Sen kids require a lot of support so I feel bad leaving dh to it. Plus he would have to take annual leave which we are short on due to managing school hols (kids can't go in childcare)

OP posts:
Fromthenotorious · 24/06/2024 07:09

Well then it’s all the more un fathomable that you have allowed her to dominate like this

there’s 6 of you versus 1 of her

Just call an end to the visits. And that’s that

minisoksmakehardwork · 24/06/2024 07:16

Is it bullying traits of is it undiagnosed neurodiversity?

It seems both of you want to maintain the relationship out of duty rather than desire.

There's no easy way forward. If you want to visit, Look at other non peak times where you could visit her - Easter can often be cheaper as school holidays fall differently in different counties.

She may not want you in her space because of potential neurodiversity and the disruption it will cause her but you've not yet realised that's why it's so tricky at your house.

Otherwise it seems she's happy staying in hotels etc to maintain the relationship these 3-4 times a year without imposing greatly on your family space. I'd continue with that route while she's happy to, if you want to. You're not obliged to invite and she can ask to visit if she's in the area anyway.

FTPM1980 · 24/06/2024 07:26

How old are your kids?
And what sort of SEN? I sm assuming that's the younger ones?
Who normally shares a room?

autienotnaughty · 24/06/2024 07:28

Octavia64 · 24/06/2024 07:01

A lot depends on what relationship you want going forward.

There are other options than you hosting.

You could, for example:

Book a holiday in the U.K. together. That way you make sure you have enough space

Ask if one or more of your DD's would like to sleep over at your parents for a bit to give your sister space

Investigate b and b's or other cheaper options in the area

Honestly not wanting to stay with the parents due to smoking is perfectly reasonable and it does sound like she's making the (eight hour!) journey much much more than you. If she's booked a hotel for Xmas she clearly wants to keep the relationship going.

Do you want to keep the relationship going? You say SEN needs and hotels are expensive but it sounds like she's been making a lot of the effort to keep it going.

I agree I feel bad it's always her coming here.

Although it is to see everyone (family, friends etc. And it is significantly cheaper for her to come to us.

But yes no one visits her. Parents are elderly and fairly housebound (I also care for them as a added issue for visiting)

Eldest 2 dd could visit on their own but they don't want to spend their money on it. She lives in a house share so they would have to pay for accommodation and it's v expensive tourist area.

We don't have loads of money but obviously I provide food and if we do an outing I usually cover her costs . But she pays more than that to visit with hotel/petrol.

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 24/06/2024 07:30

FTPM1980 · 24/06/2024 07:26

How old are your kids?
And what sort of SEN? I sm assuming that's the younger ones?
Who normally shares a room?

Asd and ADHD yes two younger. They share a room. Eldest two have own rooms. Both in serious relationships so usually boyfriends are here too.

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 24/06/2024 07:33

Re neurodiversity. I'm autistic, it's possible she is too but she's never mentioned it. She lives quite a quiet life so think she finds our house a bit overwhelming. But it's here she wants to stay (possibly due to lack of options)

OP posts:
TipsyKoala · 24/06/2024 07:33

It makes sense for her to visit you as she’s one person travelling alone and it seems a lot of your family is in one place where you live. Does she come because she wants to or because you invite her? If you’re not close I would say her coming once per year at Christmas is fine. If you want to do more maybe arrange to meet half way between, just spend a day together, hotel overnight then home.

autienotnaughty · 24/06/2024 07:33

TipsyKoala · 24/06/2024 07:33

It makes sense for her to visit you as she’s one person travelling alone and it seems a lot of your family is in one place where you live. Does she come because she wants to or because you invite her? If you’re not close I would say her coming once per year at Christmas is fine. If you want to do more maybe arrange to meet half way between, just spend a day together, hotel overnight then home.

That's a good idea. Thanks

OP posts:
vanimal · 24/06/2024 07:37

If she is happy to come a couple of times a year it would be awful to reduce that to Xmas only! She sounds like she wants to keep the relationship going.

Could you ask DSs boyfriends to give you some space for a new days when your sister is around as that may help.

Tandora · 24/06/2024 07:40

These threads always make me so sad. Life is short and precious. Be good to your sister.

Garedenhelp · 24/06/2024 07:44

I find it strange that when she has visited that she has had to share a bed or sleep on an air bed rather than your DDs sharing.

Lifestooshort71 · 24/06/2024 07:46

If you want her to stay arrange for a daughter to stay at BF's for a couple of nights. If you aren't bothered then leave it to Christmas and perhaps meet half way as suggested. My sister and I haven't seen each other for 8 years and we only live 2hrs apart - nothing in common, never got on as children, too much bad stuff has happened etc etc. We email roughly once a month and make the right noises but we're both happier this way.

I feel you're dripfeeding reasons why she can't stay so perhaps, deep down, you want it to end?

autienotnaughty · 24/06/2024 07:47

I think she feels like she's always visited 3-4 times a year (with free accommodation. ) but now it will potentially cost her more she's un willing to do more than once a year and we need to invite her if we want her to come (it feels like a test of how much do we care) . Which is fine but the way it was said was it's on me to make the effort . (Implying that I haven't been

We can try to arrange to visit her but the last two times she couldn't do one and cancelled the other (annoyingly late as annual leave booked although accommodation was refundable thankfully)

OP posts:
rookiemere · 24/06/2024 07:55

Could you offer to split the cost of a hotel/Airbnb ?

Quitelikeacatslife · 24/06/2024 08:17

Life is too short and she is willing to do the journey. I'd ask my adult DD to vacate a room or share for the duration of her trip. Make her feel welcome. When life is less busy for you and your kids are older, this relationship will be better for it and I think you will be glad. Then also maybe you can go to hers on your own in future to nice area.

autienotnaughty · 24/06/2024 08:24

Garedenhelp · 24/06/2024 07:44

I find it strange that when she has visited that she has had to share a bed or sleep on an air bed rather than your DDs sharing.

Fair point. I think dds argued a lot in teens so we never considered it. And she did use to get on fairly well with them both.

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 24/06/2024 08:27

Lifestooshort71 · 24/06/2024 07:46

If you want her to stay arrange for a daughter to stay at BF's for a couple of nights. If you aren't bothered then leave it to Christmas and perhaps meet half way as suggested. My sister and I haven't seen each other for 8 years and we only live 2hrs apart - nothing in common, never got on as children, too much bad stuff has happened etc etc. We email roughly once a month and make the right noises but we're both happier this way.

I feel you're dripfeeding reasons why she can't stay so perhaps, deep down, you want it to end?

Not intentionally just first post was long enough. I could easily arrange her to stay 3-4 nights but she usually comes 7-10 due to distance.

The thing is I could sort it, invite her then she decline due to work . It's much easier if she tells us when she wants to come but she doesn't want to

OP posts:
autienotnaughty · 24/06/2024 08:30

rookiemere · 24/06/2024 07:55

Could you offer to split the cost of a hotel/Airbnb ?

I guess but we don't have loads of money and she's visiting parents/friends/extended family too.

OP posts:
Cornishclio · 24/06/2024 08:38

I don't think you should feel bad about her not coming if you don't invite her. It is not on you to facilitate her visits if she is coming to visit friends and your parents too. I get if you and your children have SEN and you are already cramped then a visit with her staying with you is unrealistic especially if she is difficult.

Her compromise of staying in a hotel is a good one. Our family live a way away and some of our family are ND so long journeys are tricky and change of routine etc. we mainly stay in hotels or airbnbs. Maybe meet half way and you all book somewhere if it is feasible. As you have a big family and it is just her though it would be more difficult and expensive for you. Presumably though she comes primarily to see her parents.

She may just have to visit less often but I think it would be nice for you to invite her at least once a year and she just does a hotel at Christmas.

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