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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Siblings and Mum excluded me from Christmas

81 replies

Pinkyblue123 · 29/12/2024 21:10

Long post, here is the back story. I’m youngest of 3 siblings all in our 50s Dad died 15 years ago leaving terrible hole in family. Mum stubbornly stays living in a really difficult location (as children we moved around a lot) miles away from where us children have all settled with families. I live 7 hour drive away in England, my sister lives in Ireland (7 hour drive) and my brother is a 3 hour drive from Mum. We all have kids jobs etc, so the location of Mum can be a challenge, added to the fact that she now says she does not want to travel by train (understandable she is in 80s and partially sighted). We decided this year we would try to all meet somewhere for Xmas, this was openly discussed on siblings WhatsApp group, sister and I said let’s lets look into it, brother said nothing on messages (bit strange). I had limited time off at Xmas could not make full week (work commitments for me and husband) but could do Xmas days off. Spoke to Mum one day and she said no one had mentioned Xmas and she was worried she would be left on her own, I said we had been talking as children and hoped to sort something but if not she was welcome to come to mine for Christmas and I would of course not see her on her own. I then shared on sibling WhatsApp the conversation I had with Mum. Next news I speak with Mum and she tells me that she and my sister have been invited to my brothers house for Christmas and they are all going out for Christmas lunch as my sister in law does not want to cook. Oh I said, I thought we were trying to be to sort something thing for all of us? I was shocked so asked directly on the the sibling WhatsApp why this was I not consulted when we were trying to organise a whole family get together? My sister squirmed and tried to back track, my brother completely blanked me, I said how hurt I felt to not be consulted or included, especially as we could have gone along in our motorhome and parted on to their drive so as not to impose in their house. Still radio silence from my brother. I felt hurt and excluded and shocked. I talked to my Mum about it, she dismissed me saying don’t make a fuss and my sister knew how I felt and they both went ahead without challenging my brother. They then all rang me on Christmas Day as if nothing had happened (this is the first time I have spoken to my brother since raising how upset I felt and being ignored). At the end of Xmas week I am being called by Mum and sister as if nothing has happened. I told my sister how hurt and upset I was and she weakly called it a misunderstanding, how can it be I said, I have made it quite clear how I feel to her to my brother and Mum but no one listened and now they are acting as if nothing happened. So AIBU? I feel gaslighted by all of them, so shocked and disappointed that no one said why was I not invited? I thought I had a pretty good relationship with my siblings, when ai have discussed with friends who know my family they are also really shocked. I don’t want a big family fall out but feel that I deserve to be treated beter than this my my own family

OP posts:
Brefugee · 29/12/2024 21:13

that sounds hard, OP. No advice but don't get sucked into it all next year, make a plan with your DH about what you want to do and do it. And if the others arrange something that you a) want to do and b) can fit in, join them.

Comff · 29/12/2024 21:14

It’s your brother who needs to speak up here, no one else.

Truetoself · 29/12/2024 21:14

You are perfectly justified in how you are feeling. Of course it would be easier for everyone to pretend they didn't cause the hurt. So now you have seen your family for who they are .. how will you move forward?

Tricky isn't it?

Truetoself · 29/12/2024 21:16

@Comff eh? The mother and sister went along with sxcluding OP when they knew she was making plans which included them. In fact, brother is the least wrong here as he didn't say anything in the what's app group

OneWittySquid · 29/12/2024 21:19

You live 7 hours away from everyone with limited time off and a frail 80 year old mother I don't know what you expected to happen?

custardpyjamas · 29/12/2024 21:21

It could have been a misunderstanding. Or they may have thought you were inviting your mum and excluding them so made alternative arrangements (excluding you). Did you invite them all or just your mum?

gamerchick · 29/12/2024 21:22

Well now you know OP. Either your brother or his wife have a problem with you and he'll carry on treating you like this because he expects you to just let it go.

I personally wouldn't. You've been told by your mother and your siblings where you stand. I'd leave the family group and just have contact with the other 2 but I probably wouldn't make an effort until what they've done has been acknowledged.

Comff · 29/12/2024 21:27

Truetoself · 29/12/2024 21:16

@Comff eh? The mother and sister went along with sxcluding OP when they knew she was making plans which included them. In fact, brother is the least wrong here as he didn't say anything in the what's app group

They’ve been upfront about going, still hurtful but at least they’re talking to the OP. Whereas the brother is blanking her and hosted a family Christmas without her. He needs to explain what’s going on.

Comff · 29/12/2024 21:29

I live 7 hour drive away in England, my sister lives in Ireland (7 hour drive) and my brother is a 3 hour drive from Mum.
These are the distances to your mums right? What distance are you and your sister each to your brother?

Runningoutofthyme · 29/12/2024 21:30

I agree with pp, didn’t you exclude them all first?

when you found out, why not ask to join them? Or go up and meet them

i also can’t see how you wouldn’t need to impose if you camped on their drive?

Pinkyblue123 · 29/12/2024 21:37

I said if we could not do something altogether as they would not commit, I would have Mum at mine, I couldn’t host everyone as had to work a couple of days and it was too difficult with an extra 8 people in my house whilst working. My brother and sister had the full week off

OP posts:
Pinkyblue123 · 29/12/2024 21:41

I am 3 hours from my brother and 13 to my sister, we were trying to find a location to all meet to make it easier for everyone, especially Mum

OP posts:
Pinkyblue123 · 29/12/2024 21:42

I did ask why I was not included, I would have travelled, my brother just blanked my messages. Then rang as if nothing had happened on Xmas day

OP posts:
LoveRicePudding · 29/12/2024 21:44

Pinkyblue123 · 29/12/2024 21:42

I did ask why I was not included, I would have travelled, my brother just blanked my messages. Then rang as if nothing had happened on Xmas day

Did you tell him to go and take a hike? Or just didn't ask anything at all?

Pinkyblue123 · 29/12/2024 21:47

I told him how upset I felt about being excluded and that I thought we were doing something altogether. He ignored my messages, but I could see he had read them. I asked why ignoring me and he just ignored my until he called me on Xmas day all jovial as well if nothing happened

OP posts:
Timeforsnacks · 29/12/2024 21:49

Just call your brother and say you can't stop wondering what you did to not have been invited.
It's what you want to know so just phone and ask for an answer and say you need it to be able to move on. Don't message in a group as it seems to easy for him to ignore

Brefugee · 29/12/2024 21:51

Pinkyblue123 · 29/12/2024 21:47

I told him how upset I felt about being excluded and that I thought we were doing something altogether. He ignored my messages, but I could see he had read them. I asked why ignoring me and he just ignored my until he called me on Xmas day all jovial as well if nothing happened

you're a better person than i am. I'd have hung up or ignored the call.

Gcsunnyside23 · 29/12/2024 22:41

I wouldn't have picked up the phone when they called. Something has gone on and they are all in on it, that's terrible op

StormingNorman · 29/12/2024 23:11

You need to call your brother @Pinkyblue123. Your mum and sister obviously know why you weren’t invited and they’re not telling you. Probably trying to stay out of it (whatever it is).

MJconfessions · 29/12/2024 23:14

I’m assuming this is fuelled by your brother, the radio silence in private is odd. Especially as he was acting like he’s fine with you when others are in earshot.

Nextyearhopes · 29/12/2024 23:16

she weakly called it a misunderstanding

gaslighting POS

have a lovely New Year and sod them

Paradoes · 29/12/2024 23:20

Quietly walk away from them. That’s my advice.

BuildbyNumbere · 01/01/2025 08:20

Have you asked your brother why he didn’t invite you? Not via messages, but actually asked him???
Just leave them to it next year and they can sort your mum.

Sophabulous · 01/01/2025 08:33

Truetoself · 29/12/2024 21:16

@Comff eh? The mother and sister went along with sxcluding OP when they knew she was making plans which included them. In fact, brother is the least wrong here as he didn't say anything in the what's app group

Nah, unless his partner/wife arranged this without discussion he’s the villain of the piece to me. It could be as simple as poor communication but it’s quite an oversight when one party is trying visibly to sort something. If his Partner or wife or whatever arranged it I’d still expect the heads up, it takes 30 seconds to send a quick WhatsApp message and/or explain limited capacity or whatever so at least you can plan what you’re doing. Something weird about it to me.

SensibleSigma · 01/01/2025 08:42

Was including you making it complicated? You may feel as though you are very accommodating, given your work restrictions, but the easiest answer was one that didn’t include involving you.

My sister makes arrangements hard, then feels snubbed when we don’t manage to meet up. She won’t prioritise the key moments- sharing the Christmas transport, for example, says things like ‘I’m free Wednesday,’ then gets irritated if Wednesday doesn’t work out. It’s as much as I can manage to wrangle mum, let alone someone else adding complications.

Actually I’m going to prioritise sis this year for a weekend away or something. Where we won’t get hijacked by mum.

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