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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

NC Sister wants updates on Dads Condition

61 replies

Unorganisedchaos2 · 13/02/2025 10:55

Five years ago my Dad (separated form Mum) had a stroke, my sister (who lives 2 hours away) initially came down and quite forcefully insisted she speak with everyone involved in care, started clearing out his house, start making arrangements for when he was discharged etc, no issues there I had a baby and job I was happy of the help. Then suddenly a month later with no warning she decided she no longer wanted a relationship with him, didn't want any updates on his condition and she didn’t want him to know about her recently announced pregnancy and if anyone (care givers, family, hospital etc) asked me why I was to tell them to mind their business, she didn’t even tell them (or me initially) just stopped responding until they got the hint and contacted me. In anger I asked her if I should tell he when she died and she said "no, why would I want to know"

This left me in the soup as some of the arrangements she had made for his care were unsustainable (in hindsight she hadn't done a good job but was very controlling and refused to organise anything together it was very all or nothing) so I had to make other arrangements explain to people why they need to contact me as she was just refusing to communicate with anyone, it was all so odd but she refused to elaborate further.

We muddled through fine and Dad made a good recovery, it was awkward for me though, for example a few years later she was going to attend DD's birthday party with her DC (she knew Dad was going to too and that he didn’t know her DC existed) and apparently was going let him learn that she had a child in our local village hall in front of 30 other people - her plan was to avoid him and tell anyone who questioned it to mind their own business?? I put my foot down and said she must tell him or not come as I didn't want a scene, she did call him and tell him but it was still very awkward and odd.

It's also come to light that she started telling really strange lies, one was that he wasn’t her biological Dad, I've no idea where this come from or what she thought it would achieve and she obviously forgot the ancestry DNA tests we all did years ago that clearly show he is our Dad. She has also claimed he borrowed thousands of pounds and never paid it back, again this is totally untrue having previously borrowed from him and despite refusing to have any contact would accept birthday and Christmas cards with money in for years before Dad got the hint.

Since then nearly every time I spent time with her, she has brought up Dad and how she's confident in her decision and she has no issues explaining to her child they have a grandad but they'll never meet him. It's really odd as I would never bring it up as I don’t see the point after all this time and I'm always left wondering how the conversation went that way, the last time I snapped and said "why do keep bringing this up, what do you want me to say?" but again she wouldn't elaborate.

A month ago Dad had another stroke and unfortunately wasn’t found for a few hours so the long term prognosis of isn't as good as last time, we had to call my Mum to look after DD and she called my sister and told her - no issues there at all, but now she is texting me every day to ask for updates - which I duly provide. I would never refuse to keep her updated its still her Dad but a petty part of me really begrudges it - she's made it clear she still doesn’t want any relationship with him why does she need daily updates on his condition?

Im being a bitch arent I?

OP posts:
Suimai · 13/02/2025 10:57

What does your dad want? It’s really strange she did all that with apparently no explanation whatsoever

Cocolapew · 13/02/2025 10:58

I would tell her to ask your mum for updates.

Hankunamatata · 13/02/2025 11:00

I wonder if she found something when clearing the house

Unorganisedchaos2 · 13/02/2025 11:01

Suimai · 13/02/2025 10:57

What does your dad want? It’s really strange she did all that with apparently no explanation whatsoever

He would love to see or speak her and her DD, ironically her and Dad were always closer when we were growing up.
She not local so realistically it would amount to birthday and Christmas cards and a few phone calls and texts. He didnt ask her at DD;s birthday if he could have a photo but she refused 🙁

OP posts:
Stressybetty · 13/02/2025 11:01

Is it possible she discovered something when clearing his house? Going NC with him suddenly like that and saying he wasn't her dad etc points to her discovering something. I wouldn't stop giving her updates though.

MatildaTheCat · 13/02/2025 11:02

Hankunamatata · 13/02/2025 11:00

I wonder if she found something when clearing the house

Yes , this.

Or had a major disagreement with him around that time when she was taking over his life - even if done for the right reasons he may have been deeply upset. Perhaps he told her something then?

I think she is entitled to updates. Then she can decide how to proceed.

Unorganisedchaos2 · 13/02/2025 11:02

Cocolapew · 13/02/2025 10:58

I would tell her to ask your mum for updates.

I think that's what was initially happening and Mum as happy to do that to but at some point she asked me and it seemed petty really.

OP posts:
saraclara · 13/02/2025 11:03

Hankunamatata · 13/02/2025 11:00

I wonder if she found something when clearing the house

That was my immediate thought. Especially since she's now questioning whether he's her father.

mumonthehill · 13/02/2025 11:04

In your shoes I would keep the updates short so, same as yesterday, bad night but ok, more unwell today and just do not elaborate.

GabriellaMontez · 13/02/2025 11:07

I would send her short updates.

I would not comply with other odd or unreasonable requests like "don't tell anyone I've had a child" or have her dictate what my responses should be.

Unorganisedchaos2 · 13/02/2025 11:10

Stressybetty · 13/02/2025 11:01

Is it possible she discovered something when clearing his house? Going NC with him suddenly like that and saying he wasn't her dad etc points to her discovering something. I wouldn't stop giving her updates though.

I think its really unlikely, me and DH were there the whole time too, his living conditions are unique (any more details would be outing) so we didnt go through drawers or furniture it was clearing out the fridge, mowing the front lawn etc and as it was during Covid we couldn't visit him, the hospital and rehab place set up teams calls for us but by the time got him a mobile sorted she'd already decided, when she called before DD's birthday party she had to ask for his number.

I have said to her and Mum that if there is something I need to know that makes it unsafe for me and DD to be around Dad they have an obligation to tell me. Mum (who dislikes Dad still after all these years) was shocked and said absolutely not, sister says nothing like that and I should respect her decision, she doesn't need to tell me why - which is true really....

OP posts:
purplecorkheart · 13/02/2025 11:10

I agree that it is likely she found something when clearing the house.

As others said keep the updates brief "same as yesterday" "sleeping a lot today" etc.

Unorganisedchaos2 · 13/02/2025 11:11

Thank you @GabriellaMontez and @mumonthehill thats what Im doing now, so I'll continue

OP posts:
HomemadeMuffin · 13/02/2025 11:16

Hankunamatata · 13/02/2025 11:00

I wonder if she found something when clearing the house

Yes, it has to be this.

Tbry24 · 13/02/2025 11:47

She must have found something whilst looking after him . I’m LC NC with family and there’s always a reason if not many.

Also double check your DNA matches incase it is something like that.

sorry to hear about your dad. I’m also sorry for your sister and her child as we have no idea what your sister has been going through alone.

LookItsMeAgain · 13/02/2025 11:48

Respond to the next request for an update by saying something like this
"Hi Sis, going forwards, you'll have to contact Mum if you want updates on Dad's condition. I have no idea what happened between you all those years ago but I'm now putting my foot down and not getting in the middle or getting involved. If you want to go no contact about Dad, I will respect that decision. This means that I'm not going to provide the updates you're looking for. This is a consequence of your decision/choice that you made and as I previously said I respect that. Hope you and the family are well. All the best @Unorganisedchaos2 "

Or something like that.

purplecorkheart · 13/02/2025 11:55

LookItsMeAgain · 13/02/2025 11:48

Respond to the next request for an update by saying something like this
"Hi Sis, going forwards, you'll have to contact Mum if you want updates on Dad's condition. I have no idea what happened between you all those years ago but I'm now putting my foot down and not getting in the middle or getting involved. If you want to go no contact about Dad, I will respect that decision. This means that I'm not going to provide the updates you're looking for. This is a consequence of your decision/choice that you made and as I previously said I respect that. Hope you and the family are well. All the best @Unorganisedchaos2 "

Or something like that.

To be fair if their Mum is separated from her husband it is a bit unfair to be expecting her to do the updates.

mihinobis · 13/02/2025 12:05

There's something happened here which you don't know about. I'm not going to speculate on what, a few things spring to mind. I found something when clearing my dad's house which completely changed everything I thought I knew about him.
Whatever has happened you have to accept that she must have a good reason for this complete change and wanting to go NC with him. And now she wants updates on his condition, you should accept that too, that she now does want to know. A few years have passed since she initially went NC for whatever reason, perhaps she is starting to come to terms with whatever happened/whatever she found out and does want to know what is happening to him.
Just send her the updates and that's it. No need for any discussion about her being NC or whatever.

Lobelia123 · 13/02/2025 12:13

Maybe she wants the updates because his prognosis is poor and she has an eye on his estate. Sorry to be such a downer, but she hasnt had any interest for so long, its highly suspicious that now she cares a jot, even second or third hand.

Werecat · 13/02/2025 12:18

Why are you sharing private info about a man’s medical condition with someone who treats him this badly? Has he agreed to it? Would he if he had capacity? If not, why would you do it?

HarpieDuJour · 13/02/2025 12:19

Is your dad in hospital at the moment? If so, you could suggest she calls the hospital for updates. I can see how it would become wearing to have to update her all the time, especially given the backstory.

aei22 · 13/02/2025 12:26

Clearly there is something that you don't know about because she won't tell you.

Nevertheless, I would just send the updates. Who can possibly say what's gone on if she won't tell you.

WellsAndThistles · 13/02/2025 12:33

If she owes your Dad money, has he written his will to adjust accordingly and that's what she found in the house?

If it's not paternity or abuse then money would be the next obvious explanation.

To answer your original question, YANBU to refuse to be the middle person in this, would your Dad be happy with you sharing his personal medical information with someone estranged from him, I wouldn't.

LookItsMeAgain · 13/02/2025 12:42

purplecorkheart · 13/02/2025 11:55

To be fair if their Mum is separated from her husband it is a bit unfair to be expecting her to do the updates.

I understand that but the OP needs to remove herself from the situation and position of messenger. She isn't a messenger and the sister who decided to go NC should actually respect that. If the mother is separated, then she can simply say "I don't know his condition. You'll have to find out yourself."
Either the sister is No Contact or she isn't. If she isn't, then she picks up the phone and can contact the hospital/care home/wherever. If she is, then she doesn't get the updated progress reports.

Octavia64 · 13/02/2025 12:43

How sure are you of the ancestry dna tests?

Sis is being unreasonable but she is being SO unreasonable I'd suspect something else going on.