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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I posted about this previously but now it's worse and I need a good rant

103 replies

Chittychattymatty · 26/12/2025 02:32

So I posted about getting engaged and not wanting my sister's boyfriend to attend. They've since had a child and my wedding is this coming summer. I'm rambling Because I can't complain anymore to my fiance or my friends. It's unfair to them and I've really let this all get under my skin way too much.
And I really need this rant.

I've avoided him for the last 18 months as much as possible. If it's a big family group I can bear it because there are a lot of people around. But things have only gotten worse for me. I normally attend Christmas with my mother and my kids. She lives alone and we've always had Christmas together. Usually it's my whole family (Siblings plus) but their families have grown in size so much, the last couple of years it's just been the four the us. This year in our sister group chat we were discussing Christmas day. My sister and the boyfriend wanted to have Christmas with my mam. However my mother has made it clear she took cannot stand this bf. None of my family can but some are better "passing themselves" more than others. Anyway she wanted dinner with my mam because she wanted Christmas with her family but wanted other people to come as buffers because her boyfriend was going to come and she's aware of how my mother feels about him. Her words. When my mother and I spoke my mother had agreed to hosting them because she was under the impression my kids and I would still come regardless. I said I would not be attending Christmas this year as I didn't want to spend it with him. My mother obviously relayed some of this information to my sister because she basically asked me straight out of her boyfriend wasn't coming would I be having dinner at home. I was caught of guard and said not exactly. They made other arrangements and went to his family and I had dinner with my mam. My mam is getting older now so I helped cook dinner as much as she would allow. She is a particular woman to say the least.

My sister and her boyfriend visited my mother that evening. And my sister basically listed out all the components of the dinner I was in charge of asking my mother how were they? Eh how was the ham? And the stuffing? Ect ect And it dawned on me that my sister is gone more like her boyfriend.

If I was to talk about individual events some are straight out nasty and others could be considered "him trying" but to be perfectly honest he is just overbearing and condensing.

He will never have a back and forth conversation. He just tells you things. It's hard to give an example but I still live in the town I was born in. So I am familiar with it all. He is only living in it about two years. But he'll tell me all about it like I've never been. And everything is the best thing ever.

When he asked my daughter about her Christmas present, one was a trip to London for three night. He basically just told her everywhere she had to go and see and do and getting stupid things up on his phone to show her. And it's not in a nice and interested way. It's an I know best way. It's all just too much for me now. It was my daughters birthday yesterday too. We took her out for a meal and I invited my mother and my sister (she's godmother) and obviously her boyfriend was invited too. I was willing to pass myself for the sake of my daughter and Christmas. But they basically came in. Shoved my kids out of their seats and just began to tell us things. No real back and forth conversation. The boyfriend spoke about how he found this delicious wine that we must try because we are going to love it. Insisted on looking it up on line to show us .... My fiance doesn't even bloody drink wine and said this during the conversation but it's just ignored.

I know I've rambled on but I'm just so annoyed and had to get it off my chest. Probably doesn't make sense but basically I'm really annoyed and pissed off that not only does she ignore these things about him. When he can be incredibly offensive she just thinks he can be a bit annoying and tries too hard. But now She's not turning into him!!! And I really just do not want to be around him at all but now that she's turning into him it just makes our relationship more strained . And I don't know what to do

OP posts:
Puskiesauce · 26/12/2025 03:13

Well at your wedding I assume there will be lots of people so you can avoid him.

The rest of it - just let the meet ups tail off. If he's your sister's choice he could be there for a long time!

DaisyChain505 · 26/12/2025 06:19

I was waiting for you to say that he’d done something awful or unforgivable. We’re not alway going to gel with or like every individual that is introduced into our lives by friends or family but you accept that’s who they’ve chosen to be with.

unless you want to lose the relationship with your sister just invite him to the wedding and snap out of it. You’ll barely see the man.

Cando6 · 26/12/2025 06:32

Being a condescending bore isn’t bad enough to create a whole family drama. I thought you were going to say he was violent/druggie/sex pest.

CuboidRectangle · 26/12/2025 06:32

He just sounds like a crashing bore. Like the uncle (Colm?) from Derry Girls. I wouldn't be dramatic and avoid a family Christmas or uninvite him to my wedding over it. I'd just minimise the amount of 1-on-1 time talking directly to him (aka being talked at by him).

Wingingit73 · 26/12/2025 06:37

He actually sounds ND. You dont have to like him. I thought maybe he was violent or something. Get s grip. To be fair he sounds annoying but your sister loves him and that should be enough for you to endure him occasionally

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 26/12/2025 06:41

It actually sounds more like you think that he requires to give you some sort of “respect” or hierarchy and he’s not and that’s what’s annoying you?

DeftGoldHedgehog · 26/12/2025 06:50

Why not just tell him, firmly but politely, to back off? Just tell him to stop mansplaining.

Countduckula52 · 26/12/2025 06:57

I use to wonder how some people never get bored in their everyday lives (like I do). Now I know! The mundane holds great meaning to them 😂

Eastie77Returns · 26/12/2025 07:03

He tells you things rather than seeking an opinion. He showed your DD interesting things to do in London and showed you some wine online that he likes drinking but did it in a ‘know it all’ kind of way rather than trying to be helpful?

That sounds annoying but your reaction to is way over the top.

GiveafuckGertrude · 26/12/2025 07:03

All I got from this is that you really need to work on your tolerance of others, otherwise you’re going to spend the rest of your life being angsty and moaning

EleanorReally · 26/12/2025 07:05

some people are like this, you have to change how you react to him

dollyboots · 26/12/2025 07:09

I know this sounds dramatic, but if something terrible happened to your sister, would you still want a relationship with your niece/nephew? Because they’d be living with him and access to them would be at his discretion.
I maintain a functional relationship with my bestie’s ex for this reason.
A bit of an OTT thing I know, but might help with reconciling yourself to sometimes hanging out with the person your sister has chosen.

Simplestars · 26/12/2025 07:10

You really need to relax.

I was expecting something horrendous.

Yes, he is a bore, but come on choose your battles.

Everyday we will meet people we simply don't gel with in work, neighbours , partners friends etc.

But we learnt to tolerate and live your own life.

Life can be challenging and hard. However this is not a high ranking challenge.

Simplestars · 26/12/2025 07:12

You need to give them a break and take a chill pill.

Untailored · 26/12/2025 07:13

Agree that you all seem to be over reacting to what is just a slightly annoying personality trait. I’m sure you have some yourself, as we all do. You put up with other people’s in the hope they put up with yours.

HelmholtzWatson · 26/12/2025 07:17

Grow up and stop being such a drama queen.

GaspingGekko · 26/12/2025 07:22

I had a look at your previous post about your BIL, presuming that there must be some back story of nastiness. But still nothing.
Yes, he sounds like a bore, yes he's clearly one of those people who like the sound of their own voice and don't actually make conversation.
You seem to think that ignoring the comment about your fiancé not drinking wine is him being rude. I can see how it would be frustrating, but it seems to suggest unaware of social clues rather than rude. He isn't insulting your fiancé because he doesn't drink wine, just carrying on his boring conversation regardless.

None of this suggests someone you should not invite to a wedding. Your sister has chosen him, he is father to your nibling. Just slap a smile on and walk away when you can.

JLou08 · 26/12/2025 07:26

All I got from that post is that you are being really difficult and damaging family relationships because your sisters boyfriend has limited social skills.
From the way your post is written and your attitude towards your family, I'd guess your social skills aren't all that great either. Sometimes we have to rub along with people for the sake of our family. There are exceptions to that, such as someone being abusive, but someone delivering advice in a way you find condescending does not warrant your dramatic behaviour.

chargarl · 26/12/2025 07:29

I don't understand what he's done wrong to deserve all this.
Yes he sounds dull as ditchwater but that seems to be it.
Learn to be more tolerant

HPFA · 26/12/2025 07:37

I'm really annoyed and pissed off that not only does she ignore these things about him.

Why is it her problem that you don't like him? Presumably there are things about him she loves.

Would be different if you could name something abusive that he does but the main gripe seems to be you just think he's boring.

MayaPinion · 26/12/2025 07:40

It sounds like he is trying to be nice and helpful but you don’t like him because you think he’s a know it all. It’s perfectly normal to suggest places to go if you know a city someone is going to visit, or offer an opinion on wine, or whatever. I thought you were going to describe a horrible, cheating, abusive, scumbag, but in reality it just sounds like he’s a bit different to you. Your sister loves him. As long as he’s treating her and their baby well that’s the only thing that’s important.

Dannydevitoiloveyourart · 26/12/2025 07:41

Is there more to this? He’s a talkative bore? Thats it? That’s not worth damaging your relationship with your sister through all this drama- you and your mother sound like school girl bullies.

If there’s more to it I apologise but I thought he would be a creepy perv, openly racist, abusive to your sister…or something like that. Just because you don’t like his personality doesn’t mean you should exclude him (and by extension exclude your sister) - you’re not the one marrying him so why does his behaviour bother you so much?!

Batteriesoptional · 26/12/2025 07:41

CuboidRectangle · 26/12/2025 06:32

He just sounds like a crashing bore. Like the uncle (Colm?) from Derry Girls. I wouldn't be dramatic and avoid a family Christmas or uninvite him to my wedding over it. I'd just minimise the amount of 1-on-1 time talking directly to him (aka being talked at by him).

This. Like you OP I find “know it all, know it best” types insufferable and I can get really stuck on their behaviour which makes it 100% worse for me. Avoid them as much as possible for your sanity’s sake and when around them unleash your inner Mel Robbins and Let Them.

SnappyOchre · 26/12/2025 07:53

Are you also planning to cut DM out for being so “particular”? That’s as much of a non-problem as being a talkative bore.

HatStickBoots · 26/12/2025 07:59

I read the OP thinking that the man in question is a psychopath. At least, from what I can gather, he is not picking up on all this hatred and disapproval. Does he really think, as you assume, that he is a “know it all best” or just sharing his interest in whatever topic you’re discussing? A “know it all best” type is arrogant and dismissive of people and from what I’ve read here, this one isn’t like that. Think yourself lucky.