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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this a normal adult sibling relationship?

117 replies

treasurechest92 · 02/01/2026 08:45

I have siblings and we are close but not to this extent. There's a long list of things that have been bothering me, and I don't know if I'm overthinking. Friends have given mixed opinions. A bit of background and a few examples....

Dh has one sibling, they are both late thirties. I like his sister, she is a nice woman.

When I first met dh, he told me he would never move in with me as I live too far away from his sister (20 min drive).
On a weekend away once his sister was sent to hospital with appendicitis and he was planning to leave our weekend away to go to the hospital, despite her having her parents and husband with her.

His mum regularly told me that 'sisters child' is dh's soulmate.

During an argument about something entirely unrelated, he randomly told me he would rather spend time with 'sisters child' than anyone else as they are easy company (aged 7).

He once told me his ideal woman is 'homely, girl next door vibes, just like sisters name' which is the complete opposite of me, I am a heavily tattooed and not conventionally good looking woman.

On two seperate occasions where I've invited sister and kids to join in activities with us and our kids, she's been unable to attend so asked to rearrange time or day, I've been unable to due to work, so instead of sticking to original plans with me, he's rearranged and done the activities with her and I've been left out despite it being my original plan, and despite me asking him not to as I really wanted to see the kids doing it.

A conversation where sister was showing me a scar on her stomach and how much she hated it, to try and make her feel better I said my stomach is covered in stretchmarks, dh pipes up with 'scars are cool as fuck, stretchmarks are ugly'.

Once we were staying in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere, and sat outside at night and a man was watching us from across the trees and it made me really uncomfortable, I asked dh to go and say something and he refused. At a later date when discussing it, he said 'of course if sister was there I would have gone and had a word with the bloke as she would have been scared'.

The next two have both happened this week, which is why I'm writing this now.

On Christmas day night, kids were in bed and we were getting intimate on the sofa, initiated by him, both partially undressed and clearly wantong to have sex, I asked if he'd like to move to the bedroom and he said 'no, I'm going to phone sisters name'.

His sister showed up to an event wearing something I loved, I told her I love it and that I had actually been considering buying it but hadn't (as dh had said it was tacky, I didnt tell her this part). After the party, dh was gushing about how great she looked and I reminded him he had said it was tacky when I wanted to buy it and he replied 'tacky on you but sisters name can pull everything off'.

I have tried talking to him about the last two but he said theres nothing to talk about and put his headphones in.

I hate myself for thinking badly of their relationship but there are loads more examples than what I've written here. Twice this week I've seen her come up to him, lean against him and rest her head on his shoulder and it honestly made me feel a bit sick.

OP posts:
EveningSpread · 02/01/2026 20:56

Your DH is horrible, no matter what else!

I can’t imagine how you ever got married. He mustn’t always have been like this? It sounds like you have kids, are they his? If so they must be younger than your nephew (7), right? If they’re yours it’s awful that he says he’d rather spend time with nephew than anyone else, ie you and his own kids!

What’s your relationship like otherwise? Does he feel superior to you, inferior to you? Do you both work? What shapes your dynamic?

Asking because it just boggles the mind that anyone could behave like him. He enjoys making you feel like shit, clearly. They always pretend they don’t know what you’re talking about, but in my experience they know exactly what they’re doing and they do it on purpose to belittle you.

I’m angry for you, OP!!!

thaisweetchill · 02/01/2026 20:56

The stretch marks comment would have been it for me. OP you deserve much better than this and that’s aside from the weird sibling relationship they have.

Maybe look at marriage counselling if you don’t want to split?

InLawAgain · 02/01/2026 21:09

Likeaburstcouch · 02/01/2026 09:02

Definitely dodgy and I'm concerned for his sister's child as well!

My thoughts exactly - many red flags mentioned in the post

Thisismadness · 02/01/2026 21:18

Their relationship is weird but that aside, he’s pretty horrible to you. Sorry OP, I’d be looking to get out based on that alone.

Flowersforyourchocolateprettyplease · 02/01/2026 22:01

Pick any two examples and it's clear this is t a healthy relationship. Why have you stayed despite all these signs?

He doesn't respect you and his sister comes first in your relationship, followed by his niece then probably his mum.

The answers are right in front of you.

Venusmoon · 03/01/2026 11:50

He’s disrespecting you - so is his sister. They appear to be obsessed with each which they need to understand is not normal and you should not have to put up with it. Can you relay to him how you feel in a calm and factual way. If he (they) don’t change only you can decide if that relationship is worth it for you. Personally, from what you have said I would be quietly making plans to leave making sure I was mentally ready and financially sound. Consulting a good solicitor is a start. I wouldn’t stand for nonsense and be dragged into them blaming you saying things like ‘you’re overreacting’, ‘chill out’ ect.. You will feel better when you are in control decide what you want, not your husband or his sister.

hby9628 · 03/01/2026 11:58

Honestly. I love my brother. He’s one of my best mates but this is just odd. I would be very uncomfortable around this.

TimeForATerf · 03/01/2026 17:39

Nope, youve taken this too far.

TessSaysYes · 03/01/2026 17:46

This is affair territory... Just kidding 🤣
But I agree with you, it's really weird, unnerving even.

Diblin93 · 06/01/2026 01:36

They’re collaborating with each other to make you feel bad. It’s manipulative, it’s deliberate and it’s nasty. Neither of them like you and they’re ganging up on you. Talking to him will not change anything as he already knows what he is doing and is quite happy to hurt you. Do you have kids? Regardless of whether you have kids or not, would you consider leaving him. My father was like this; comparing me unfavourable with ‘anyone’ that he could. I know exactly how it feels and how it erodes your self worth. There’s no sexual relationship of any kind between him and his sister but they will allow you to think that so they can continue to hurt you. If you suggested such a thing they would outraged. Please don’t question their relationship in this way as it will be fully utilised and used as ammunition against you.

Otterdrunk · 06/01/2026 06:22

I had an ex who was similar but not as bad as this. He was in awe of his sister, put her on a pedestal & put her above & before everyone else. He literally worshipped her & constantly eulogised about how great she was. He was so animated when he talked about her & their connection was very flirtatious. I found it really gross & like he was being unfaithful emotionally with another woman that was his sister. She would sit on his lap when a bit drunk & he would go out of his way to protect or defend her. The final straw was when they went away for a weekend together as she was having marital problems & said with glee on their return how they’d shared a room & that it had a four poster bed in it of all things! When I reacted to this naturally he could not understand it or claimed not to. That it was just funny not anything dodgy. He couldn’t even seem to understand how such things as boundaries & appropriateness matter. She was a decent earning & he a high earning individual so it’s not as though budget constraints meant they needed to share a room. When I reacted in disgust he said it was because I was jealous that he’d taken her away for a weekend that was Valentine’s Day & not me. It didn’t take me long to exit out of that one. I don’t think you can stay with him OP - the constant comparison to his sister will erode your self esteem to nothing as you will never be good enough. Why waste your time on someone who quite clearly, for who knows whatever reasons is obsessed with his sister? I mean ick doesn’t even begin to describe it. Get rid!

juice92 · 06/01/2026 06:37

This is not normal at all. My brother would not put me before his partner and wouldn't compare us like that either.

sociallydistained · 06/01/2026 06:50

So dodgy no way I could cope!

IsabellaGoodthing · 06/01/2026 18:51

Why are you with this man OP? Has he always been so rude to you?

Lightuptheroom · 06/01/2026 18:58

My ex was like this with his mother, he constantly defended it by saying his dad had died when he was 16. We divorced after 8 years together, ds was 2 and his mum tried to snatch DS after constantly telling me that DS was her baby. Hence why he's been an ex for over 20 years

MrsChristmasHasResigned · 06/01/2026 19:21

juice92 · 06/01/2026 06:37

This is not normal at all. My brother would not put me before his partner and wouldn't compare us like that either.

I agree. Sounds like he has a massive dose of Madonna/Whore syndrome which to me is often a sign that particular man really does not like women underneath it all.

RunningJo · 06/01/2026 19:45

The way he behaves towards his sister is beyond weird. He isn’t being over protective. He’s being bloody strange!
If this behaviour doesn’t make you want to leave, then how he treats you definitely should, he sounds nasty, and this nastiness isn’t something that should be normal towards his wife, let alone then comparing you to his sister?!
This whole situation is not odd, his behaviour towards his sister is odd. You say his sister doesn’t reciprocate, but surely she’s enabled him all these years but not calling him out.

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