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Bereavement

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My sister died but no contact from MIL or SIL

48 replies

avocadoandtears · 29/07/2021 04:46

My lovely sister died 3 weeks ago and I haven't been contacted at all by my MIL or SIL. We've been married over 10 years and they had both met my sister plenty of times

I haven't mentioned it to my husband - I'm overwhelmed with my sisters loss and don't want to waste energy on this. But I'm bewildered by their silence and feel so hurt. I can't imagine ever wanting to do any family events with them ever again. Why are they doing this?

OP posts:
bonfireheart · 08/08/2021 08:58

Being uncomfortable is no excuse a single text that says "sorry for your loss, thinking of you" is easy peasy.

Holly60 · 08/08/2021 09:08

I’m so sorry for your loss. I agree they should be in contact but I’ll echo others and suggest you speak to DH about it. He knows them better and will be able to give some insight hopefully. It may be they’ve been keeping in contact with him and he hasn’t told you

HeyGirlHeyBoy · 08/08/2021 09:10

Incredibly hurtful and unfortunately these things stick with us at such a difficult time. This would change my opinion of them completely tbh. Very sorry for your loss, may your sister rest in peace Flowers

WimpoleHat · 08/08/2021 09:15

I agree - I’d speak to your DH and see if they’ve spoken to him.

A friend of a friend went through something horrendous- I found out because I bumped into her. I then got a call from our mutual friend to say “look - she just doesn’t want anyone to know or to have deal with it at the moment. So please don’t call/write/send flowers.” So obviously I didn’t. They may have asked your DH what to do and he may have said “she’s terribly upset - leave it”, thinking it was best.

CasaBonita · 08/08/2021 09:17

I had a similar thing happen with my MIL. Everyone else on their side of the family had messaged me but radio silence from her. I was fuming. She did eventually send flowers but only after she had been pulled up on it by my SIL or FIL. So it wasn't off her own back. Her excuse was also that she didn't know what to say Hmm

I'd definitely mention it to your husband, he needs to know imo.

So sorry for your loss OP, take care Thanks

SoupDragon · 08/08/2021 09:18

Sorry for your loss Flowers

Are they normally friendly? If so they might think they are giving you space but it is odd not to have mentioned it at all. A card at least is very unobtrusive. I assume they do know? It seems unlikely that they don't though.

SummerOfComedy · 08/08/2021 09:21

I feel for you. I lost both my parents in a relatively short time and I never got any acknowledgement from my in laws.
I had considered us to be fairly close,never forgetting cards and gifts for new borns, weddings etc.
I had seen how they treated another in law and they couldn't do enough for them, which I thought was so thoughtful.
Then my mum died and nothing.
I was so hurt by it. Then the same with my dad.
Years later and it still upsets me now,but I've never told a soul how I feel (until now!).
I leave DH to organise all gifts and cards now, so that means no one gets anything from us anymore, because he's useless at it!

HeyGirlHeyBoy · 08/08/2021 09:26

Surely you've told your dh SummerofComedy? That's dreadful, I'd have as little to do with them as possible. I had the same from BIL and wife, who I had v much supported after a bereavement of her own. Radio silence for me. I am civil but uninterested in them now.

beigebrownblue · 08/08/2021 09:57

Can I offer a different opinion?

Some p.ps have said that some people just don't know what to do with grief. I feel during Covid the situation has got worse.

I grew up with the kind of attitude that it is not talked about. I don't think it is a helpful attitude to have, or to teach kids and I deal with grief with my own child differently.

I was never taken to a funeral when I was younger, and so dreaded them, mostly because no one had every showed me what to do.

They may think as others have said that it was at the moment appropriate to send thoughts via DH and that he has just forgotton or assumed you would understand anyway.

Nowadays I make a point of saying to someone in person 'I'm so sorry for your loss'. I feel it takes a certain amount of maturity to do this.

However, I really don't think I could bear to watch a funeral online. Especially one where the person was close to me. I would just have to hope others understood. I detest Zoom meetings and the like and dread them anyway. I know I should have got used to it by now, but don't think I ever will.

Please give these people the benefit of the doubt. People I believe go a litlte bit crazy when a bereavement happens, and there may be strange reactions that don't make sense at the time.

I really think it would be better if we talked about grief more and things like a wake I would have appreciated in my life as I feel it really can help people.

There have been so many losses in Covid I think some people including myself just blank things out and can't cope with them.

It would be such a shame if you had a previously good relationship to lose that because of grief reactions which may calm down with time.

I am so sorrry for your loss OP.

C8H10N4O2 · 08/08/2021 10:49

I grew up with the kind of attitude that it is not talked about. I don't think it is a helpful attitude to have, or to teach kids and I deal with grief with my own child differently

But did it also just completely ignore death?

I've met many people who seem unable to deal with it in person but most at least have the social graces to sign a standard sympathy card or equivalent and know that you can't completely ignore the situation.

HotAndGrumpy · 08/08/2021 10:57

Not being able to deal with the passing away of someone not that close to you (e.g. M/SIL and the OP’s sister) is massively self centred. It makes it about them. It’s immature, self indulgent and callous.

Cocolapew · 08/08/2021 11:01

I'm so sorry for your loss Flowers
IMO passing on condolences through DH still isn't enough.

Rittersport · 23/08/2021 22:10

Sorry for the loss of your sister avocado.
I lost my sister a few years ago and lots of people were incredibly useless. I was shocked how little effort anyone made. Being generous they probably have no idea what you're going through or how to help. Being less generous they're probably wrapped up in their own lives/ don't give that much of a shit. I felt very bitter about it for a long time and tbh I don't think I'll ever forget it. But people have their own lives and you have to take them at face value if you want them in your life. I'd give them a wide berth for a while and if you have people in your life you can rely on, turn to them. I honestly think sibling loss is so underestimated. Most people haven't experienced it and cannot comprehend it like we can. Would love to hear about your sister. Feel free to PM me if it helps to talk. All the best.

MuchasSmoochas · 23/08/2021 22:22

Sorry to hear about your sad loss OP 💐

My MIL was exactly the same when my dad died and she’s a lovely person, very kind and loving… just absolutely shit about death 🤷‍♀️ Mind you when her husband died she didn’t talk about it either. So I wouldn’t take it to heart necessarily.

MimsyBorogroves · 23/08/2021 22:33

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Same experiences here. When my Grandmother died it was ignored by in laws despite them knowing how close we were. DH had to go away with work at the time of her funeral and it was touch and go whether I could attend as I had no childcare for our children - no offer to help out. Nobody checked I was ok (we live away from my family and close to his) while husband was away.

However when SIL's boyfriend's nan died (a few months later) they looked after their children for a week so that they could attend the funeral and have a break away together to give him time to grieve. Lots of care shown.

JeVoudrais · 30/08/2021 11:57

I'm so sorry about your sister OP.

Some people are so utterly shit it's unreal. I don't think there is any justification for it. I got a card in the post from MIL but it has never been spoken of. My BIL and SIL told me they thought it best not to get me birthday present (birthday was two weeks after the death) as I probably wouldn't have felt like celebrating Confused

Hyppogriff · 30/08/2021 11:59

Sorry for your loss. Talk to your DH

KatherineSiena · 30/08/2021 12:12

I’m very sorry for your loss. My condolences.

All those trying to offer a different perspective or explain away their actions as not knowing what to say, a text or a card takes moments to write. I would expect a card at the very least, it shows people are thinking of you even if they aren’t doing anything more.

Wibbly1008 · 02/08/2022 08:59

I’m so sorry for your loss. I have had the exact same thing when my sister died and I didn’t hear anything from my SIL. It’s so hurtful that like you, I’m struggling to forgive. I’m hoping time will help, but I have no intention of speaking to her again at this time. In our times of trial we really need to know our families are there for us, and honestly a simple text could have done that.

Yika · 30/08/2022 10:22

I am so very sorry for the loss of your sister.

i can really sympathise as I found the silence of family members over a traumatic bereavement the worst thing I had to deal with, layering up feelings of resentment, disappointment etc on top of the grief itself. It has damaged my relationship with them, even though I made some effort to rise above it, make first contact etc.

i would say something now before it builds up. Tell your DH to talk to them to avoid having a difficult conversation yourself (which might not help if they are that useless - they might just get defensive).

dapsnotplimsolls · 30/08/2022 10:25

This thread is from last year.

justaladyLOL · 30/08/2022 10:29

So sorry to hear as others have said have a chat with hubby

Mothership4two · 31/08/2022 05:07

As @dapsnotplimsolls said, this thread is over a year old

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