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Genealogy

extremely Jealous Sister in Law?

88 replies

BellaSing1607 · 14/05/2020 02:04

Hi everyone, im quite frustrated and am losing track of how to deal with things.
sorry for the extremely long message, i had to give a lot of examples so you guys can clearly understand the situation and give relevant advice.

I am originally from switzerland and moved here to london to be with my husband. we are both very young, me being 23 and him being 25 so we did get married quite young which obviously did come with some consequences (not being the most financially stable.) his family offered us to live with them for the first few years of being married so we could save up to buy a house early on in our lives which we totally appreciate and thanks to them we are now able to buy a house in London, which otherwise we could have never dreamed of at this age. The only problem with that is that my husband is the eldest of 4 so the house is quite busy. I do get along with my in laws really well, 3 of his siblings are really nice. but he also has a sister which also happens to be my age (23). ever since i moved here, she never ever did an effort to introduce me to people, to not make me feel so lonely as obviously moving to a different country can be. in fact, most of her friends reached out to get to know me, to the point where they would host dinners for example, and tell my sister in law to tell me to come as well, and i would never receive the invitation. i only happen to find out a day before or after, quite funnily, when the host asks me oh, dont forget about tomorrow, or why did you not come?
she would also invite all the girls over to our house and i would literally be upstairs and could hear them, but she would never call me. at first i used to think that maybe they dont want to get to know me, or they are having private conversations which understandably they wouldnt like to share with a person they do not yet know, but after introducing myself and hanging out with them i can only say they really like me and want to get to know me.

there has been countless incidents where for example we would both be at home bored (for example before i started work) and my husband would be at work, and she would just dress up and leave the house, and then a few hours later post on her social media that she is out with her friends. again i tried to justify why she never asked me to come, by saying that maybe again they want to have private time and it is understandable. however one time she dressed up and got all ready, and then the door bell rang when she was in the toilet so i had to open it and met her friend and sat down with her until my sister in law came down. when i wanted to leave, her friend was like where are you going, i came here to meet you, go on dress quickly and come with us,, really pushing it. clearly my siter in law did not want that to happen, otherwise she would have told me to get ready. there are countless other incidents .

i have approached her multiple times and asked her why she as acting this way, and she would always say, oh i forgot to tell you, oh i didnt know you wanted to get to know them, oh i didnt think about it. countless excuses and every time i would believe her and forgive her.

after approaching her multiple times, she found new tricks of getting ready and dressed up, and on her way out of the door ask me "do you want to come with us" well obviuosly not because it would take me at least 30 minutes to get ready and you guys are leaving now... but just so she can say "i asked you"

now even during corona virus, she came to my door saying hi do you want to go for a walk again dressed up and everything, to which i said no because i had work. 30 minutes later i found out on social media that she went on a walk with 2 of our friends. she clearly never mentioned it because she knew i would come. the problem is my friends always assume that she told me to come but i said no. they rely on her telling me because we live together. other than that we have a group chat where we invite everyone diretly.

anyway after speaking to my husband about it all he came up with is treat her the way she treats you. before you head out say, hi do you want to come with us.

the problem is she has now also started to insult my relationship. if my husband and i would have the smallest discussion, she would say "gosh you guys keep arguing, so annoying" or just rude things like that. or for example the other day she was cooking and my husband went to her, jokingly saying " is this how you make curry, RIP" and she came up with "gosh i feel so sorry for your wife" and i was in the kitchen.... what do i have to do with this?

if my husband and i were in the heat of an argument, she would stirr it and say, you guys keep arguing bla bla, instead of saying something like "calm down guys, its okay" and maybe try to make us laugh like a normal human would.

my husband and i dont argue too much btw, it just seems like she is looking for an excuse to annoy me.

if i was preparing something for dinner like vegetable rolls, she would walk up to her mom saying mom look theyre still empty here... well why did you not tell me? why does she love to make me look bad?

if they make a dish that i dont like, she would be the first one to comment to my husband " what are you going to eat in your house, pasta all day every day" " what are ur kids gonna eat" infront of the whole house.

there is just so many things that i could say but i assume you guys get the point. i just dont know how to handle her anymore.
i dont like to speak to my in laws about it and show her that i care, as i fear it would only make her feel that she is winning and things would get worse.

My husband and i are soon moving out so hopefully things wont be as bad, but what is your opinion on her behaviour?

to those asking, she is single and has never had a partner, dont know if it is relevant.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 14/05/2020 02:21

Her behaviour is irrelevant. You are the only one responsible for your response and reactions. She's immature and petty, so why are you wasting your emotional energy being consumed with her issues? Ignore her. Let her get on with whatever stupid shit she's doing. Why even care about the childish games she plays?

EL8888 · 14/05/2020 02:24

She doesn’t appear to be especially jealous from what l can see. More thoughtless and petty but quite annoying. That’s the perils of living with others especially family

Toomuchtrouble4me · 14/05/2020 02:47

So you've moved in to her home and now you want to share all of her friends? Maybe she doesn't want you traipsing along with her and her friends? Maybe she doesnt like you? Just because you married her brother does not give you the right to invade her life, share her friends, and go everywhere she goes ffs! I think she's been tolerant - why should she have to go and invite you to her room if she's hanging out with her friends? Get your own life and leave her to enjoy hers without you hanging like a weight around her neck!

Aquamarine1029 · 14/05/2020 02:57

It is very odd that you think she should invite you to tag along on all of her night's out. You haven't considered that maybe she wants a break from you?

BellaSing1607 · 14/05/2020 03:18

I understand your comments about me being unreasonable to expect her to share her friends with me, i assume i haven't clarified enough. We both come from the same background country, (not switzerland where i grew up neither London). We come from a country that is very far away and have a rather small community here in london. So when i mention friends, i mean people of my community, not in general her friends. I dont care about her colleagues, uni friends or whatever, but i expect to be introduced to be part of my community and share community events. Makes more sense ?

OP posts:
BellaSing1607 · 14/05/2020 03:25

Its also worth a mention that when she used to come to our country of origin for summer holidays, where i have friends as i lived there for a few years, i would introduce her to all my friends and take her with me wherever i go, as i understood that she doesnt know anyone in this country apart from her cousins (which she doesnt get along well with) and wanted her to have more fun. We did get along quite well and were good friends up until i got married. I had a car and would literally take her out with me all the time and never had a problem. Most people i have spoken to say she feels threatened that i will be more popular in the community as everyone is showing interest in welcoming me. And that she is also jealous about me being married at 23 whilst she might be feeling a bit lonely without a partner at this age. I was wondering if a non biased person would think the same or if i am being unreasonable having mentioned everything now ?

OP posts:
Noteventhebestdrummer · 14/05/2020 03:36

Look, she just doesn't like you. She doesn't have to share her friends with you as well as sharing her home! Move out and build your own life.

Aquamarine1029 · 14/05/2020 03:37

Sorry, you don't make sense. You are expecting her to be the person you are. She's clearly not, so it's high time you accept it. Whatever her reasons are, she doesn't want to share every part of her life with you.

BellaSing1607 · 14/05/2020 03:45

The funny thing is that i would have met these girls anyway by going to our community event with or without her.. She is just trying to hinder things and prevent me to build friendships. If events come up and i get an invitation through her, but never receive it, thats fine to you? As i mentioned, i don't expect her to share her friends with me, i expected her to introduce me to my community, to girls of my age in my community, which i would have without her anyway as my husband takes part in all the community events. A lot of these girls in this group are married to my husbands friends, so i would have become friends with them and been part of the group without her as i said. Its not her choice. They are not just her friends, they are the girls of my community of similar age than mine, which again, with or without her i would have been part of. She just made things very awkward. I didnt expect her to introduce me to her uni friends or work friends which i have nothing to do with, calm down.

OP posts:
BellaSing1607 · 14/05/2020 03:48

Or do you suggest that i should have never been interested in being part of the girls of my communitys group because she is part of it?! I just found it very awkward of her trying so hard to hinder it and wanted to get some advice of how to deal with things.

OP posts:
CocoCorona · 14/05/2020 03:51

Make your own friends. Give her space. You’re still young, but by default you need to be the bigger person because you’re married. Adults get married. Be an adult.

Ginfilledcats · 14/05/2020 03:52

All very strange. If they're your community, and your husbands friends wives why do you need your sister to invite you places - why are they not texting or calling you or your husband to invite you? Why are you not making plans with them? I think it's a bit much to expect your SIL to be your social organiser and provider when she clearly has a jealousy issue. Just go around her and make your own plans! Good luck

BagpussAteMyHomework · 14/05/2020 03:56

Not sure I understand this. You are 23 and moved in to his family home after needing time to save up... but say you now have the money to buy a house in London? That’s a lot of saving, even on two salaries and no rent.

That would imply that you have been living in this house for a while. Your SIL may simply feel that it’s time you two moved out. She wants her home back.

HannaH021 · 14/05/2020 04:00

I'm sorry, i too dont understand the dynamics and ur expectations. She doesnt seem to enjoy ur company and thats absolutely fine. You really need to make your own friends, and those community friends who want you will reach out to you directly...
if i were you, i would leave her circle alone and find my own. Your expectations seem honestly unreasonable, she doesnt sound jealous, she might be feeling a bit of competition but at the end of the day, you need to leave her and her circle alone. You complaining to her, your husband bla bla makes you look unreasonable.

Aquamarine1029 · 14/05/2020 04:02

Why aren't these "girls" inviting you directly? Perhaps that's the question you should be pondering. If you are so concerned with being a member of your community , whatever that is, then you need to make that happen, not your SIL. The only one who needs to calm down is you.

HannaH021 · 14/05/2020 04:03

@BellaSing1607 she's not stopping you from building friends, she's not locking u in the house. You are acting like a dependent person! The community is right there in front of you, go and make your own friends!!!! Why should she introduce you... I must be missing something...

BellaSing1607 · 14/05/2020 04:09

We have been living there for 2 years now. Fair enough, i can understand she wants her home back, i want to move into my own house too. That doesnt mean i treat her like that, and its also not an excuse for her to treat me like that either.
I also understand she does not need to be my social organizer, and i have made my own plans and found a way to be part of the community without her, obviously. Thats not the point, you all seem to be mis understanding the point. The point is that when ever granted the opportunity, she would try to stop me from being part of an outing. Even though everyone else wants me there. She would invite the girls that i am also friends with to our home, chill with them in our living room, and not let me know they are here. Is that not awkward to you? The girls then ofcourse call me and come to check up on me, but from her side, why did she not say hi im inviting the girls today for example. Why is everything so awkward. Naturally if you are living with your in laws, alot of people would assume things are fine and invite me for dinner by telling her, please also tell bella to come. I can not blame my friends as i do understand they treat us as siblings. If you are friends with siblings, you dont text both. You text one and tell her to bring the other along. Sometimes they message me and tell me to tell her to come along which i do, and sometimes rhey message her and tell her to tell me to come along, which she then never does. We also have a group chat where a lot of the events are announced there to invite everyone. Many many times she would not ask me if i am going, or coordinate a way for us to go together. We live in the same house lol. Isnt it extremely awkward for each of us to leave alone and then meet there? Let alone what would people think of us? I understand she does not like me, i also very very much dislike her. The question was how to deal with the situation.

OP posts:
BellaSing1607 · 14/05/2020 04:13

Everyone is telling me not to rely on her.. guys i clearly havent... i managed to make my own friends, i managed to be part of the group without her.. but we are part of the same group now and whenever i get invited through her she never tells me it. We would be invited to the same dinner but each going alone because she has too much pride to ask me whether i will be attending or not, what time i am leaving or whatever. Im not relying on her to take me, ofcourse i can ans always do go by myself. I just find it extremely childish and awkward and am looking for advice on how to keep some sanity lols

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 14/05/2020 04:14

You deal with it by being cordial, polite, yet distant. She doesn't want you in her personal life. That's the situation. Deal with it. Give her all the space you possibly can and do your own thing. What other advice could you need?

Aquamarine1029 · 14/05/2020 04:16

If your "friends" are not inviting you directly to events, you need to take that up with them.

StinkyWizzleteets · 14/05/2020 04:18

OP I kind of understand - you’re all part of a minority community and she is an established member In your location. You’d like to become established member too having moved here from
Elsewhere. I don’t know if your host family are expected, as part of this culture/community to actively engage with and involve you to make you part of the community too. It may well be there are local differences within the culture whereby you have grown up with expectations to be included as her sister in law but that she does not have the same understanding or desire.

Either way, responsibility is yours to join in community activities. You’re not getting a sister from this marriage and she has no responsibility to you to give you a social life or to engage with you as anything other than her brothers wife. She may see you as challenging her social position within the community even if that isn’t your intention and nothing you can say or do will change that. You need to maintain civility but live your own life independent from her. Arrange your own social events and tell others not to rely on her to communicate invites to you. In the end she owes you nothing.

BellaSing1607 · 14/05/2020 04:19

Also before people start saying why i expect her to sometimes ask me if i am attending or arrange a time where we could both leave together, its because i do that quite often out of respect. Am i also being unreasonable to expect that? Do you think its better to just pretend that we do not live together? And do u think it is also better to start acting like her and when people ask me to tell her to come along, just ignore it as she does? She doesnt like me, i dont like her either, i just used to still do these things out of respect... would you still do them or would you treat her the way she treats me?

OP posts:
BellaSing1607 · 14/05/2020 04:22

Also one more question, do you find it rude if i start planning outings with the girls without including her in the plans like she does? Or is that rude because she is a good friend of theirs before i came here ?

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 14/05/2020 04:25

Again, you are still expecting her to behave as you do. Stop inviting her, arranging anything for her, because she honestly doesn't give a shit. Stop putting anything more into this relationship than she does because there is no relationship, aside from you bring married to her brother. Distance yourself entirely from her and anything to do with her personal life. You will never be close, you will never be friends. Your life will be much happier if you acknowledge this fact now.

HannaH021 · 14/05/2020 04:31

You dont need to invite her to your social gatherings, you just need to leave her and her circle alone and make new friends. Then u wont need to invite her friends at all, and nothing will be awkward.
just because it is a small community, doesnt mean they are only 3 or 4 ppl... I'm sure the community is big enough to cater for two circles but you obviously dont want to make your own circle, and still clinging to hers.