Sister marrying an arse, is there anything anyone can say or do?

[babysaurus]

This may be more of a vent than a question as I strongly suspect that nobody can do or say anything but I'd value any other opinions or viewpoints all the same.

My sister, 34 going on 17, has two kids (2 and 6 months) with a man she'd only been with for 6 months when she found out she was pregnant. He seemed ok at first, bit rough and ready but generally alright, but has since started to show true colours. I am wary of giving too much detail so will be as vague as I can - he's a tradesman but has had no proper work for over a year. He did some for us, then some other members of the family and it was a nightmare. Think attitude, lateness, unprofessional and unreliable. Between us this overpriced 'work' cost just under £10,000. He also seems to fall out with all the suppliers etc too from what I can gather. Add to this he lies to my sister about why things have gone wrong which then causes problems as she gets arsey with whoever it involves (as he would do anything for anyone apparently - haha!)

To cut a long story short, she is determined to marry him. More so after attending our step sisters wedding (think they are just thinking of the big day rather than what they are actually doing tbh.)

Nobody in the family likes him with the possible exception of my mother, although I strongly suspect she isn't really that keen but tries more due to the kids. I think he's on the make myself (he clearly doesn't make himself employable and has previously made badly disguised comments about what our parents house us worth along with numerous other examples.)

I am sort of, with increasing reluctance, going along with their wedding plans (of which he appears to show minimal interest, its all via my sister) as I think telling her what I, and everyone else, think would simply push her away. She has to realise herself I think, but if anyone can think of a way to speed up the process id be hugely grateful!!

[horsetowater]

This man is exhibiting classic abuser tactics. He is nice to her because that's the only way he knows she will stay with him.

He is already segregating her from her friends by pissing them off and demanding her loyalty.

He will do that with her family (you) too. He knows that family stand by whatever, his 'haha' text to you was his test to see how far he can push you. He is playing you as much as he is playing other people around him. He may be doing this consciously, but it is likely that he can't help this - it is the only way he can survive in a close relationship - by maintaining total control and it's something that he developed in childhood.

You have to ask yourself a question -

Is your relationship with her more important than her own happiness and the future happiness of her children?

The thing with family is that you CAN fall out, you WILL come back together. If she cuts you off it will be temporary. But she will always remember that you meant what you said and you said it for her benefit and not for your own gain.

[brokenk]

just try to tell her

[garlicsmutty]

I married an arse. I was tremendously unsure I was doing the right thing. I still went ahead and did it, then, despite rapidly escalating twattery, tried pathetically to make a happy marriage of it. Once it was all over, I wailed "Why did nobody tell me??!" and they all said, predictably, we didn't want to hurt you. Turned out he had massively dropped himself in it with one sister and one brother, to the extent where they discussed having a serious word with me - but didn't.

Thing is, I knew I wasn't just having pre-wedding nerves, but the only person I could talk to about my fears was Twat. All the other people I trusted were jollying me along with suggestions to have a relaxing facial and/or another vodka, so I felt I'd be letting them down!

Also, OP, I have broken the news to a dear friend that her fiancé was both cheating on her and stealing from her. She didn't marry him. It did not destroy our friendship.

Tell her. Good luck!

[ARealDame]

I think its really good to be open, honest and upfront about your concerns and opinions! I think you can really lay it on the line, in a totally sensible and clear way.

Then leave her to make her own decision. She will at least have another helpful reality-check, even if she discards it (for now).

[Bogeyface]

My grandparents tried to talk my aunt out of marrying her bastard husband, but she did it anyway. 50 years later they are still together and she has suffered appalling abuse at his hands, but divorce was not an option :(

I am afraid that telling her wont make much difference apart from ruining your relationship with her, but staying on good terms with her will make all the difference in the world if/when she realises that she must leave.

Think of it this way, if you and she fall out because you tell her something that she doesnt want to hear and wont take any notice of, you are yet another little life line that her fiancé has succeeded in taking from her.

[Bunznroses]

I could've written this- same thing, even down to doing 'work' for family members and ripping them off (and then gloating about it afterwards )
I did try and talk to my sister about it- told her how worried I was for her and that life doesn't need to be as hard as he makes it (she works her arse off and he continually negates whatever gains she's made with his irresponsible behaviour - parking fines, drink driving, writing hire cars off, spending the mortgage money etc. ) i calmly and factually stated what I though of him- she didn't speak to me for a year.

My advice would be to say nothing, just be there for her and hope she comes to her senses sooner rather than later!

[garlicsmutty]

But ... If you have told her your concerns, and she ignores you but later starts to see your point, won't it be easier for her to talk to you?

[ARealDame]

Like most things in life, I still think it depends what you tell her, and how, and when you shut up about it! I think clarity, rather that general "disapproval", tends to be more helpful.

(Also, your sister may have some understanding of his faults - but is prepared to overlook them e.g. for excitement, having a sex partner, or just needing a man around for her ego or even financially (though the latter sounds unlikely)).

I still think if its said clearly, briefly and with grace (and non-confrontational) it could be helpful. I wouldn't bother trying to convince her, as that would be pointless, just leave her to mull over it, as she wishes.

But (fingers burnt here) after that, I would agree about never bothering to comment/criticise again, it will probably backfire.

[LadyFlumpalot]

Ok, if this were my sister I would:

Take her out to a neutral location like a park or cafe. I would say to her "I need to tell you something, I will only say it the once and I will of course support you in any decision you subsequently make - I think you marrying this guy is a mistake. I don't believe he loves you as he should and I think you will be unhappy very soon."

Then leave it there, do not mention it again unless she brings it up with you first, and just be there for her of and when she needs you.

[tightfortime]

With benefit of hindsight, I wish people had told me. They all thought it was a car crash. Confused as to my 'choice' but I seemed 'happy'.

Only one who tried was my mum who gently asked before the wedding if I was sure, not too late etc. I of course assured her. But it did rattle me.

Had she pushed it, or others joined her, I think I would have stopped and listened to the voices in my head warning me off, more.

I would probably have hated them initially. I couldn't understand why my MoH acted up badly at my hen. I assumed jealously, all sorts. Turns out she was devastated she had agreed to be part of the farce.

All now tell me they wish they had said it, had me hate them, but maybe made me think. Same people who have been my rock during the split and I love them for it. But i wish someone had said 'I don't understand what you see in him, nice guy but not right for you and that is all I will say but know I'm there if you need to chat.'

I regretfully repeated same and stood by my very close friend as she married a twunt.

He has isolated her from me as he knows I don't like him. She ignores me but is devastated. All I can do now is be there when it does hit. But while I suggested my worries, I wish I had been straight.

Be the strong one here and say something and ideally, someone else should too in the family or circle of friends. I hate that everyone said it behind my back but was scared to say it to me. It might not have worked but it might have made me stop and think.

[horsetowater]

It's a bit like having your label sticking up at the back of your jumper and nobody saying. Except far far far worse. Don't keep quiet to save your own discomfort.

[Katisha]

Ages ago I had a friend who was marrying someone whose behaviour didnt seem at all right. But in those days I didnt understand about emotionally abusive behaviour.
However some sort of incident happened and we had a flaming row in which the fiance accused me and dh of appalling behaviour when it was actually him being the appalling one.
I was due to be best woman kind of role at the wedding.
The upshot was that I pulled out of being best woman but still went to the wedding.
A couple of years later they were divorced. We are still friends.
I think it's worth saying something and telling her even if she blows up at you, that you will keep the door open and not come back with I told you so.

[NicknameTaken]

I did the disastrous marriage thing too. Nobody warned me, and to some extent I can see that my pride would have been wounded and I would have felt I needed to love him extra hard in the face of disapproval.

I do wonder if it would have helped if somebody had said "I'm sorry, but I don't actually think much of him". An itemized list of his faults wouldn't have worked, because I would have found ways to defend him.

I don't know. When you're in it, the momentum kind of carries you along. Have they set a date? A suggestion that they wait a bit longer so they can save and have a bigger splash might buy her a bit of time to change her mind.

[Chocotrekkie]

I've been in the same situation. They have now split up.

To be honest the fact that they get married is the least of the problems now.

The kids are... He is quite frankly a terrible arse of a dad - he says he'll have them, they get all excited and then he doesn't turn up, brings them home when gets bored, promises them the world etc.

I didn't say anything - now that she has finally seen sense and ditched him we are closer, if I had gone in all "you can't marry him he is an arse" I could have lost her and the kids for good.

She admits herself she wouldn't have listened, been angry with me and would have gone ahead with the wedding anyway without me if necessary.

Just think of the wedding as a party - when you have kids with someone and split the divorce is the easy bit of the equation.

[NicknameTaken]

That's a good point, choco.

[CuChullain]

Most people get incredibly defensive when it comes to criticism of their relationship or their choice in partner. It is horrible to witness someone whom you hold dear making choices that you know is going to work out to their detriment in the long run. My mate recently married a women who I, and many of our peer group loathe, she treats this friend terribly, is manipulative, rude, selfish and a host of other things. We really struggled to see what he saw in her, but ultimately it is his decision. Any intervention on our part would probably have cost us our friendship. The best we can do is be there for him when the penny finally drops that he has married an abusive loon.

[horsetowater]

I think you have to expect a bustup with your friend if you point out that they are marrying an abusive loon. Of course you will bust up, but if your friendship is a good one, you will reconcile and your integrity will make your relationship stronger in the long run.

Either way you've lost the person - you have lost them into a relationship that will drive them into a mental space that they shouldn't be in. And if there are children involved you are sending them there too.

I disagree that a wedding is just a party and a divorce is easy - to the minority it could be seen as that but to most people marriage is a one way ticket.

[babysaurus]

We didn't have Internet yesterday, hence the late response.

Thank you ever so much for your replies, they have been really useful. I think that, however, my sisters fiancé isn't as immediately bad to call for me to collar her for a Serious Chat. That would undoubtedly cause an immediate, and probably dramatic, rift and due to pride, even if / when it goes tits up it wouldn't be easy to rectify. I also strongly suspect that as the wedding is booked for February there is not enough time for her to realise his freeloading etc ways herself, she is unfortunately to wrapped up with wedding planning. Saying all that, I am as sure as you can be they won't be together in, say, five years time. She is currently the only one working (she has a good job, 35k salary so supports them all) but will apparently (I asked her today) soon be helping Arse 're launch his business' - this is the second time for this along with her also paying exam fees and buying books for a 'change of career' he didn't even start. When, I don't feel as if its an if, this latest re launch comes to nothing she must surely start to smell a rat? If not then, then the next time. Eventually it will happen and things like the number of fallings out he has with people will ring bells too.

I think that saying something (bear in mind I've not passed much comment either way) now will cut us off and she will marry him regardless.

[schobe]

All sound horribly familiar. Might be worth pointing out to her that if she marries him and they split, she will end up paying HIM for the privilege.

Oh how I enjoyed watching that for my Dsis (not). Thanks be that there were no kids or he probably would have been (nominally) primary carer and she would also have been screwed re custody.

[horsetowater]

Also point out that if he's at home looking after the children more, it is quite possible that he will be granted residence if they split and she may only have them every other weekend. This will make it very difficult for her to separate even if she wants to and is the kind of thing that makes women stay in a terribly dysfunctional relationship.