Adult Laughing When a Child Hurts Themselves

[IncognitoBurrito]

My sister (32) is pretty immature, but this part of her behaviour I find unacceptable.

She has always found it side-splittingly hilarious when anyone does something painful like stub their toe, bang their head etc. During my teenage years this wound me up no end - imagine being in the throes of agony and someone laughing their arse off at you.

So basically, she has started doing this to my toddler daughter. DD whacked her head on a table to and as I was comforting my wailing child I could see my sister across the table, also crying, but with uncontrollable laughter.

I think it's partly nerves, and the tension of suppressing laughter makes it stronger. She loves DD. It makes me want to slap her, though. I also don't want DD to notice because I think it's very disrespectful. She's too young at present to notice.

I've learnt not to confront my sister because she goes totally apeshit if you question any of her behaviour and we were in the middle of nowhere with only one car so awkward drive back, but I suppose I'm asking WWYD in this situation? Is it a psychological thing? Thanks for reading.

It's a lack of empathy thing, I'd say.
But if she's always done it and never been pulled up on it before, you don't stand much chance of her changing now, so if you don't want your DD to be upset, then you might have to consider limiting how much she sees of your sister.
There are plenty of people who do find others hurting themselves amusing, though, or shows like "You've been Framed" wouldn't have the following that they do.

My mum has always done a similar thing at inopertune moments....I've always put it down to a nervous type of thing....winds me up though

well, it sounds rather over-the-top, but as you seem certain she loves your DD I wouldn't worry.

My DD ran into a lampost once (she was admiring her new shoes which she was wearing as gloves) and whacked her head, of course she hurt herself, poor lamb, but even I was sniggering, it was just a priceless comedy moment, and I should think anyone who wasn't me would be cracking up.

Some people do tend to giggle more when they are nervous.

What makes one person laugh doesn't work for another. I must confess that I have had a giggle when others have hurt themselves. My dh banging his head, my dd falling over thin air and diving over the room............I don't enjoy seeing others in pain it's the random act that precedes it that I find funny (sometimes)

Sorry! I suppose I'm similar to your sister. Try not to take it to heart.

I can imagine that's quite nasty when you are in pain.
I would tell her and be ready for the fall out, she'll come back a better person.
As for your dd she will notice and there is nothing you can do about it really. When she is older you can talk to her about it and say how unacceptable the behaviour is.

Thanks for your responses. I think other strains on our relationship are making this loom larger than it really is. I do have a chuckle about slapstick things myself sometimes, but it's my PFB she's laughing at! ??