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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

AIBU to think my sister is an utter bitch??? [[names edited by MNHQ]]

162 replies

zoelikesjam · 25/05/2015 21:02

Right, so this time last year, well in march,I was invited to go to Australia for my sisters engagement party. Turned out it was a big surprise and they actually got married on that day. I have two other sisters, and S (the bitch from hell) had N and B(two other sisters) as bridesmaids. She totally left me out of the wedding and I was devastated. Anyway, I never said anything as I didn't want t spoil her special day an just left it at that. When I got home, after a month it was my little sister's birthday and they all went out for a meal. S posted something on facebook and because i was ill at the time I took it nastily. She posted about how nice it had been to go out with the whole family etc etc and I took it to heart and pulled her up about it. We got into a little bit of an argument and everything about the wedding came pouring out, about how left out i felt etc etc. S turned round to me and said I had been lucky to get invited as she wasn't even going to invite me so I should have been grateful. I lost my shit, told her she was a selfish cow and blocked her on everything. We've not spoke for over a year.

The this weekend she sent my OH a message saying she was coming over to England and could he arrange for her to spend some time with my three little ones. I wasn't happy about it, but didn't want to upset the children so said to P it was okay. P sent her a message saying, basically, "Z's happy for you to see the children, but I think you should both apologise to one another and kiss and make up"
S then sent P a really snotty message saying that I didn't deserve an apology, she did. And how she had never really liked me or got on with me.

I lost my shit big time, and sent her a message saying we were busy that day 'and besides, did she really think someone who she'd never gotten on with should let her spend time with children who are so much like their mother?'
I know I probably shouldn't have said that, but do you think it deserved this response??? This is what I got back

"Wow! You really are a very low person. I hope you can deal with yourself. One day if you don't poison your children i WILL make contact with them and tell them what you have done and the type of mother you are. I hope for their sakes the NEVER EVER turn out to be just like their mother...I am totally shocked you think this is the right way to behave by punishing your children...I will be telling everyone you have done this and I am sure they will realise you have reached a new low. You should think about that. Oh and just one more thing, just so you know how ridiculous you are, you lost your children and as a result they live with people you don't get along with"

Two years ago I got really sick and my three little ones had to go live with their father, and the youngest went to her Nana's. Last October J&L came back to live with me, as it was made very obvious they were not being looked after properly. Their step-mum had gone back to full time work, and it seemed like Dad couldn't cope, so they came home as I was getting much better health wise and it was apparent they couldn't stay with dad. My youngest has stayed with her Nanny and her father(Who I get on with wonderfully) as she is well loved, well looked after and very settled.

Having spoken to my mother and step-father, they are both in agreement with me that what she has said is vile and I am well within my rights to never let her see the children again. My mum is a little devastated though, she agrees what S has said is some terrible things but, whilst I have to do what I think is right, maybe I should be the bigger person and let her see the children.

So I called mum at 4am(They live in Australia), talked the whole thing through with her and step-dad, and they are very much on my side(Thank god) as the stupid stupid girl forwarded the messages to all of my family(sisters, mum, etc etc) and instead of making me out to be unreasonable she included what she replied to me and all my family is disgusted with her.
I sat down and had a long hard think about it all this morning, and decided I would be the bigger person, so I wrote out this email.

"Despite your vindictive, spiteful, bullying nature, I will prove to you I am not a bad mother. You need to get your facts straight before you start spouting off bile and nasty vile words. I am far from a bad mother. I have brought my children up with respect and manners. An as for my children living with people who I don't get along with, once again you need to get your facts straight. J and L(My two eldest) live with me, and have done for quite for time now. And the only reason A doesn't is because, once again I am a bloody good mother and do not wish to disturb her as she is happy and healthy where she is living. And fyi J(My ex husband) and I get along wonderfully.

J and L ARE busy that weekend, they will be visiting their father, however I was willing to reorganise that so you could spend some time with them. Now, despite your vindictive nature I am still willing to let you spend a little time with them. However you now have a slight problem. When you sent me those sickeningly horrible messages the children were with me when I received them. They are now perfectly aware how much you have hurt and destroyed me. J categorically does not want to see you, and L is undecided. That is your doing, not mine I am afraid. Despite your nasty nature I am still willing to set something up so you can see A and to show I am not the evil bitch you are making me our to be, I will be happy to talk to j and l and try and convince them to spend some time with you.

I will be a grown up, unlike you, and make a profuse apology for the email I sent you last year, however I don't take back what I said. You have hurt me over and over, but I can't say I am surprised, it is after all in your nature.

I don't wish for a response to this message, as it would probably make me change my mind again, and I will feel compelled to stop you seeing the children who are so much like me. That was the main message I was trying to get across, that if you don't like me or get on with me, why would you want to spend time with children who are just like me completely?

As for me not apologising, One, I did send you a Christmas present to sort of break the ice, but on not hearing from you I left it at that. And two, I wasn't going to say sorry for you hurting my feelings, why should I? However, I will be the bigger person and apologise for my attitude and the way I spoke to you.

Anyway, as I said. Don't hold your breath that J and Lwill want to spend any time with you, but I can sort out some time with A."

What do you think? Was that the grown up thing to do? My mum thinks it was, and apparently I wasn't too harsh on her, just told her a few home truths. So with Mum's blessing I've sent that email to her.

Sorry that was so long winded I just needed to get it off my chest and needed a little support. This has just been such a massive set back its unbelievable, This whole saga has devastated me and I never thought she could act in such a spiteful horrible manner. I am, and have utterly broken my heart over this, and it has sucked me further in to the black hole I was just starting to drag myself out of.

OP posts:
lordsandladies · 26/05/2015 08:06

Op I think some people find dealing with MH issues very difficult to understand and it can damage the relationship. I know I've struggled with my DHs recent breakdown and found it hard to take some of the "selfish" behaviour that was in hindsight a symptom.

Having said that if your Dsis was a kind person she would try to be loving and accepting without understanding your MH.

The message you sent wasn't you "being the bigger person" though. You need to understand what you wrote was backhanded and nasty and your DC should not be involved at all.

So saying all that at the moment she is behaving badly and you are ill and you don't work together right now.

You need the relationship "removed" from your current worries even if you pick up and restart later. Perhaps send a calm polite message saying simply "our conversations and feelings have become too fraught and while I love my family very dearly right now we need some distance from one another. I hope you understand and that when I am feeling stronger and perhaps you are feeling more positive we can look again at being in contact and spending time with the children".

saoirse31 · 26/05/2015 08:09

You should stop sending long emails. You should also stop involving your children to the extent you have- even if your upset you don't have to tell them every last dtl.

Sounds as if you need to withdraw a bit from relationship with your sister. Try either talking or sending brief emails , not discussing what u did, what she did etc but being chatty and low key. Sounds as if you'll always fight with each other so for your own mental health you really should stay away from arguments. You can if you want to stay in contact decide to ignore a lot too - be happy you know what's what, you don't have to rise to her nonsense.

re wedding- maybe she just thought it would be a great surprise- looking at it positively.

TandemFlux · 26/05/2015 08:09

She sounds a bit self indulged. I'm also not sure how her behaviour would sit with her Buddhist beliefs. Does she have children? I think it's really odd how she's knocked you down just as you are starting to feel stronger.

I remember having a conversation with a friend who happened to be a counsellor. She said that many families have a scape goat (to make themselves feel superior) and like to allocate roles 'golden child' etc.

What about emailing again then? If you are wanting to move forward and be the grown up, you can.
'sorry for my accusatory tone, I sent my last email while very upset in the early hours of the morning. I am deeply upset that you think so lowly of me. I thought we had been getting on well all these years and the wedding was the first time I realised your true feelings. I think possibly you are struggling with my bipolar condition. The bipolar has been a huge struggle for me as you know and I have been very fortunate to have received such great support in relation to the children. I'm feeling much stronger now generally and can see that i have two options in response to your emails. Either we stop contact completely (including the kids - we are a package) or we work to make things better despite the hurt I am feeling'

saoirse31 · 26/05/2015 08:12

re wedding, maybe she didn't involve you so as not to stress you esp when you were so far away- again maybe looking at it positively.

Sometimes it's easy to think other people have same motivations as us so when they do something we wouldn't do we think it's a deliberately horrible thing to do, but maybe it's not in their eyes.

TandemFlux · 26/05/2015 08:16

At the same time don't let this tear you up. Maybe choose to distance yourself to keep yourself level. Your kids are everything and they need you well.

youarekiddingme · 26/05/2015 08:21

Sorry to hear things are thought ATM and your getting tough replies.

But your response to your sister was tit for tat.

A simple response such as "your personal attack with unfounded accusations are all I need to know that, as a good mum, your not the type of influencing adult I want in my children's lives".

Nettymaniaa · 26/05/2015 08:22

You didn't need to send the email. she really put herself in a bad light when she sent waht she did. Sometimes less is more. I just wouldn't respond to her. However I can understand how you felt you needed to. Walk away from this one. Time may heal more words won't.

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 26/05/2015 08:32

Drop her like a stone & don't let the kids anywhere near her.

Relations are an accident of birth and you can't help knowing them - doesn't mean you have to associate with them though!!

It's your life, personally I'd surround myself with people I like and get on with it, she's not exactly going to be popping over every month or so - block her number & email & get on with life....

Pagwatch · 26/05/2015 08:46

I don't think it's a good idea for your sister to see your children.

Both of you are incapable of protecting your children from your fighting, in fact you are both dragging your children right into the middle of this fight, so no good will come from her being around them.

You should not tell a 10 and 9 year old 'I'm really upset because my sister upset me'. Don't do that anymore.

You are hurt and feel abandoned but honestly, you need to step back.
Whatever you think of your 'love' for your sister, the two of you are deeply unpleasant to each other. Until you are able to engage with each other in a more positive way just stop communicating.
Really. You are on the opposite ends of the earth. Embrace that.
Don't deal with her until you can communicate without ripping each other to pieces.

Stop all communication. Get on with your life. Do not discuss her in any way with your children.

Pagwatch · 26/05/2015 08:47

Incidentally you can ignore all the posters who said 'wow, I couldn't get all the way through that but I think..'
If they are too stupid to read a challenging post, they are too stupid to have an opinion of value.

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 26/05/2015 09:33

If they are too stupid to read a challenging post, they are too stupid to have an opinion of value.

LIKE Grin

youarekiddingme · 26/05/2015 09:35

pag Grin

CamelHump · 26/05/2015 09:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

owlborn · 26/05/2015 09:53

I think you're cutting out a load of back story here and skewing events in your favour a lot. My guess is you are being U. You're just not telling us how.

Pagwatch · 26/05/2015 09:59

At the risk of being a mutual appreciation society, that is a great email from CamelHump.

Triooooooooooo · 26/05/2015 10:20

Families eh.

Can't stand them......can't shoot them either !!

bigbumtheory · 26/05/2015 10:28

Not necessarily owlborn, you may well be right but it could be that the OP just hasn't seen it from her sisters POV and thinks the relationship is fine. As someone up-thread said, sometimes some MH behaviour can be seen as very selfish and impact badly on others but you may not see it if a) you know about the MH problem or b) don't want to see it or c) are living it.

A friend I have, her mum has bipolar and from her mum's POV the whole family is lovely and everything all rosy in the past. The family, especially my friend, would tell you another story with a lot of toxicity and at times what was very much emotional/verbal abuse in the childhood especially before the diagnosis but is now understood to be part of her illnesses.

We know the sister does think OP is toxic, she said so in her email. Whether that's true no one can say, going from OPs words it's not and everything was fine and going from the sisters everything was not fine or okay. Unless we get the sister's POV though we can't say more then that's what the sister thinks and that it could be a possibility that OP should look into. The sister has been pretty vile in her email and whether that's from years of frustration or her just being a shit, who can say?

TheVeryThing · 26/05/2015 10:30

This all sounds hugely stressful for you. I would agree with advice to stop engaging with your sister, and take a big step back from the situation, which must be very harmful to your health.
For now, I think you should focus on your own family and your health.

Perhaps in time your relationship with your sister can improve but I think emotions are running too high at the moment and no good can come of continuing the drama.

Good luck

BeccaMumsnet · 26/05/2015 14:51

Hi zoelikesjam - we'll move this over to relationships for you now.

SunnyBaudelaire · 26/05/2015 14:55

sorry it was too long for me to pay attention to.
You both sound .......unpleasant.

Pagwatch · 26/05/2015 14:57

And again.,.

Incidentally you can ignore all the posters who said 'wow, I couldn't get all the way through that but I think..'
If they are too stupid to read a challenging post, they are too stupid to have an opinion of value.

hereandtherex · 26/05/2015 15:04

Don't worry. You'll be both 13 soon and be able to deal with shit in a grown up manner.

Pagwatch · 26/05/2015 15:13

Oh fucK off.

The op has said she has mental health issues.
Why be such a dickhead.

LikeABadSethRogenMovie · 26/05/2015 15:33

I think your sister should maybe re-educate herself as to what being a Buddhist means!

I agree with the posters that have said that it's best to just leave it for now. I understand why you're hurt and I also understand that your sister is overly concerned for your children. Whatever happens, you can't control your sister's actions, only your own. So, step away and let emotions calm (including your own) and keep the kids out of the arguing altogether. There is no reason to tell them you're upset with their aunt.

Shodan · 26/05/2015 17:23

sorry it was too long for me to pay attention to

Heaven help you if you should ever come across a book...