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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

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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:
maddening · 26/05/2015 19:21

Your sister seems to have a longer standing dislike of you as she said she was not even going to invite you to the wedding - do you know why that is?

When your sister said she would tell your dc's what you had done what was she referring to?

sleeponeday · 27/05/2015 00:40

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

Let me get this straight: you're posting spiteful, vicious little gibes at someone who is distressed, unwell and vulnerable, for no reason other than it makes you feel good to take someone that unhappy and stressed to even smaller bits and pieces... and you think someone else sounds immature?

SunnyBaudelaire · 27/05/2015 12:19

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

oh god that is just so typically patronising

fearandloathinginambridge · 27/05/2015 12:22

I knew from a very young age that my mum and the oldest of her 5 sisters had a 'tense' relationship. I often saw my mum cry after contact and it didn't leave a mark on me as a child or even now as adult so please don't feel guilty for letting your children see you upset about it.

Obviously, you don't need to go into detail or have long conversations with them about your issues with your sister but it won't hurt them to know that the two of you don't get on. It can be quite a relief to know that you don't have to engage with somebody who is vile to you just because they are related to you.

I agree you should go NC with your sister. Neither of you can communicate positively with each other and it sounds like your MH will be all the better from detaching.

Also, I agree with others that you shouldn't let her see your kids. I think she will use contact as a way of getting at you. I wouldn't her trust her with them.

emotionsecho · 27/05/2015 12:22

Why do the posters who post "couldn't read that too long/complicated/boring, etc." think anyone else gives shit about them not participating in the thread?

If their brain capacity is so limited they can't follow the op and therefore have nothing worthwhile to contribute why not just click onto a different thread, do they think they are so vitally important to MN that they must let us all know that this thread will be denied their valuable input?

Talk about delusions of grandeur.

KatharineClifton · 27/05/2015 12:44

I have a strained relationship with one of my sisters, but she was a big presence in my children's lives so when we fell out I had to be the bigger person and let her continue to see my children when she was here. I never did her down either, and when my children knew I was upset about the relationship I had to stress it made no difference to their relationship with their aunt. And had to deal with things she said to my children (and about me on Facebook, which really is the devils work I think!). It was bloody hard though, and it sucks that I had to tell my children to unfriend her on FB when she blocked me - but I think it's my responsibility to monitor their internet use and can't do it when I can't see what is happening. We don't communicate much any more, but when the falling out happened I decided not to join in - so didn't reply to anything, didn't enter into it when family wanted to talk about it/interfere. I realised it is her thing, and she is perfectly entitled not to like me if she doesn't want to. It does hurt as she now has her spin on the time when I thought we were very close. But again, it is her thing, and accepting that made it much less painful.

KatharineClifton · 27/05/2015 12:52

But I don't think she is an utter bitch. In some ways I am quite envious of her career etc. and in other ways I have sympathy. Whatever it was that happened, she's lost a sister too.

sleeponeday · 27/05/2015 23:26

oh god that is just so typically patronising

I think that poster was actually being far gentler than your posting deserved. OP is vulnerable, unwell and distressed, and yet you posted:

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

You need to take a look at yourself, if you live in any way as you post. Because the view is really, really ugly.

Tigerstripes · 28/05/2015 04:50

500 decibels and lordsandladies I found both your posts really helpful as those are the two strategies I'm deciding between with my own sister! Thank you.
OP, I have an equally strained relationship with my sister over many years except I was the one who moved to Australia. So a lot of your posts resonate with me. I do worry that not trying to fix the issues with my sister is what my counsellor would term 'avoidance' but sometimes, especially when suffering from mental health problems (as I do also) it is the only sensible option to 'park' problems for another time and withdraw from communication.

FeijoaSundae · 28/05/2015 06:48

For heaven's sake, sunny, your post warranted it.

It's OK for you to be bitchy to a vulnerable poster, but God forbid anyone short retort in kind....

Pagwatch · 28/05/2015 09:05

"Why do the posters who post "couldn't read that too long/complicated/boring, etc." think anyone else gives shit about them not participating in the thread? "

Exactly. They are hardly recommending themselves as deep thinkers when 300 words on the Internet has them flummoxed.
If I want the views of the deeply stupid I could ask my dog - he licks his own penis when life get challenging.

Altinkum · 28/05/2015 09:26

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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