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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

Ignore or congratulate

14 replies

Jellyheadbang · 08/01/2018 16:28

After a long (decades) unhappy relationship with my ea brother in law I finally ‘unfriended’ my sister on fb. It was due to me having tried to support/defend/interfered years ago when he was abusive to my sister and then small child.
I’d been a support to her, helped when she was distressed, provided all of her childcare , financially bailed them out etc but I couldn’t turn a blind eye to him so each time I stood up for her or myself he would ‘punish’ me (his words) in some way.
We tried to reconcile several times but he’s been continually abusivr to me ever since.
Most recently was a year ago where I said I’d had enough and told her to contact me if she wants to but I’m not making overtures anymore as it was stressful upsetting and embarrassing (he would also publicly humiliate me in various ways)
Since then she kept putting up pa posts clearly aimed at me. I’d kept looking at her profile as she’s my sister and her kids are on there etc but after months of this and her ignoring me I ended up unfriending her and after sending her a birthday message she blocked me altogether.
Most of our family have been cut off by her.
She and her kids don’t acknowledge cards, presents etc and my kids birthdays are not acknowledged.
I’ve since found out through friends and family that she’s pregnant (quite far gone). I was birth partner for her other kids and I know how hard she’s tried for this baby so I’m genuinely pleased for her and sad I won’t be involved but I don’t expect to be involved and certainly won’t try.
Knowing her if I don’t acknowledge it she’ll use it as further reason to keep me cut off and if I do acknowledge it she’ll probably ignore me and I’ll feel like a stalker...
I’m tempted to send a letter congratulating and brief explanation of why I unfriended her.
Should I bother ? What would you do?
What should I do? Please help!

OP posts:
Angelf1sh · 08/01/2018 16:47

A brief card saying congratulations and leave it at that. If she wants to talk, she’ll get in touch. The card will show you still care. I absolutely would not try to explain why you unfriended her, I think she’d take that as you bein passive-aggressive and making it about your feelings.

Jellyheadbang · 08/01/2018 16:58

Thank you angelfish I really appreciate it. I never explained at the time as thought it self explanatory but as I know her I know she’ll discount the fact that she’s blanked me for a long time prior to unfriending but will focus primarily on me unfriending her rather than the preceding behaviour!

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category12 · 08/01/2018 17:07

Don't try to explain. I'd go with a card or just leaving it - blocking you after your birthday wishes to her was a message, she could have opened communication then, but she cut you off instead. It's sad, but tbh I'd go with leaving it.

SecretSantaaaaaa · 08/01/2018 17:20

I agree. Just send the card. Keep it simple

Jellyheadbang · 08/01/2018 18:25

THANks guys, keep it simple sounds the least incendiary approach. Really appreciate it as I can have a tendency to over think and to over explain...

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Gemini69 · 08/01/2018 22:38

I wouldn't send a card.. I'd leave her well alone.. she's made her feelings 'of all your years of support' perfectly clear ..... she resents everything you have done for her and her children... and whist she believes she loves this man who is abusing her and her kids.. this will not change....

Sending a card might trigger a response in him... asking how you know she's pregnant bla bla bla....

I'd leave well alone... and if the day comes whereby she wants your help.. I'm sure she'll know where you are Flowers

wysteriafloribunba · 08/01/2018 22:56

Abusers isolate their victims from their friends and family in order to destroy their support network. Your BIL is doing this to your sister. Your call, but in your shoes I'd try and stay in her life.

Cricrichan · 08/01/2018 23:03

I would send her a card and tell her that you'll always be there when she needs you. That way she knows she has someone to turn to.

Jellyheadbang · 09/01/2018 08:01

Hi yes he has been working n the isolation for years. She has friends but they’re all people who accept similar relationships and who don’t criticise or question so they’re ‘allowed in’.
She’s going to know I’ll know, we have hundreds of shared ‘friends’ online including my best friends and exh, she’s only blocked me and out other sister. Plus our equally abusive mother has been ‘allowed ‘ back in so my grandma has filled all the gaps.
My mum and her husband are very similar in character except that my mum has some kind of mental illness developed over years or a very severe personality disorder. She (and the husbands parents) have a lot of mmore money, the usual pattern being she’s allowed in, pays for everything then husband will start tormenting her, cue public arguments on the doorstep, sister’s kids witness all this.
Husband also isolates his own mum in the same way if she displeases him, uses the word ‘punishment ‘ when they don’t answer her calls etc.
Sis goes along with it all quite willingly as has been trained for years I guess... she has her own mind tho and if I question/ challenge she gets really angry and in the past has said she hates me !
She says I don’t respect her choices but I’ve done everything in my power to keep the peace and ignored his taunts for years to keep her in my life. Most recently I just gave up as it was all too toxic and he gives me the rage. I don’t want that influence in mine or my kids life so sadly means we lose out as we have no other family in this town apart from my estranged toxic mum. My kids have none of their maternal family around and no other related children and they often ask about it.
V hard to Explain and v hard for me to accept and come to terms with, especially with all the new baby news now etc.

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Jellyheadbang · 09/01/2018 08:01

wysteria and crich that’s what I’ll do thank you 😊

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Jellyheadbang · 09/01/2018 21:15

Update: sent very simple card ‘congratulations and let me know if you want anything’ type affair.

Thanks everyone from stopping me sending an egocentric outpouring!

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CherryMaDeara · 09/01/2018 21:25

Let's hope she comes out of the fog one day. I hope you are close to your other sister, at least.

Jellyheadbang · 09/01/2018 23:32

Cherry, thank you. Yes we are close but my other sister has moved away to be with extended family. It’s too far for me to visit often and she keeps telling me to move nearer to them but I don’t want to uproot my kids etc
Am v alone here Sparr from friends but they’re all tied up so I really miss having a family around us.

OP posts:
Jellyheadbang · 09/01/2018 23:32

*apart from friends...

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