Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Adult siblings fall out

23 replies

SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 11:03

Looking for advice please, if anyone can help.

My sister, who I've written about on here before, is stressing me out. We are adults and live in different areas, but usually talk a lot on the phone.

There is a history which I won't go into too much, as it would make the op massive, but I've had advice about her on here before and been told to go NC.

She is in her thirties and has taken a notion that she wants to settle down and get pregnant asap. She has been seeing a man, who I didn't like the sound of. He is in the middle of a messy divorce which he made out was all his exw's fault. My sister who is normally as sceptical as they come, completely bought into this rhetoric and said he was basically kept as a slave and his exw must be a "LESBIAN Shock" Hmm.

Anyway, sister told me this week that the marriage ended after he told his exw he had been to an escort. He claims it was just once and that she was a very classy, happy, wealthy, well paid escort and that he went home and told his wife immediately, whereupon her family were big meanies and turned on him (wonder why). His own family are also big meanies for some reason. He doesn't seem to have a relationship with them.

Anyway, when the escort thing came out, I'll admit I was disgusted. I know sex work has been decriminalised and I know some women are happy doing escort work, but I personally don't think much of the men who use them. I don't judge sex workers themselves. I also think it's all a his suspect - just once and he reported it straight to his wife? Is that likely? And why is he talking her all this so soon? I can't help but think he wants to get his version of the truth in first.

I've never met the man and don't plan to unless I have to, (ie, they get married or have a baby). My issue was with how my sister reacted. We have had marriages in our extended family where OW have been involved. Obviously, these were devestating for the families and I was livid with both the married men who did it (our relatives). So was my sister who became truly vicious towards the affair couples. I actually think that she sometimes crossed a line, as she became so aggressive about it, even towards innocent bystanders who didn't agree with her getting so involved. She was also not part of any of the relationships but very much made it her business to be the judge, jury and executioner.

Now she has taken the hump with me because I don't approve of her new fella, who she has known for less than a month btw. She says it is not an affair and is far preferable, because he used an escort. I think it is an affair - he did have sex with another woman, and I also automatically don't immediately trust men who use sex workers. Maybe it was a mistake etc and he is really sorry, but it doesn't sound it. He said and my sister repeated to me and agrees, that it's understandable because he hadn't had sex in his marriage for years.

It sounds as if I'm far too involved in her new relationship, but my issue isn't really with him. It's with her and her reaction to what he's done considering how angry she got, even with me who has never had an affair in my life, because I refused to go as ballistic as she was. I'm talking full on shrieking down the phone to my husband and me, with our toddler in the car, hearing the whole thing "YOU'VE ALL FUCKED ME OVER" etc. Again, this was not go do with one of her relationships, but with other people.

Writing this, I'm remembering again all the nasty stuff she has done to me and I'm beginning to think I need to get her out of my life. But I don't have much by way of family, except DH and dcs, so it seems like a big thing.

OP posts:
SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 11:04

Bit suspect*
Telling her all this so soon*

OP posts:
Orgasmagorical · 06/05/2021 11:10

She likes the drama, doesn't she.

She is obviously bringing stress to your life. Does she bring anything good? If you weren't related would you be wanting to stay in contact with her?

If you were to stay in contact, what would you hope for your relationship?

Footloosefancyfree · 06/05/2021 11:12

It's her business really she's an adult in her 30s free to live her life.

AnneLovesGilbert · 06/05/2021 11:17

Cut her off. No one needs that sort of shit in their lives.

idontlikealdi · 06/05/2021 11:19

Just step back. She's an adult let her get on With it. You do sound over involved tbh.

Why didn't you go nc?

SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 11:33

She instigates visits, literally screamed and cried at me the last time I tried to suggest a shorter visit. She had just stayed with us the previous weekend and wanted to come again. I said how about one night and screaming ensued.

I have put off visits since, which has been sorted impossible not to do due to covid. But there is pressure from parents to look after her a bit. Also, she seems to want to see us.

What do I get out of it? Looking at it objectively, she kids like seeing her, but...not that much. Not like their gran or anything. She doesn't play with them really but does seem to love seeing them or hearing about them. She can be very funny, but usually that's on the phone. When I see her in person it's usually quite stressful.

I had already said she can't stay here anymore. But maybe I need to hear less from her full stop. Low rather than no contact. I don't want to be involved. We have totally different views on things and sometimes things she says I really find abhorrent.

OP posts:
SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 11:34

Sort of impossible*

Sorry, on phone so lots of typos!

OP posts:
SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 11:36

Politely said she can't stay here that should say - I wasn't that abrupt.

OP posts:
Thecatsawinner · 06/05/2021 11:41

You are too invested in her relationship, smile and nod. What to you mean by she screams when you suggested staying one night? Raising her voice or literally screaming? Neither are normal but the latter is unhinged and I was ask her if she is unwell?

SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 11:55

Like when someone is crying and shouting at the same time, so it does come out as a bit of a scream.

She can be very hinged at times! She has a very good job and degree educated etc. She seems to interact with colleagues and things without getting fired or them sending her on sabbatical or anything. But when she goes off she does shout and cry.

Another occasion was when I didn't answer my phone and she shouted at me for not answering when I called her back. Then she messaged DH and me on a group chat saying, "ok SisterIssues, you really have to be available when people are trying to phone you". I mean, I was home schooling and my phone was on silent. I think I called her back within 20 mins.

I don't want to be involved in her relationship, but she gave me the full low down and when I reacted by saying it was pretty shit behaviour from him, she got defensive and huffy. Which is incredibly fecking rich considering the pasting she gave us all when we weren't out for blood when other people we knew cheated on their wives. That's why it's annoyed me. She made an already stressful time for our family (bereavements as well as these affairs coming out and couples splitting) much worse. I put this down to her having a very firm opinion on fidelity, which I didn't share. For her to say nah this doesn't count because he paid for it does stick in my throat

OP posts:
Orgasmagorical · 06/05/2021 12:05

So she keeps her dramatic behavour for certain people? The ones who accept it?

SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 12:11

She definitely does this. She was so horrible to one of our relatives once and then I spoke to her minutes later, not knowing about what she'd said to him and she was jolly as anything. Then I got a call from him saying she'd phoned him up and yelled at him, calling him toxic and a bunch of expletives, which I can't remember and don't want to misquote.

But playing devils advocate with myself a bit, could it be that she's changed for the better? She hasn't gone off at me in a good while, but she hasn't had the opportunity I suppose. Maybe this is progress in our relationship and creating healthy boundaries. Maybe the next thing is to just not discuss her new man anymore. If they end up getting married etc, well, we don't live close, so I don't have to see them or get involved.

OP posts:
SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 12:19

Maybe she did find him toxic and a bunch of expletives, but why not even mention it when I happened to speak to her afterwards? Who knows? Maybe it's an awful issue she has for genuine reasons I don't know about with other family, but to a point, that isn't my issue to stay delving in to. All I know is that a safe distance is probably better for us both.

Excuse ramblings btw. I can't really discuss it IRL.

OP posts:
SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 12:19

Start delving into*

Jesus Christ 😅

OP posts:
PussGirl · 06/05/2021 12:35

She sounds exhausting and unreasonable. I'd be distancing myself.

SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 14:21

Thanks all. And sorry again for the waffley spiels! She is huffing with me anyway, so that might mean distance is maintained whether I like it or not! Ha!

Ah family.

OP posts:
Orgasmagorical · 06/05/2021 14:34

If it helps to get it out waffle away! It's better you vent on here than risk WW3 with her Flowers

SisterIssues · 06/05/2021 14:38

Haha oh god, no WW3 with her please and thank you! I also don't want to start waffling at DH or anyone else in our family though. Nothing worse than being dragged into other people's drama! Unless you're dsis who bloody loves it haaaa! 🤭

OP posts:
SisterIssues · 11/05/2021 16:53

Well, we've had a bit of a bust up, and she isn't talking to me. Honestly, I'm massively relieved Blush although I wish it hadn't involved an argument.

Thought I'd update, as got some helpful comments on here.

OP posts:
Orgasmagorical · 11/05/2021 18:05

At least she can't be in the huff for you not talking to her - result! Wink

Enjoy the peace Flowers

LuckyMcDucky · 11/05/2021 18:06

Haha yep! Not talking to me? Ah, shame Grin {skips off merrily}

Sillysandy · 11/05/2021 18:17

Oh dear. I sympathize as I also have a sister who I am close to and is very funny but we disagree on lots of more fundamental issues.

She majorly stresses me out too, there is always drama and she's always bringing it to me; shouting, crying, falling to pieces. I find it exhausting. We are in our 40s now and over the last decade thankfully there is more distance.

Its good she's not talking to you. It will give you a chance to create distance for when she does start talking to you again. What was the row about?

SisterIssues · 11/05/2021 18:20

Thanks! I agree with that.

It was about what I mentioned in my op. Her very slimey new boyfriend and our family history.

I really hope she stays not talking to me for a while. She is exhausting and just not very nice a lot of the time, so good riddance.

I care about her and love her, but she honestly adds so much more stress than anything else when I see her. Some distance is needed, definitely.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page