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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

Inexplicable behaviour from my sister

124 replies

LiteraryGoat · 23/02/2024 01:21

I am trying to get my head around this.
A bit of background - fairly average family, one sister 10 yrs older than me. Happy parents with ups and downs, good lifestyle, both treaded very similarly and fairy. No one neglected or over indulged. I am now 50 yrs old.

My father passed away 10 years ago, quite suddenly. My sister's behaviour became terrifying and manipulative, during those first few years she took over my mother's life entirely, from finance to care. My mother did not resist as was very depressed and never recovered from the loss of my father. I calmly tried to discuss this with both of them at the time but it was impossible. It was heartbreaking for me to watch my mother succumb to this as there was no history of anything quite like it in our lives.

After several years I had to walk away. My sister was abusing my mother daily, screaming in her face, checking her bins for what she had bought or thrown away, taking control of her home and sacking a gardener my mother needed. I sought counselling to deal with it and was told to notify social services. When my mother went into hospital with an infection I was informed that she was mentally sound so nothing could be done about my sister's abuse unless she reported it. None of this was physical abuse, to my knowledge. I had to watch this for years feeling helpless, whilst my sister drove me out of the way, even hiding my parent's will and blocking all phones.
The abuse involved cutting mum off from friends, dragging her to places she didnt want to go, screaming and shouting in public at her and humiliating her. I was so scared for my mum's safety that I almost shut down inside.

Eventually my mother passed away during the pandemic, I was living at a distance at that time, so the house sale was dealt with by solicitors and split between myself and my sister. We didn't have to meet.

Fast forward to 2021 my sister contacts me, seemingly a calm and friendly person, saying our mother had left a smallish cash inheritance she had in her account and wanted to give me my half. I very, very tentatively resumed contact, it was nice enough, and I think the death of my mother had numbed me to the trauma of the past.
Since then, I regret this.
It took her until last June to actually send the inheritance to my account. There was always an excuse, passed off with a giggle or faux ditziness. Then she moved to texting me morning till night, utterly dominating my time with senseless questions, ploughing through boundaries and then buying me expensive gifts when she realised I was pulling away. To cut a long and tedious story shorter, she told me this Xmas that my mother had left a box of letters addressed to me, stipulating that I was to receive them when she passed. These had been written from my childhood to her old age. I asked her why she had never given to me in the past 3 years we have been in contact and she changed the subject, but with utterly no shame, declared that she had read them all and that she would bring them when she thought it was 'appropriate' Shock

My Dh has hit the roof. Our surviving older relative was also told this and said her jaw dropped to the floor. I am certain that no contact is the only sensible option now, as the past few years have been a tremendous drain, but...

HOW the hell do I process the trauma of the memories that have returned that were numbed? All of the pain and horror of watching her hurt my mother, telling terrible lies (about cancer, work colleagues, etc)? Hearing about the letters was like a thunderbolt that cracked open my memories of her abuse, my body is so shaken. I am happy to pay for some therapy, but in the meantime I would so appreciate some pointers as how to safely get her out of my life.

OP posts:
dapsnotplimsolls · 23/02/2024 21:23

She has a partner? Jaysus.

BreadInCaptivity · 23/02/2024 21:36

OP has it occurred to you that she is simply repeating the same behaviours on you that she did your mother?

You write in a very heartfelt way about how difficult it was for you to witness how your mother was manipulated.

Is it possible (in fact very likely) that your mother was blackmailed by your sister by her equivalent of your letters?

Now your mother has gone you are the next available target. Now think of how your family will feel to see you manipulated by your sister.

Do you want to continue this toxic cycle?

The letters may well have been written. Who knows if they are still in existence? Your sister could have read and destroyed them. She may have them but chooses to release a letter at a time as you do her bidding. You don't know.

What is certain is that if they were written with love, your mother would not wish for them to be used in this way and for them to cause you such pain.

You cannot change your sister. You cannot stop her playing her games.

You can however remove yourself from the board and simply walk away knowing you were strong enough to do what your mother could not and protect you and your loved ones from your sister.

LiteraryGoat · 23/02/2024 22:20

Thank you for putting up with my misery :)

I would like to just end it now, now explanations (how do you condense all of that pain and horror into a conversation?), and talking wouldn't help anyway, she'd just make a fast exit.
I am not sure about the letters but tend to agree that my mum would not have wanted this, and they feel so violated to me. I don't know yet.

I am most interested in ridding myself of the duty towards her, having to be nice so as not to upset her. She managed to do all of those awful things to my mother and myself without worrying if it upset me.

The worst was the day she caught me caring for my mum's plants, she hated me ever going into my mum's house when she was in hospital. She felt fully entitled to the house and deeply resented my dad's will. According to my aunt she sought legal advice as to how she could move into it and claim it (she is a home owner already), which boggles the mind.
I was ordered to hand my house key over.
That night I went alone to my parent's house whilst it was empty and just sat in the moonlight in the garden a cried. It was as if she wanted to steal my life, my memories of home, my parents.
I knew neither of my parents would ever, in their right minds, have condoned any of this.

Keeping focus on this cruelty is helping me move forward with courage.

OP posts:
OnGoldenPond · 24/02/2024 00:52

Remember OP you know how much your DM loved you. You don't need letters to prove that to you. Don't let your sister hold you to ransom with these letters. You know your DM wouldn't have wanted that for you.

Call her bluff and cut all contact with your sister now and feel the relief.

cheeseandketchupsandwich · 24/02/2024 03:00

I haven't rtfl

However if it were me, I would do all I could to get those letters.

You may not want to read them immediately, but at least if you have them you can keep them safe and should you ever want to read them in the future, they'll be there.

Once you have them, cut all contact and be rid of that weight on your shoulders.

Irridescantshimmmer · 24/02/2024 03:16

She's jealous of you, you need her out of your life.

It was not your fault so don't blame yourself.

StartupRepair · 24/02/2024 03:25

She may well give you some letters and then pretend to find more later, to keep the hold over you. I do feel for you what an awful situation. Just focus on eliminating and keeping her out of your life.

CountFucula · 24/02/2024 03:35

The only power she has is the letters. You can break that by not engaging any further about them.

BelindaOkra · 24/02/2024 04:50

TempleOfBloom · 23/02/2024 15:10

OP, you cannot change your sister’s behaviour. In your shoes I would take a step back, imagine yourself not as a target, but as an observer or spy, watching her display her antics from a distance.

Be as calm as possible. Then I would arrange a visit, take your DH, and ask calmly for the letters. If she refuses say you have her messages to prove they exist and are yours that the letters are your property, should have been handed over as soon as your sister found them, and sadly, if she does not hand them over immediately you will need to take her to court. All very calmly.

If she doesn’t give them to you ask a solicitor to send a ‘letter before action’ giving her 5 working days to return them.

Then when, hopefully, you get them block her and go no contact.

This.

i don’t like armchair diagnosing but it sounds like your sister has a personality disorder & no insight into that. You can only go non contact. I hope you get the letters OP.

BelindaOkra · 24/02/2024 04:51

I’d give the letters one go - with DH. If she won’t give them then I would let it go and book a shed load of therapy to cope with never having seen them.

As others have said they are being used to wield power - you can take that away - at a cost - by letting them go.

But a visit from dh threatening legal action may be enough for her to hand them over.

MsRosley · 24/02/2024 06:45

OP, I don't think you will always feel this way about the letters. They are from your mother to you, a precious thing. I think she would have wanted you to read them, and you may regret it if you let your sister destroy them in a fit of pique.

In your shoes I'd keep your sister sweet, arrange a visit with your DH, and insist she return them to you. If she doesn't cooperate, I'd say you'll be taking legal advice as withholding them from you is theft.

ClairDeLaLune · 24/02/2024 07:00

OP I would be very careful if I were you, this thread is very identifying and your sister might decide to take revenge if she reads it. Someone on the first page just commented “Ty” which I find weird and concerning.

I would ask for the thread to be deleted for the time being, send your husband round to get the letters, then go no contact with your sister and come back on here for more help. And seek more help in real life too.

Your sister sounds like a monster. I’m very sorry you’ve been though all this.

3luckystars · 24/02/2024 07:09

What happened here is she had the letters and was holding them as ransom, because she was planning on taking over your life and controlling you.

Send your husband around, with a police officer if necessary and get the letters from her. Ask him to put them in the attic or somewhere until you are ready to read them.

Your sister is a certifiable lunatic and you are correct in cutting all contact, but get those letters back first. They are yours.

Im so sorry, she is very very sick. Good luck with your counselling x x x

Wizzadorra70 · 24/02/2024 07:12

I'm no contact with my sister after she caused absolute mayhem when our Dad was terminally ill. Some people are just rotten through to their very core. The only thing you can control with people like this is how much influence you let them have over you. At that moment, she's in control here.

Block her number, buy a new SIM card for your phone if you need to with a new number, and completely disengage with her. Then you are the one in control. It's your only choice here. I am so much more peaceful not waiting for the next poison arrow to be launched at me.

Knackeredhamster · 24/02/2024 07:23

She's used those letters to open up your wounds.

Your grief has been reactivated to the forefront.
You deal with your own grief, in your own way but now it's brought everything up for you.

I lost my mum fairly recently so understand the grief mayhem.

The letters have always been there in the last 3 yrs but at the time you've just tried to deal with everything else around your loss.

She's a cruel bitch.
Your mum absolutely loved you.

Cutting off your sister really only means the loss of the letters at this stage.

She bloody knows this.

I hope in time you can start to process this stage and remember it's a stage.

Xxx

KeeeeeepDancing · 24/02/2024 07:28

ClairDeLaLune · 24/02/2024 07:00

OP I would be very careful if I were you, this thread is very identifying and your sister might decide to take revenge if she reads it. Someone on the first page just commented “Ty” which I find weird and concerning.

I would ask for the thread to be deleted for the time being, send your husband round to get the letters, then go no contact with your sister and come back on here for more help. And seek more help in real life too.

Your sister sounds like a monster. I’m very sorry you’ve been though all this.

I completely agree with this.

And definitely get a psychotherapist to help you move on.

Some people are awful. Seems like your sister is one.

pickledandpuzzled · 24/02/2024 07:39

have A read and see if the following rings a bell/feels right-

She sees people around her as characters in her own play, useful only if they play their role as assigned. It’s bewildering and enraging for her when people don’t. She genuinely assumes you are being difficult on purpose by failing to do your part as she perceives it to be.

She took on the role of ‘heroic daughter sweeping in to save the day’. Unfortunately she wasn’t good at it and attracted criticism and pushback. That will have been bewildering and upsetting for her.

The issue she has with you- she doesn’t know what you are there for. You are a spare unwanted extra character. She’s not worked out how to direct you.

If you want the letters you’ll need to somehow briefly play along to get them.
However she likes games and drama so will try and game back- release them one at a time and read them with you, or similar. You need a plot where she can be the heroine and you can end up with the letters!

barkymcbark · 24/02/2024 07:52

The issue with the letters is not only has she tainted them by reading them, but you'll never know if what's in them is what your mother wrote. She could leave certain ones out, alter what's in them and I wouldn't put it past her to forge your mother's handwriting and re write history in them. You could find yourself more upset by reading them rather than them being a source of comfort.

If you do get them she'll send them one at a time, she'll read them to you and you'll be tied up with her for years whilst she uses them to manipulate you.

With that in mind, you know how much your mother loved you, I'd go no contact, change your number and you dh must block her and accept that the letters are lost to you.

FaiIureToLunch · 24/02/2024 07:53

I’m so sorry. I lost my lovely mum last year and being treated so cruelly would have finished me off.

you need counselling
change your phone number
send your husband to the door for the letters unplanned like op said and maybe with a witness.

LiteraryGoat · 24/02/2024 14:25

Thank you everyone. Yes I do need to process this pain, it is unfathomable. I think the memories of it are only surfacing now because previously I was in survival mode, constantly scared of being hounded, or playing the game wrong.

@pickledandpuzzled I think this is quite accurate, especially the 'spare part that she does not know how to direct'. This hits very close, and I do believe she has no idea what to do with me, but it not inclined to just let me breathe and move on.

If I think about the letters at the moment it creates a sort of panic in my body. I need to process these feelings before deciding.

OP posts:
LiteraryGoat · 24/02/2024 14:28

I also wondered about the 'ty' post, but have not suspected her being here.
She rarely browses websites and I can't imagine her using web speak such as 'ty'.

OP posts:
pickledandpuzzled · 24/02/2024 14:40

Yes, she can’t let you breathe and move on- that would acknowledge you are a real person with an independent life.

It’s her story.

It’s actually sad. DM is like this. She’s very unhappy.

Porkfest · 24/02/2024 14:54

I do suspect her PD was born out of a v traumatic childhood where she would have absorbed the unfathomable grief over her 9 years or her childhood from your parents repeated losses. She may have been emotionally neglected during this time if her mother was emotionally unavailable in despair - and also maybe very spoiled and indulged at other times through guilt and if she was considered to be the only child.

She may not have been allowed / supported to grow up emotionally - she may have seen, heard or sensed terrible things and was left terrified or terrorised internally which would indicate her acting out in desperation to control her external environment / others - as it seems was re-triggered by the death of your DF.

She may resent you as joy returned to the home and wider friends and family when you were born focused on you - and she was then ignored.

None of this excuses her behaviour but it may explain some of it.

At 60+ she is deeply entrenched and nothing you do or say will ease her behaviour.

So walk away and maybe invest your time and money in therapy to understand and heal from what YOU have gone through.

PepleDang · 24/02/2024 14:59

I think her goal is to provoke some emotion in you - it does not matter what, she is enjoying her ability to make you react.

^@Atethehalloweenchocs is 💯 correct.

I think you are right OP, you need to process your thoughts and feelings re-the letters. Take your time.

However, I think it will be difficult to “get them”. And you cannot put your life on hold and be beholden to her in the meantime. As others have said, she may have already doctors them or thrown some away due to her jealousy.

She sounds a very dangerous person, completely unhinged. I think you absolutely need to go no contact with her. She is nothing but bad news and will make it her mission to bring more bad news to your family.

Even when you go no contact, she will probably contact you out of the blue occasionally in years to come. That is what psychopaths and narcissist do. When you suddenly re-appear on their radar (usually when they are low on other sources of attention) they will suddenly re-contact you for fuel to satisfy their deranged narcissism. Usually, breezily, as if the intervening years of NC hadn’t happened at all. Then best behaviour for a short while. Rinse, repeat.

Stay strong. Even if you don’t get the letters, I don’t think your mother, enabling as she was, would want you to be held to ransom by a psycho to get them. That is a blackmail no healthy or loving person would want for their adult children. I hope you get free soon.

LiteraryGoat · 24/02/2024 15:37

Yes, I sometimes feel sorry for her, her life is like a very narrow aperture, she has everything and uses none of it. She lives a closed life, no outings or fun, no hobbies or dreams. Unfortunately feeling compassion for her ends up harming me in the long run. She sees my compassion as a thing to manipulate.

She changed jobs early last year. There were many months of drama and extreme stress aimed at me, constantly needing me to talk at on the phone or help her with it all. She had worked in an environment full of women, and the stories she told of how they were all gunning for her seemed heavily embellished.

OP posts: