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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 · 25/02/2024 15:26

I think it's safe to assume that any conversation you have with your aunt will be shared with your sister. You need to cut both of them out, however hard that might be.

pikkumyy77 · 25/02/2024 15:30

Your Aunt is a “flying monkey” and an enabler of your sister. She is not, and can not be, on your side although she can pretend to be somewhat convincingly.

Re-read about malignant narcissism—its a bit different from regular narcissism—and walk away from anyone your sister gas maintained a relationship with. They have reached an accommodation with her to survive and they won’t do anything for you.

pickledandpuzzled · 25/02/2024 15:31

Generally the he best way to manage flaky unreliable people is to give them no purchase.

Given the change in your aunt I’d forget the letters.
If it were me, I’d grey rock them both.
No anger, no deadlines, no questions, no requests. wait 24 hrs before ever answering a message. Don’t tell them anything about yourself, your situation, your feelings.

I talk a lot about the weather, ask how various mutual friends/relations are, how whatever event went… it all runs politely on the surface and I don’t have to do confrontation or risk getting burned.

As time goes on you can quietly reduce contact further.

ijustneedtokeepbreathing · 25/02/2024 15:40

Bloody hell, this is horrifying op. I am so sorry Flowers

For the sake of your own wellbeing, I think you need to walk away from the letters (she may have tampered with them or destroyed them anyway), because if you don't let them go your sister still has some power over you.

Let them go, painful as it is. Then block her. Do not respond to any attempt at contact. You need her put of your life so you can start to heal.

LiteraryGoat · 25/02/2024 15:51

I hear you, and I agree. This is such helpful advice, especially now, and I appreciate the support.
I am still a bit stunned at the moment, it is like re-treading the past,.

OP posts:
nc42day · 25/02/2024 18:55

I think the less said the better, to both your sister and your aunt given the latest.

Boundaries are something you can acheive in this situation without communicating a word. You decide what you are and are not willing to do. That's all. You can go no contact without getting agreement, announcing what you're doing when, or why. What you want to be conveying, is absolutely nothing. Dead air. Nothing for her to get her hooks into, remove it all.

Every second you spend trying to unpick this nest of insanity and work out what's going on is a second wasted. Refocus inwards, on you and your DH, the move you're about to make comes with perfect timing. Change that phone number asap, it doesn't have to be expensive, a new sim card will do, and your address will follow. Move towards peace, there is none to be found by remaining engaged with her, as lightly as you feel you can be, the blows will continue to rain down.

LiteraryGoat · 25/02/2024 19:07

Thanks nc.
I have decided that I might go away for a couple of weeks. I can't really afford to blow some cash on that but I think it will be a good investment in my wellbeing. My husband will join me when he isn't at work. Our daughter lives in Scotland so I might go to the Lakes then pop up there if there's time, so a nice rest. I am overdue some time off so..

I agree that any contact with either is bad news now. My aunt was only very occasional anyway, a very 'birthdays & Xmas' thing. I presume she is afraid of my sister. Her text told me to 'tread carefully' which is so depressing.

I won't be notifying anyone that we are going.

OP posts:
Atethehalloweenchocs · 25/02/2024 19:12

I think the less said the better, to both your sister and your aunt given the latest.

Absolutely. If you want to try to get the letters, do not tell her you are cutting off contact after - she will destroy or damage them. Best thing to do is the message that the family are surprised she has not given them to you yet and asking her to drop them off. Give a deadline and expect to extend it to whatever you are comfortable with.

When you have reached that point, then tell her than you are ceasing contact with her, she is not to contact you and block her every way you can.

As for your aunt - dont talk to her about anything to do with this. Once you have taken the steps you want to take, tell your aunt you are not interested in hearing about your sister going forward and dont want her telling your sister about you. Dont over explain, keep it simple.

Every second you spend trying to unpick this nest of insanity and work out what's going on is a second wasted.

My friend used to say 'you cant argue with crazy' - its a good motto to remember.

Atethehalloweenchocs · 25/02/2024 19:15

Enjoy your break - good deadline to try and get the letters dropped off and then come back to no contact any more. Good luck, I am so sorry this is happening to you.

Porkfest · 25/02/2024 19:17

Your aunt is in self preservation mode and has thrown you under the bus.

Agree with PP - withdraw from all without any announcement by blocking.

But be ready to inform her instantly if/when she escalates that her contact is unwanted and any further contact directly or indirectly constitutes stalking / harassment and you will be reporting her to the police.

Often in NC situations there is unavoidable collateral damage to keep yourself safe - in this instance it’s your aunt - but looks like she won’t be missed and is a risk to you as well - I expect your aunt will be relieved not to hear from you either in case she gets embroiled.

Hope you can find some space and peace to come to terms with what has happened.

LiteraryGoat · 25/02/2024 19:25

My aunt used to visit my mum when my sister was at work on a monthly basis - she lived at a good distance and didn't drive. Thankfully my daughter went to visit her GM with aunt after i dropped contact so that she never had to witness my sister's behaviour. but still saw her GM. She did see one outburst in her teens when my sister came to our home screaming at my mother but my husband sternly told her to get out.

This is so sad and has had far reaching effects. My daughter never grew to know my sister well so isn't too troubled by that, but she is older now and fully aware of how it has hurt everyone else.

Your aunt is in self preservation mode and has thrown you under the bus.
Yes, it is like deja vu.

OP posts:
PepleDang · 25/02/2024 20:19

You are giving these relatives so much power and control over you. This is not a criticism as such but something worth seeing. They bring nothing positive to your life, only its opposite. I hope your holiday helps you find clarity and strength.

Remember narcissists and psychopaths are excellent manipulators of people. The only response to such an unhinged, malign person is to disengage, NC.

Your aunt is playing both sides and she maybe has her own reasons (cowardly? lonely? easily manipulated? all three ?). Honest I’d jettison both of them.

All this negative headspace they are taking takes its toll, even if you are unaware of it, and I think you are, if you feel the need to get away on a two week holiday.

You are SO lucky you are not dependent on them in any way. Of course she is using the letters to create a dependency. If I were you, given what you say, I would tell her that you are coming round to pick up the letters in a week’s time, next Saturday. If you turn up and she hasn’t got them, that is your Get out clause to sever the relationship completely. Even if she gave them to you you should still sever the relationship for your own, and your families well-being at best, safety at worst. You don’t need to even give an explanation. She doesn’t deserve one. And remember ANYTHING you say, however rational, will be totally twisted to herself and to family and friends to make you the bad guy. Silence is powerful!

If you think your aunt is messing with your head and is also creating emotional problems for you, which seems like the case, you can also completely distance yourself from her as well or block her. Be aware that anything you say to your aunt will likely get back to your sister too.

FantasticButtocks · 25/02/2024 20:34

Op Considering this, and the power those letters seem to have over HER (never mind me!), I have wondered whether to use them as a final cause to end contact with a firm and fast boundary. That I might send one final email telling her that I can't get past the issue of them not having been returned, to drop them with my DH when I am at work and to not contact me again.
She may not bother to return them, but she will be aware that we all know she is withholding them, and she won't like that. She has created a trap for herself but announcing it, that's my point.

Might it work to say to her that you don't actually believe she has the letters? Kind of - Now I think about it, you are suddenly after 3 years mentioning these letters, and obviously if they actually existed you wouldn't have kept them from me, because I'm sure you aren't that heartless. So I have concluded that this is untrue. I don't believe you are in possession of such letters and I'm appalled that you would lie to me about such a thing so I won't be contacting you again.

Maybe she will then feel the need to prove that she has them?

TimeIhadaNightCapwithSanta · 25/02/2024 21:17

You asked if anyone else has experienced anything similar and yes, I have. My story is scarily similar to yours: ten years age gap; behaviour only showing after father's death, which was blamed on mother; doesn't scream at me but takes it out on mother so I spent years acquiescence...it goes on.

In my case she's been so horrible to friends of my mother's that at least they now realise what I've put up with. Mum's still alive but when she dies that's it, NC. One friend has asked for my new number with the reassurance it won't be passed on. My mum, despite knowing I am desperate to lose contact, decided to ask her to look out for me once she's gone. Great!

pikkumyy77 · 25/02/2024 21:40

A similar thing is happening to a patient right now: her domineering and rejecting sister has held on to family photos, always promising that eventually they will be turned over or shared. Never permits my patient to enter the home. Now terminally il she is commanding service from my patient but still refusing to permit my patient access to the home or sight of the family heirlooms. It is horrible to watch the deliberate cruelty visited upon my patient over and over again.

LiteraryGoat · 27/04/2024 23:36

I hope it's ok to write an update to this thread?
It seems like so long ago, and a giant rift occurred. I left the thread resolved and clear in what I had to do.

I have had no contact since. Have received a few emails asking how I am but have not replied. I stopped caring about the letters. I did tell my aunt I had gone to stay with friends for a while and had begun some voluntary work that sucked up my time. I told her to say hi to my sister and take care.

No one has bothered me and the drama simply left my life. It has been breathtaking. I can only conclude that my tolerance of her, and my regular contact had kept the fire going. Once i had departed she moved her energy elsewhere. I could not have predicted that as it felt so suffocating and long term.

I am so relieved, it was beyond fathoming and impossible. It seems like such an age has passed. I do still send cards at birthdays and act like nothing is the matter. I can not thank everyone enough for the support I received here, not to mention the patience!

I updated in case anyone had a similar issue and did a search. It is always great to find an update to a thread this problematic.

OP posts:
Ginkypig · 28/04/2024 00:06

I didn’t see this until you’re update @LiteraryGoat but I have just read all your posts and wanted to say I’m so happy you have managed to find a way to remove her and free yourself.

pikkumyy77 · 28/04/2024 03:07

Great update! Reminds me of the concept that there are two ways to keep food from burning: move the pan off the fire, or take the wood away. You took the wood away and without fuel the fire died down.

SpoonyFish · 28/04/2024 03:14

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

pickledandpuzzled · 28/04/2024 07:15

Great news, literary goat!

Grenola · 28/04/2024 08:54

@LiteraryGoat reallt pleased the calm came for u xx well done

LadyEloise1 · 28/04/2024 10:27

Thank you for your update @LiteraryGoat.
I'm so glad the toxicity is out of your life.

Gettingbysomehow · 28/04/2024 10:32

I have a mother like this OP, I have complex PTSD because of her abuse of me, nobody else in the family witnessed it because they were either too young or not living near us.
The only thing you can do to deal with it is cut off all contact for good.
Nothing will improve and she won't change.
I send xmas and birthday cards and never ever go there. Its the only way I stay sane.

momtoboys · 29/04/2024 15:18

Thank you for the update. I have thought of you since your first post and I am happy things have settled for you. Good for you for laying your boundaries.

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