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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

How do I prevent the drama waiting to happen?

17 replies

whattoooodo · 11/04/2024 21:02

I’ll try to cut a long story short.

My sister has caused me a lot of angst over the years, playing mind games and creating a situation where ‘she cares so much about me, but I don’t care at all’. Sort of playing the victim or being a martyr? Hard to explain. She is extremely believable and won’t hold a conversation without it leading to a huge reaction or rage from her, then it turns to deflection and she will accuse me of all the things she is doing. She has been open to others about having MH difficulties in the past and often has problems with people in her life- friends, in laws etc but they are always the baddies in her versions of the story. Until I saw through it it had quite an impact on me. It is just hard work in general and we aren’t close, but not through lack of my trying (despite her treatment of me).

I’m pregnant- our parents know, and I obviously want and need to tell my sister the news before I tell other extended family. I have tried to meet up with her a number of times over the past month but she has always had an excuse. I would feel rude turning up unannounced as she has kids herself and it might be disruptive to their day or plans. The pregnancy won’t be a sensitive topic to her as she’s conceived without issues before and has only recently had one of her DC.

I am worried about how to tell her, given she is not free to meet me I can’t find an opportunity. If I text her she will create about the fact that I don’t care about her enough to tell her in person (has done this before when I told her we were engaged). She will already be angry that she didn’t know sooner and accuse me of not valuing her like she values me…

What would you do here?

OP posts:
category12 · 11/04/2024 21:04

Phone her up.

ChampagneNightmares · 11/04/2024 21:05

Just phone her? Tell her you have something important to tell her in person? Just leave your mum and dad to tell her which is what mine did anyway?!

whattoooodo · 11/04/2024 21:06

category12 · 11/04/2024 21:04

Phone her up.

She’ll accuse me of not caring about her enough to see her in person. I did try and call her the other day actually and she declined the call immediately. Blows really hot and cold though. The next week she’s telling my cousin she would do anything for me to like her and love her like she does me 😴

OP posts:
category12 · 11/04/2024 21:06

I don't see why it has to be in person/face to face - surely you just call and say "I've got news, I'm pregnant!" and then if she starts being weird or nasty, you cut the call short.

Allthegoodnamesaregone1 · 11/04/2024 21:07

Phone her and stop caring!
She can't cause drama unless you all join in
Call her and sya you've tried to meet up to tell her in person and then tell her. If she causes drama firmly tell her you're not entertaining such ridiculousness

And if she doesn't answer text her.

But stop caring. Seriously you're still being pulled in by her by even being worried about this massive none issue.

pickledandpuzzled · 11/04/2024 21:08

Text her and say you want to meet her as you have news.

category12 · 11/04/2024 21:09

Cross-posted.

If a phone call isn't good enough, she's off her rocker and nothing you do will appease her - she'll find something to complain about - not being first to know, you having waited to see her in person. It's lose lose lose with this sort of person.

It's perfectly normal to let people know about news like this by phone or video-call.

Just accept she's going to blow her top whatever you do and get it done.

Allthegoodnamesaregone1 · 11/04/2024 21:10

whattoooodo · 11/04/2024 21:06

She’ll accuse me of not caring about her enough to see her in person. I did try and call her the other day actually and she declined the call immediately. Blows really hot and cold though. The next week she’s telling my cousin she would do anything for me to like her and love her like she does me 😴

And? You're hopefully a grown adult woman who's living an independent life.
What can this person possibly do to you to pit this worry in you?

Greywitch2 · 11/04/2024 21:10

Stop giving her all this headspace. Let your parents tell her.

If she kicks off just shrug and say 'I repeatedly tried to meet up with you to let you know in person, but you were always too busy. Alas.'

Brefugee · 11/04/2024 21:11

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I’m pregnant- our parents know, and I obviously want and need to tell my sister the news before I tell other extended family.

no you don't. You have to stay calm, tell her that you love her but that she blows everything up and you are not going to put up with it any more. If she behaves like a grown up, you will see her. Otherwise she will remain at arm's length.

Get this sorted before your baby comes. and don't let her get away with behaving like this just because it is easier than facing it down.

martinisforeveryone · 11/04/2024 21:14

Agree you have to stop worrying over her responses. For her to create dramas other people have to invest too.

Call her, if you don’t get to speak follow with a text saying you’ve tried and tried but can’t get any response and really needed to see her. See what she does with that.

If she finds out elsewhere you just shrug and say if she responded to you she’d have known before.

FictionalCharacter · 11/04/2024 21:18

Allthegoodnamesaregone1 · 11/04/2024 21:07

Phone her and stop caring!
She can't cause drama unless you all join in
Call her and sya you've tried to meet up to tell her in person and then tell her. If she causes drama firmly tell her you're not entertaining such ridiculousness

And if she doesn't answer text her.

But stop caring. Seriously you're still being pulled in by her by even being worried about this massive none issue.

Agreed. Stop playing her game and appeasing her. Nothing you do can be right, so you might as well just get on with your life and learn not to be so upset by her waah waah waah antics.

AutumnFroglets · 11/04/2024 21:25

I think my mum told my siblings when I was pregnant. Definitely told them whether it was a boy/girl.

If she declines your calls then send a text, or ask your parents to pass on the good news. Stop giving her power over your life.

Churchview · 11/04/2024 21:26

I think for your own peace of mind you have to start living up to her expectations that you don't care.

You are caring about a person who makes your life very difficult at a time when you really should be putting yourself first.

Watchkeys · 11/04/2024 21:28

With all due respect, OP, you are already creating drama, and she doesn't have anything to do with it yet.

Send her a message to say you have important news and you're going to start telling people on x date. Tell her you'd like to tell her first, so can you talk to her before then.

Leave it with her. If she's pissed off with you, that's her problem, not yours.

Coldupnorth87 · 11/04/2024 21:32

Vulnerable narcissist.

Text asking to meet, she declines, tell her your news by text.

tkwal · 11/04/2024 21:32

Phone her and simultaneously send her an e-card along the lines of "congratulations on being an Aunt in waiting" direct contact + emphasis on being family. She shouldn't be able to spin anything negatively about that

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