Not OP, but you need to stop. Just because someone else has it worse, does not mean that what OP is going through is not still problematic and completely reasonable for her to have feelings about. Get out of here with that toxic positivity choose to be happy crap. |
That's just it, no one else seems to be bothered by her at all, they just think she is great, and if she does do something nasty, there's always an excuse. And yes, for the most part, I don't really engage with her or the rest o my family, it's all pretty much just surface-level stuff. But sometimes I just get aggravated and realize how much I cannot stand her. |
|
Op perhaps you should celebrate the holidays with your brother. Why should the rest of the family miss out because of your sister's stupidity. This is where you are going wrong. Who cares if your sister can't celebrate and your mother decides to cancel Thanksgiving/Christmas as a result (yes I get this is hurtful).
Call your brother and see if he wants to celebrate with your own families ie spouse/partners and kids. If not then celebrate with your partner and their family or your friends. Your mother can decide if she wants to come or not but don't let your sister be the one to decide to cancel for everyone, this only works because everyone goes along with it. The answer to this is, don't go along with it. Do not give away your life because of your sister. Go live it. The more you disengage the better you will feel. |
|
I understand your frustration, OP.
But if you couldn’t have Thanksgiving with these people — your sister, whom you say you hate and your mother, whose behavior enabled it and has frustrated you immensely, maybe it’s really not such a bad thing? Maybe work on creating your own life with the friends and family who have shown they care about you, and care less about the ones who don’t. Read up on boundaries. |
What do you expect them to do - trash her to you? They just accept it and move on. I wonder if your sister isn't just a miserable person anyway. Be glad you are the good sister. Winning! |
I sometimes think my mother has narcissistic qualities too, I don't know it's a very odd dynamic between them. in some odd ways it's almost like they are competitive with each other,, but like I said it's like my mom is obsessed with her like she's her most precious child and can do no wrong. I've tried to rationalize it like maybe my mother didn't get what she needed from her mom, or maybe it's just extreme insecurity in my m sister and mom too. I don't know. It's just a bizarre dynamic , and at times unbearable and infuriating. |
OP turn it around, what if you made other plans for the holidays and really enjoyed them. Would you still be aggravated or would you look at your family not celebrating because of this one person and think they are silly. That's the thing, go out and make plans you will enjoy and love. Then when your family turn around and say they can't celebrate because your sister went to a hotspot and ruined it for everyone you can smile, shrug and be grateful you aren't part of the craziness anymore. Remove yourself from it. Create distance between your sister and yourself. |
| I used to get furious with my sister for similar reasons. Now I just have no contact - it's been nearly a year. That works for me. |
| You need therapy, seriously, therapy. |
Sorry, but I disagree. These are just the "minor things" OP has chosen to identify. I assumed there was much more to the situation. Kind of like the straw that broke the camel's back. OP, you don't have to like your sister. So distance yourself from her. When she fouls things up (like T-giving), YOU be the one to say "you'll be missed at the event" and then carry one with it. Recognize what you can control and what you cannot (i.e., her being a COVID douche). |
| Why could you have Thanksgiving with other family members? I would've been pissed if my sister expected it to be canceled be a THEY got Covid. |
*couldn't |
Np. Poor you. Sorry but I agree with pp. Take your pity party elsewhere. |
| Makes no sense why pre Thanksgiving couldn’t have gone on minus the sister. |
I have a brother who was very physically absuive and it’s difficult for me to be around him. The family would rather have me miss holidays than recognize the effects of his behavior on me. I can’t change those facts. Now I do holidays with friends and every once in a while see my family for a gathering, Is it painful to isolate myself? You bet, but not as painful as pretending that I’m not hurt. You are understandably hurt because of things your sister has done in the past and the fact that the family accepts her behavior. Neither of these things are going to change. Find a therapist and talk about how you are going to cope with these unchanging facts. We can’t make other people change, but we can decide how we will interact. |