Help me get over my hurt feelings

[Anonymous]

OP, I wouldn't feel hurt by them not asking you to babysit. Sometimes it's just easier to hire someone to do something than to arrange for a family member to take over. But I would be hurt at the comments about your skin condition at the same time your brother is complaining about lack of family. Have you told your brother how you feel?

Good luck, OP. Hope things get better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brother and his wife had a baby four months ago. We live in the same city, and my brother has made many comments about how sad he is to not have a lot of family around for the baby, that he doesn't feel like he has grandparents he can count on to have close relationships with her, etc. I've seen the baby approximately once a month. He and his wife are fancy schmancy and I am poor and they don't think much of me. I also have severe psoriasis that despite doctors, haven't been able to get under control and my brother told me his wife and he are grossed out by this (I posted about this a couple of months ago) and they were worried skin would flake off and go in the baby's mouth or something. I have seen the baby once since then but only when my brother was there (just worked out that way).

It came to my attention that they went out to dinner for the first time Friday night without the baby. I am really hurt they didn't ask me to babysit. My brother knows I have tons of experience babysitting and offered to watch her. And not that this is the deciding factor but it hurts they'd rather PAY someone to babysit than have the baby's aunt do it for free. Please talk me down. I have to see them next week.

I feel really jerked around. Because my brother will tell me all these things like why they're grossed out by me, and then will complain on the phone to me that he's sad the baby doesn't have a lot of relatives in her life. Well, when you tell someone you're grossed out by them, what the hell do you expect?

OP your brother sounds like a jerk. I'm sorry you have psoriasis. I had terrible acne when I was a teen and I know how it can feel to have skin problems. I hope your doctors can help. I also grew up poor and I know people can be really unkind. If I were you, I would focus on getting things in order and not worrying about your brother. He sounds dismissive and saying that he and his wife are "grossed out" by a non contagious skin condition that you can't help, is plain mean.