Nieces are accepted, sister is accepted, brother in law..... NOT!!!

@Minesky (245)
Philippines
July 11, 2007 12:53pm CST
Don't get me wrong, this is not really a "I hate my in-laws" type of story from the start.... it actually bloomed into one after 6 years!!! On their first 4 years of marriage, my brother in law is unsuccessful in finding a job, more ending up depending on his father for support and my sister is the one working. Their children, the eldest now 6 years old and the youngest at 3 were taken care of my family while my sister is working and her husband is 'working'. Now, he is working at a call center and have already considered himself a success. They have already rented a home of their own, though during daytime, the kids are still here with us. I am currently on hiatus, so I help my mother take care of these little angels, we did not consider them a burden, but as a gift of happiness in the household, as people may say, giggling kids!!! It is just that for 2 years now, whenever he visits our home to pick up the children, he does not stop showing off!!! In front of the dinner table, he would suddenly open up his cellphone or our landline phone and talk to a person in his place of work! He does not even bother to tone down his voice, it would be as loud as can be since he said its not that clear. When he visited our uncle in the US, he even bragged about his job there, how important he is in his job. Even my uncle complained about it!!! This is not the first, I kid you not!!! During the time when he does not have a job, he brags as much!! He brags how rich his father is, and could support his family, though we clearly see that my sister was working so hard and even rendering overtime just to 'bring home the bacon'!!! Recently, I just came home for a vacation, and have suggested that our family have an out of town vacation. Definitely my nieces are involved, my sister asked if its okay if his husband goes with us. I actually said to her, that I prefer that he not go with us, if they want to have a vacation with him, they have to do it on their own. I do not have any intention of 'destroying' my family's happiness, just because I allow him to go with us. My feelings is equally felt by our parents and my brother. My mom told my sister, that my/our distress over her husband did not happen overnight!!! We accepted him in the family years back, but his arrogance and insensitivity caused this. We asked her to talk to him to lessen it, but I guess it did not work. Am I correct to answer this to my sister? I really loved her and my nieces, but he really makes me angry. I am a frank person, and I do not have any intention of being 'cordial' to a person who does not know how to show respect in another's home, especially to our parents.
3 responses
• United States
13 Jul 07
This is a sticky position. You will have to weigh out how important your relationship with your sister is. Alot of times people choose their husband over their families. I am not saying this is the best choice but sometimes it is. So I think you should think if you really are willing to give up your relationship with your sister.
@Minesky (245)
• Philippines
13 Jul 07
Hi! You are correct about that, we are not willing to give up the relationship with my sister. Family is family, so to speak. Up to now, we are trying our darndest hard to keep cordial when he is around. My mother just simply leaves the room when he starts his 'show'. At the end of the day, we talk to my sister and tell her our complaints, she does not react to it in most cases, where she is also present when it happens. My answer to her regarding him going to our outing was a really straight answer, I simply do not want my parents distressed over him, to consider that the objective of that activity is to relax and enjoy time with each other. The way I see it, the one in the sticky position is my sister, because, she already knows how his husband really is, and feels that she does not have any power over it. I am sad of this fact. I just hope that my sister gets stronger on her convictions, and hopefully my brother in law changes before he gets his just desserts.... Thank you very much for your response!!!
@butterfly39 (3904)
• Philippines
12 Jul 07
If that's the story, I don't think I can handle things like that...there's nothing wrong to be honest for sure and the best person who can talk to about your brother in law is your sister... My husband is not closed to my 3 sisters...and they hate my husband so much...Occasionally, they love my kids but we always make it a point that we won't meet somewhere to avoid pressures...like birthday, vacation, or special gathering for the whole family. My husband knows where to place himself so no trouble...maybe your brother in law is a guy that is full of "confident" that he's somebody and that he should be treated well...
@Minesky (245)
• Philippines
12 Jul 07
Hi! Confidence, I guess he is so full of it. Our family did not really hate him at first, when they were still dating, my mother even favored him! He was okay with us, he was already going with us in family dinners! There are already a lot of cases wherein he still brags even if could not deliver!! When he was jobless, he always boast that his father would support my sister, but it was my family who initially shouldered the delivery expenses of my nieces, minus the insurance coverage of her work, and it took a long time before they were able to pay us back. Whenever we have family gatherings, we treat him with respect, however, it is him that start the distress. Most of the times, when we have family dinners, he does not go with us anymore, so we are a bit peaceful now. But those once in a while dinners, he really does a show!!!! I understand where your sisters might come from, they might still be convinced that your husband is not capable of taking care of your family (that's my point of view hihi :D ) But I must be sure that you are luckier because your husband knows how to place himself with your family, so as you say..... no trouble. It is better to be humble..... than be humbled!!! Thank you very much for your response!!!
• Singapore
12 Jul 07
i think you should have share your feeling with your sister long time ago. But it's good that it's out now, so you will not have to feel obligated to spend time with him. I think you did the right thing!
@Minesky (245)
• Philippines
12 Jul 07
Hi! We have already been telling my sister for a long time now on our concerns with my brother in law, but as much as possible we try to show respect to him whenever he is in our family home. We started to be more vocal when he started to use the phone in the dinner table. I myself consider this disrespectful!!! So that was when he had the job at the call center. We still continually remind my sister to try to get through him, so that all of us would be okay with each other. Thank you so much for your response!!!