Wonderful SIL , HORRIBLE BIL.

So I want to start off by saying the "horrible" brother-in-law is my partners brother, and my "wonderful" sister-in-law is his wife and one of my very close and ONLY mom friends. I have babysat her kid since she gave birth and she always babysit mine (free both ways). She is the only person close i can confide in and ask mom advice. My mom is states away and I only have her.

My brother in law has always been kind of mean, he finds it funny to poke at people's feelings, almost "ragebaiting" them but much worse until they are at or past their breaking point, he doesn't understand times and place, he has cheated in the past (but supposedly grown), he makes racist and awful jokes..sometimes he is physically violent in small ways thinking its funny, I could go on.

But here recently he has gotten worse.

I mean, I think he has, but honestly it might be the fact I am postpartum and my partner is just fed up with his brother now that he's realizing he isn't going to change.

I never really minded how my brother-in-law acted, until I had my daughter this year. I dont know for sure, but I dont think its that I've gotten more sensitive to it, but that I care for her alot more then myself. His jokes or pickings at me never bugged me, I often found them kinda funny honestly, his ones at my partner I felt sometimes went to far but in a "annoying sibling who doesn't know boundaries" way. But now to get at me he picks on my daughter, he calls her names or purposely scares her, he says mean things, I hate it, I almost want to get violent everytime but honestly thats a fight I'd lose.

Here recently he's gotten so bad I don't want to be around my SIL if he's around, so I'll purposely leave early or only see her for coffee dates, shop outings, things I KNOW he wouldn't join in. I haven't visited her house in months except maybe three times and before that I came biweekly. I just have done almost everything to avoid him besides holidays.

Now, my partner is on the same page. He just doesn't want to be around his brother, we used to go on double dates all the time but now my partner fears being hurt or a joke being made about our daughter that throws my mood off... we used to hang out all together and have sleepovers but we dont want to be stuck at his house overnight or have him around .. unable to escape without confrontation..

I almost feel morally obligated to tell my sister-in-law because since christmas its gotten way worse, and I dont want to be around him at all, but we are so so close. But I fear she'll take offense, and tell him, or even if she doesn't, tell him anyways. I dont want our friendship effected because her boyfriends a ass, I dont want to break my partners trust about what he's told me concerning how he feels about his brother, I dont want to cause family drama.. I dont want the dynamic to be hurt.

How do I/we approach this either way?

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.
Add a comment
Avatar

Your brother in law sounds a lot like my older brother and your sister in law and your relationship with your sister in law sounds a lot like mine and our relationship. Honestly if it were me I’d bring it up to sister in law how you both feel about him making fun of your child and being cruel to your child as her being a mother chances are she sees it and would feel the same if it were her child but just doesn’t saying anything assuming you guys are okay with it or you would speak up maybe if possible have your partner talk to his brother while you talk to sister in law like at the same time so it’s not like you are blindsiding one piece just mention it’s makes you both feel uncomfortable hence why you wanted to talk to her while partner tries talking to brother

Avatar

You need to tell her and talk to her about this. If she is as genuine and kind of a person as you describe her she should be understanding. Heck if anything, if her husband is this awful to his brother, you, and your daughter, I can imagine that he is even worse with his wife and child. If so she needs to consider if she's okay with being treated that way for the rest of her life. She and her child don't deserve to be with such a POS.

Avatar

I mean has your brother spoken up? You all need to set boundaries. Go on YouTube and look up how to set boundaries with toxic family members. He crossing boundaries that maybe he doesn’t know have been set? In the moment I would have my husband address it with him and tell him directly we do not like when u do xyz. Maybe use the sandwich method…. Something nice, then address the issue… then something nice so he doesn’t get defensive. “Hey Brian we like spending time with you all but …. When u make fun of her hair, and crack jokes about her, and give him concrete examples…. And ( a consequence) we won’t be able to come over here or hang out with you. I love you… you’re my bro… but this has to stop. “ and then give him some time to show u he is taking things serious. And if he continues without making effort… they will know exactly why you don’t come around. And do it openly in front of the sis n law and that way everyone gets the picture.

Read more on Peanut

Trending

in our community

Is it bad of me to think this or no?

My husband has been abroad for work (1 day and exploring for 1 day) for 2 and a half days which means I’ve had both kids (1 year and 4 year old) for 2 and a half days plus cooking, cleaning, taking them to clubs, bedtimes!
He came home late afternoon and said I’m so tired, I just need to chill. I said can you wash up whilst I sort kids dinner out, he said he’ll do it later which means he won’t do it and I’ll end up doing it so I said no do it now please otherwise I’ll end up doing it and he said well you have been home and I’ve been away so you’ve just been relaxing.
Don’t know what planet he is on but having the kids alone for 2.5 days is not relaxing. I was stressed!

When he was away, I did miss him and wanted him to come back but now he’s back, I want him to go away again😂
Is that bad?

Avatar

2

13

Feeding

My son is coming up to five months and I just started giving him oatmeal and rice cereal. When can you start trying veggies or fruits? I only give him the oatmeal or rice cereal once a day right now which is what the paediatrician had said to do. I’m just curious to when anybody tried anything else with their kids cause my son eats a lot of formula and he’s VERY curious when I eat.

Avatar

6

7

Really bothered by this

A friend posted this and it really bothers me because that is exactly how she parents her kid, and it's rather unfortunate because when our kids hang out together, her kid has a meltdown at least 5x within an hour. We have know them for years and it's only gotten worse. My kids will concede to hers, because they don't want to see their friend crying, but it sucks because they give up so much of their toys and enjoyment to keep the peace. We aren't hanging out as much anymore but it's rather sad to think she doesn't intervene more in her child tantrums and just let's it slide

Avatar

5

My 2 year old won’t eat nothing but snacks

Is this normal ? He won’t even try anything I eat .. he really only like pizza fries and spaghetti… nuggets and snacks bananas some other fruit but like anything else he won’t eat if try but I don’t want to force him I’m just I feel like bad I mean he isn’t losing weight I breastfeed mostly still

Avatar

1

8

Is this normal

Let’s say you’re at a softplay with your 2 year old, and some friends & their toddlers.
You buy your 2 year old a kids meal - chicken nuggets, beans, and chips. They’re very happy with it and have almost eaten it all.
They’re sat at the table, fork in hand, consistently eating, and have one chicken nugget left.
Your adult friend comes over from behind you, picks up the last chicken nugget, and eats it.
There was no indication that your child wasn’t going to eat it, and they didn’t ask. They just took it with no warning and ate it right in front of you and your toddler.
How you reacting?

Avatar

13

Shift worker daddies - advice please?

My husband works shifts (6am-6pm days or 6pm-6am nights) so when he’s on shift we either get about an hour or 2 before he goes to work or an hour or 2 when we gets home with him.

I don’t think people who aren’t married/have babies with shift workers fully understand the impact of feeling like a solo parent sometimes.

Does anyone have any advice? I do have parents who can help but I struggle to leave my baby with others as I always feel like they don’t understand the need for tracking wake windows or feeds and our baby will not sleep unless we black out a room or go for a car drive . Everyone seems to think ‘if he’s tired he’ll drop off’ - no he’ll just get overtired and have to then pay for it during his night sleep. So I feel like it’s just easier for me to do it all myself.

When my husbands off work he is great but I do take the mental load of telling him what to do or even reminding him of wake windows etc because he’s not here and forgets routines. He’s also being tested for ADHD currently so there’s that on top of shift work.

Just looking for advice on how to stay sane/keep routines or share loads with shifts workers?

Thank you ❤️

Avatar

1

5

Read more on Peanut