Dear Jasmine,
My sister in law drives me crazy! Every time she comes over to my house, she starts comparing our kids and says things to imply her kids are better. My husband is often at work so he doesn’t hear it and from what I tell him, he says it is not a big deal. I feel that his sister is trying to put down my kids and I do think that is a big deal. It has gotten to the point where we almost got into an argument about it and she made a comment like I was too sensitive.
How do I get her to stop doing it? Sometimes I feel like just pretending I am not home when she rings the door bell but she knows that I am normally home at that time so she just stops on by. I think that my husband should support me and talk to his sister about her behavior but he disagrees. He thinks that I should just ignore her and not take things she says too seriously.
Gloria R.
Pasco, WA
Dear Gloria,
I think your husband is on the right track. While I know it can be quite annoying for you, the truth is, is what she says that important to you? Just because she says her kids are better, does it mean they are? Surely it doesn’t but I do understand that it can get to be quite annoying. I would suggest that you start taking up some activities during the times she normally stops by, like taking your kids to the park, etc. Then she will see you and you can tell her that your busy nowadays and hopefully she can take the hint and stop coming on by.
Often times people don’t realize how they are boasting about their kids and how annoying it can get but that is just how some parents are. I don’t think she wants to put down your kids, but I don’t know her either. The truth is, it shouldn’t matter what she says about your kids. Aside from making yourself less available to see her, you will still have to bare with her through family functions and try to ignore what she says.
Always here,
Jasmine
