Family Matters
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In the middle.

So i am always in the middle of my brother in-law (my sister's hubby) and my hubby.  They are both stubborn men.  They are always right and don't see eye to eye on some stuff.  It's hard because I know they both just want to be friends with each other.  One always gets their feelings hurt about something.  Like this weekend, a mutual family friend came to visit my hubby and me.  We didn't include my sis and BIL.  He got all bent out of shape.  Instead of talking to hubby about it he got all upset with me and my parents.  I don't care if they don't like each other.  i am super close to my sis and also to her hubby.  They have a 16 year old who we are both close to sorry i just had to vent. 

Re: In the middle.

  • Don't PUT yourself in the middle, then. If someone brings you into the argument, just say, "This is between MH and BIL," and then change the subject or walk away.

     

    If you're the one getting involved with their argument, then stop it, because it doesn't involve you. 

    image
  • stay out of it. Then you won't be in the middle.

    Seriously. "This is between you and Frank; leave me out of it" is a perfectly acceptable thing to say. Or "I know you two will work it out best between yourselves without me". I bet you don't say things like that. I bet when your BIL or your sister or your dh start to complain to you about some aspect of the dh/bil relationship, you pop right in with all kinds of ideas and plans and 'help'. And a lot of your plans and ideas and help might even be right, if the two of them thought it up and implemented it; but by doing it FOR them you deprive them of even the possibility of learning to figure out the relationship for themselves.

    They're big boys. Let them work out their own friendship. With no help from you.

    SO SINGS MY SOUL *WHAM!* MY SAVIOR GOD TO THEE *WHAM!* HOW GREAT THOU ART *WHAM!* HOW GREAT THOU ART *WHAM!*
  • How does your sister respond to these situations? Does she also feel "in the middle"?
    image
    74 books read in 2011
    image
  • imageadelee_1:
    Like this weekend, a mutual family friend came to visit my hubby and me.  We didn't include my sis and BIL.  He got all bent out of shape.  Instead of talking to hubby about it he got all upset with me and my parents.
    I don't understand why you would expect your BIL to talk to your husband about this situation. While I think it's stupid for him to get bent out of shape about this, if he was going to get mad at someone it would seem that you and your parents would be the appropriate targets (assuming you have the primary relationship with these friends).
  • He expects an invitation when friends visit you for the weekend?
    My darling daughter just turned 4 years old.
  • Stay out of the middle. Seriously.

    Your BIL is unreasonable.  It's perfectly ok to hang out with a friend that you and BIL share without asking BIL and your sis over.

    By "getting in the middle," you are validating his unreasonable requests. 

    So stop.  If he complains that you didn't invite him, tell him "if you want to see friend, give him/her a call."  Don't tell him you're sorry he feels that way, don't do anything else - put the responsibility on HIM to do something about it.

    I don't know why you are saying your H is stubborn.  He didn't do anything, IMO.  My guess is that you are in the middle b/c your H refuses to deal with BILs behavior.  Take a cue from your H.  Your BIL sounds like a drama queen.  It's no wonder the mutual friend didn't want to hang with him!

    If your sister stops speaking to you b/c you don't invite her over every time you see a friend that she knows, then you are better off.  That's not a healthy relationship!

    image "Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.
  • so stop letting them put you in the middle.
    Friday, December 28 2012. The day I had emergency appendix surgery in Mexico and quit smoking. Proof that everything has a good side!! DH and I are happily child-free!! No due date or toddler tickers here!! my read shelf:
    Alison's book recommendations, favorite quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf) 
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