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Martha
Devoted February 2024

The incredible shrinking woman

Martha, on June 2, 2021 at 11:02 AM

Posted in Family and Relationships 27

My fiancé and I recently moved into our new apartment, we have his sister staying with us since covid began. We picked our new apartment to fit our need, which included garage, laundry and two bathrooms. The plan was that the sister would pitch in and so we counted our chickens before they hatched....

My fiancé and I recently moved into our new apartment, we have his sister staying with us since covid began. We picked our new apartment to fit our need, which included garage, laundry and two bathrooms. The plan was that the sister would pitch in and so we counted our chickens before they hatched. She currently has a part time job, she hasn't reached out to try for a full time, but recently purchased a new car. I leave the finance between her and my fiancé between each other.

Now I am seeing my role in the relationship as a key player become diminished. When visitors come over no one gives me any sort of heads up, I feel like one of our cats, finding out as the guest is arriving. My fiancé is opening up a bank account with her, he is uncombining our finances. It just seems I am becoming smaller and smaller. I want to bring it up to him again but he argues I am overreacting and he is not tossing me to the side. We don't have couple dates because the 3rd wheel has to come along. We do not even go work out as a couple anymore either because she goes with him, I'm no longer invited. He's off on days of the week, while I am off on weekends, and when our schedules match up we don't mix anymore, he has spent his good topics on her. I feel so stupid for feeling jealous of his sister, but i feel she has overstayed her welcome.

Its gotten to the point where I feel like the cook, cleaning lady, cat feeder, and rent payer without much say or role in my home, I didn't want to be stuck in the house alone on the weekends and took up a second job. I don't like heading home where I feel like a piece of furniture or a 3rd wheel on their relationship. If I bring it up he'll want to argue and since last year my mental health is not in a place where I can handle that. Please advise on how I should move forward, I am reaching my limit, I am also 6h away from any family and trusted friends, he is literally my rock here... and I don't think he understands.

27 Comments

  • W
    VIP September 2020
    Willow ·
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    Your FH is throwing up so, so many red flags. He takes advantage of you. He lets his siblings take advantage of you. He doesn't pull his weight in the home. He is financially entangling himself with his sister, which is absolutely unacceptable if this is affecting joint finances for you and him. He is not receptive to your feelings. He is emeshed with his sister and doesn't care.


    Even if the sister is out of the picture, do you think he'll magically change once he has a ring on his finger? Even when he was unemployed and you were working full time, he was content to sit back and let you be maid, cook, breadwinner, not just for him, but also TWO of his siblings. Why did you accept this arrangement? There's being kind, and there's being a doormat.
    I was going to suggest couples counseling or leave but now I say leave. Too many red flags. This man is a user. I am sorry. You need to stand up for yourself.
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  • Natalie
    Super November 2020
    Natalie ·
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    I am so sorry you are going through this.
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  • A
    Super December 2020
    Anais ·
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    I think everyone has really great advice.
    My sister and her boyfriend are staying with us for 10 weeks as she has an internship in our city. I am extremely close to my sister, love having her here and hanging out with her after work every day but I still always put my husband first. It’s his home and he needs to be comfortable first and foremost.
    I can’t even imagine pushing my husband aside to spend all my time with my sister. I especially can’t imagine getting mad at him if he’d come up to me and explain that he feels like the third wheel.This is just a very weird situation and you deserve to be comfortable in your home, to get help when you need it and mostly to have your partner listen to your concerns. I hope you he’ll start listening to you soon, with or without a counselor. Good luck ❤️
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  • Kari
    Master May 2020
    Kari ·
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    His sister sounds like my husband's sister, and your fiance sounds like my MIL. He is enabling her and there is no reason why she should be motivated to be more independent if she can freeload off of the two of you. His lack of respect for your opinion in the matter is concerning, especially when his sister's presence impacts you.

    I wonder if he's latched onto his sister as a way of feeling important/needed because it sounds like you have your ish together and could easily be pretty independent if you chose to. Regardless, this issue needs to be addresses with your fiance and if he continues to dismiss your concerns I would strongly consider a major adjustment to your relationship.

    Sorry you are going through this!

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  • Veronica
    Dedicated November 2021
    Veronica ·
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    I agree with so many comments. Their relationship is inappropriate. I had to go back and make sure you mentioned "sister" and not "friend" by the things you mentioned. But if you are starting to plan for a break, instead of a marriage, then you already see the red flags. If you haven't had a heart to heart talk with him about this, then you should and ASAP. If he tries to make it seem like you are overreacting or are in the wrong for feeling this way, instead of working through it with you, then that's a major red flag.

    I'm sorry you are having to deal with. I wish you the best, but if this relationship is no longer what is best for you, I wish you the strength and courage to make the decisions that are.

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  • E
    Expert September 2022
    EGD ·
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    I first want to say that I am so sorry this is happening to you, it is no way to live and my heart truly aches for you. I want to echo what others have said that their relationship seems creepily inappropriate. I am close with my brother, but I would NEVER expect him to ditch his fiance for me or even think of trying to take her place in his life. It just seems weird.

    I haven't read through all the comments yet, so I'm not sure if this has been addressed.

    I work at a bank and just wanted to share some advice cause I've seen it all. If his name is joint on the account (even if you are the primary or tax reporting owner of the accounts) he doesn't need your permission to do anything, even if you told the bank he does. LEGALLY that money is jointly owned and as a joint owner he his allowed to do what he sees fit.

    My main recommendation is open up a new account in just your name if you don't have one already. Make sure all your money is deposited into that account in your name that way he has no legal rights to it.

    Banking is weird and I've seen so many people in the same situation get all their accounts drained because the joint owner was petty and sketchy!

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  • Selena
    Just Said Yes July 2022
    Selena ·
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    YES THIS COMMENT!Smiley heart ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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