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  #1  
Old 04-16-2008, 02:37 PM
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Default Sister-in-law is QUEEN BEE

Geez - this is a complicated scenario to follow. My husband Owns/Runs his Family Business. (It belongs to his father, mother & him) My husband & I have been married 5+ years. We're both around 50 yrs. old. ***This is His FIRST marriage*** His Father is deceased. He has an older, married Brother (who is now deceased) and an older Sister. She is the Oldest of the three - she's pushing 60... & is literally,the Queen Bee, in their family. She's married and has 2 Grown, Adult children. Her daughter, (his niece) who is 30, has been living with His Mom for ten years (since his Father passed away). His Mom has always done the bookwork and all the administrative end (25+ yrs) of their (his dad & his) business., out of her home. Her home actually belongs to her and my husband, equally. Mom is still pretty healthy, but has had some medical issues - she's still quite able. Queen Bee, nor his brother were ever part of their business. Both lived away and pursued their own careers/family, etc. Until now. Queen Bee has basically moved in with his Mom over the past year and a half. She's still married; her husband lives 300 miles away, but she relocated job-wise, (thanks to the computer age), & works mostly from Mom's home via the computer. "Supposedly", she stays there/lives there to care for Mom, but she had already been staying there about 4 days a week, during the year before. Queen Bee had always catered to and hovered over her little brother/aka my husband. She was NOT happy when she found out we got married. (We were married in Las Vegas, 5 yrs ago) In fact, she RAN Up the Stairs (at his mother's house) crying, almost hysterically, when she Saw him the first time after we got back. All she could say about her actions was, "I Just NEVER Thought You'd Get MARRIED!" She was Cold towards me, nearly everytime we came in contact with each other. It was obvious that she felt threatened by me, and mostly, tried to Ignore me (like I didn't exist) during family gatherings. She's made snide remarks to me (when no one is around) But she really started Pouring on the Sisterly Love towards my husband, in no small measure. Waiting on him, buying him gifts, calling him all the time. (always on his cell phone - NEVER at our home). Queen Bee always bought him clothes, but she also buys him jackets, boots, expensive hand-made wallets, expensive pocket knives, a hand-tooled leather gun case, monogrammed shirts......etc. To put it mildly, his closet is packed to the brim. I, of course, buy him clothes and everything else a wife buys her husband.By the way, Queen Bee has the history of running off any Woman who has entered into ANY of the Men in this family's lives. She despised/despises her Other sister-in-law (her deceased brother's wife) - they do not speak to each other. She was nasty & criticized & humiliated her Son's fiance (plus, threatened to cut him out of her will, if he married her) - they of course, are no longer a couple. All the while, she portrays herself as the loving, caring, concerned mom/sister/person, to her Family. Queen Bee is always the control center of every Family Gathering. She decides what & when, and how. She calls my husband with the plans & he says, How Much;? He gives her the money for the Food, the Xmas Tree, and everything else. She decides she wants to buy a big gift for Mom, "from her & him", which "I" know nothing about. Then, to my surprise, she pulls the gift out at Xmas, or Mom's Birthday, after everyone's gifts have been opened. The card reads, FROM: Queen Bee and "XXX"(my Husband). (her husband's name or mine is not included)The "icing on the cake" was last weekend. During Xmas, SHE decided she wanted to give my husband a 50th Birthday Party. She mentioned it to me, then, and I said I thought it was a good idea. We haven't spoken since, and now 5 months later, she cornered me at his Mom's B.Day celebration, and said she needed to talk to me about his Surprise Party. I said, "What surprise party - Why wasn't I told about it?" She jumped back, with arms flying and said, "Well, because we haven't Planned anything, yet!"I told her that I wasn't sure about it. She snapped, " Well, You AGREED! At Christmas!"She is aware that some troubling business events have happened in the past four or five months, and my husband is under alot of stress. I had already mentioned "doing something" for his birthday to him, and he was adamant that he did not want Any type of party, not even just a couple of our friends to come over. When I told her this, she ignored me like I hadn't said a word. She continued to try to railroad me into going along with her plans. I also explained that I had made plans with a number of other women to go on a day-trip the day before his birthday, and didn't know what time I would be back. She could hardly contain herself. I felt like a trapped animal. Both his mom and his niece were standing there, too. All of them were in on the party idea & and here I was, standing in their way!Thank goodness, we were getting ready to leave when all this happened. (My husband was, of course, not in the room) I barely made it to the car before I broke down and started crying. I cried all the way home. My husband called his sister the next day and told her there would be No party and that she had caused me to cry, over it. She (the Victim, in her Own Mind) said she had cried, too. She told him that she has done everything in her power to bring us closer, and she just doesn't know what else to do. (That is a bunch of **** she & I Both know it.)If you can see the picture: His Mom, His Sister, His Niece ALL live under the same roof. He goes by there frequently, since his office is handled there. We Live an hour away. I feel I don't have a Chance in the middle of all these Hens.
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  #2  
Old 04-17-2008, 02:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by looneytoons View Post
Geez - this is a complicated scenario to follow. My husband Owns/Runs his Family Business. (It belongs to his father, mother & him) My husband & I have been married 5+ years. We're both around 50 yrs. old. ***This is His FIRST marriage*** His Father is deceased. He has an older, married Brother (who is now deceased) and an older Sister. She is the Oldest of the three - she's pushing 60... & is literally,the Queen Bee, in their family. She's married and has 2 Grown, Adult children. Her daughter, (his niece) who is 30, has been living with His Mom for ten years (since his Father passed away). His Mom has always done the bookwork and all the administrative end (25+ yrs) of their (his dad & his) business., out of her home. Her home actually belongs to her and my husband, equally. Mom is still pretty healthy, but has had some medical issues - she's still quite able. Queen Bee, nor his brother were ever part of their business. Both lived away and pursued their own careers/family, etc. Until now. Queen Bee has basically moved in with his Mom over the past year and a half. She's still married; her husband lives 300 miles away, but she relocated job-wise, (thanks to the computer age), & works mostly from Mom's home via the computer. "Supposedly", she stays there/lives there to care for Mom, but she had already been staying there about 4 days a week, during the year before. Queen Bee had always catered to and hovered over her little brother/aka my husband. She was NOT happy when she found out we got married. (We were married in Las Vegas, 5 yrs ago) In fact, she RAN Up the Stairs (at his mother's house) crying, almost hysterically, when she Saw him the first time after we got back. All she could say about her actions was, "I Just NEVER Thought You'd Get MARRIED!" She was Cold towards me, nearly everytime we came in contact with each other. It was obvious that she felt threatened by me, and mostly, tried to Ignore me (like I didn't exist) during family gatherings. She's made snide remarks to me (when no one is around) But she really started Pouring on the Sisterly Love towards my husband, in no small measure. Waiting on him, buying him gifts, calling him all the time. (always on his cell phone - NEVER at our home). Queen Bee always bought him clothes, but she also buys him jackets, boots, expensive hand-made wallets, expensive pocket knives, a hand-tooled leather gun case, monogrammed shirts......etc. To put it mildly, his closet is packed to the brim. I, of course, buy him clothes and everything else a wife buys her husband.By the way, Queen Bee has the history of running off any Woman who has entered into ANY of the Men in this family's lives. She despised/despises her Other sister-in-law (her deceased brother's wife) - they do not speak to each other. She was nasty & criticized & humiliated her Son's fiance (plus, threatened to cut him out of her will, if he married her) - they of course, are no longer a couple. All the while, she portrays herself as the loving, caring, concerned mom/sister/person, to her Family. Queen Bee is always the control center of every Family Gathering. She decides what & when, and how. She calls my husband with the plans & he says, How Much;? He gives her the money for the Food, the Xmas Tree, and everything else. She decides she wants to buy a big gift for Mom, "from her & him", which "I" know nothing about. Then, to my surprise, she pulls the gift out at Xmas, or Mom's Birthday, after everyone's gifts have been opened. The card reads, FROM: Queen Bee and "XXX"(my Husband). (her husband's name or mine is not included)The "icing on the cake" was last weekend. During Xmas, SHE decided she wanted to give my husband a 50th Birthday Party. She mentioned it to me, then, and I said I thought it was a good idea. We haven't spoken since, and now 5 months later, she cornered me at his Mom's B.Day celebration, and said she needed to talk to me about his Surprise Party. I said, "What surprise party - Why wasn't I told about it?" She jumped back, with arms flying and said, "Well, because we haven't Planned anything, yet!"I told her that I wasn't sure about it. She snapped, " Well, You AGREED! At Christmas!"She is aware that some troubling business events have happened in the past four or five months, and my husband is under alot of stress. I had already mentioned "doing something" for his birthday to him, and he was adamant that he did not want Any type of party, not even just a couple of our friends to come over. When I told her this, she ignored me like I hadn't said a word. She continued to try to railroad me into going along with her plans. I also explained that I had made plans with a number of other women to go on a day-trip the day before his birthday, and didn't know what time I would be back. She could hardly contain herself. I felt like a trapped animal. Both his mom and his niece were standing there, too. All of them were in on the party idea & and here I was, standing in their way!Thank goodness, we were getting ready to leave when all this happened. (My husband was, of course, not in the room) I barely made it to the car before I broke down and started crying. I cried all the way home. My husband called his sister the next day and told her there would be No party and that she had caused me to cry, over it. She (the Victim, in her Own Mind) said she had cried, too. She told him that she has done everything in her power to bring us closer, and she just doesn't know what else to do. (That is a bunch of **** she & I Both know it.)If you can see the picture: His Mom, His Sister, His Niece ALL live under the same roof. He goes by there frequently, since his office is handled there. We Live an hour away. I feel I don't have a Chance in the middle of all these Hens.
Time is the essense.

It is obviously very hard for "Queen Bee" to let go and to establish a wife when he is 50, and as you did not get married in front of her, or possibly know her before hand, she feels a form of rejection, little brother, i wasn't there.

Time i feel is the only thing that will help as she gets to know you.

I remember my ex-husband's Aunty. And i have read something very simular to your story here lately, but can not recall what thread? But i stated this as well.

He hated his name and changed it to mine but the Aunty who bared the same name refused to sign our wedding book under "our" name, but in the old name and stated "never forget your roots", which was up-setting for me. She refused to acknowledge me and felt it was my fault.

After 5 years and a few dinner invites she warmed to me and started writing her Christmas Cards under our married name and that was the end of that.

Perhaps you need to have her over for dinner and let her see the bond she has with your husband is no different and that you are a nice person and keep that going until she sees the real you.

CW
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  #3  
Old 04-17-2008, 11:58 AM
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Thank you for your thoughtful reply. Yes, Queen Bee knew me before we decided to go to Las Vegas. We had pleasant conversations/ exchanged Xmas gifts, etc., for over a year.After about three years of marriage, Queen Bee and I actually bonded a bit, before and after the birth of her first grandchild. ANOTHER complicated story... Her son & his occasional girl friend are the parents of this sweet grand daughter. The two are not married, they did not even date. (This was a Very Casual 2-3 Night Affair)She wanted marriage, but that's a different story.He loves his daughter & is responsible in every way a loving parent should be. Everyone loves the baby & initially, the baby's Mother assumed the role of girlfriend, almost daughter-in-law, etc. Long story short...Queen Bee was a very happy grandmother & got to keep the baby 3 days a week, while the Mom works. They baby grew VERY attached to her though, and the Mother became jealous. Plus, the son made it clear he would not marry her and AWAY she went, baby and all! Now, Queen Bee gets to see the baby less often. She stopped emailing me 2months ago, and now she's back trying to be All Important to My husband. And running the show, every chance she gets.
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Old 04-17-2008, 03:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by looneytoons View Post
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. Yes, Queen Bee knew me before we decided to go to Las Vegas. We had pleasant conversations/ exchanged Xmas gifts, etc., for over a year.After about three years of marriage, Queen Bee and I actually bonded a bit, before and after the birth of her first grandchild. ANOTHER complicated story... Her son & his occasional girl friend are the parents of this sweet grand daughter. The two are not married, they did not even date. (This was a Very Casual 2-3 Night Affair)She wanted marriage, but that's a different story.He loves his daughter & is responsible in every way a loving parent should be. Everyone loves the baby & initially, the baby's Mother assumed the role of girlfriend, almost daughter-in-law, etc. Long story short...Queen Bee was a very happy grandmother & got to keep the baby 3 days a week, while the Mom works. They baby grew VERY attached to her though, and the Mother became jealous. Plus, the son made it clear he would not marry her and AWAY she went, baby and all! Now, Queen Bee gets to see the baby less often. She stopped emailing me 2months ago, and now she's back trying to be All Important to My husband. And running the show, every chance she gets.
Yes i am thoughtful thank you for noticing, but i take that all back now!!

You seem to know i think, and i've seen it who hasn't:-

QUEEN BEE thinks she is QUEEN BEE. So that means that she can change her story, change her pattern, change anything she wants when she wants and take over control what ever that control is at the time.

Shame, can't see that you are going to be able to change this one at all, she will be nice to you when something else is going on and she "needs you" and probably stab you in the back if she feel that she wants to and not really care when she hurts you... No consquence.

So, keep as friendly as you can i guess, not condecending or against your beliefs with her, but because you are the "stronger" person and by doing this you shouldn't be affected, to much, just on the occasions when it's your turn, as she has no one else to dominate so she will go back to your husband.

Sorry, i can't see anything else there...

Mmm, ex - fiance's mother now she was controlling......

CW
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  #5  
Old 04-18-2008, 12:14 PM
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Yahoo! I see that you Understand the situation pretty well. Thanks for sorting through the LONGGG Drama. Ya Know, I just spoke to MY sister earlier (she's been out of town a while) and she was quick to point out that "First of all, she couldn't believe what she was hearing -About How I was actually letting this Person corner me and make me feel so intimidated! She said, "If it was anyone Else (especially someone you know and love), you'd tell them in a minute, they were out of line!"
Aren't SISTERS grand? People who really love you and hurt with you, are the ones you can always count on. I'm feeling better, already!
Thanks again, for your input. It felt like someone heard me and cared enough to try to help!
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Old 04-18-2008, 01:26 PM
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This is twice in 24 hr hours that i can say " never truer words spoken", "People who really love you and hurt with you are the ones you can count on"....

Didn't have a sister, lol, but have lots of pretend ones now.....

Your sister gives good advice, it is important to tell people when they cross that line, but "will they listen", well that's another story.....

Best wishes..
CW
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Old 04-24-2008, 08:04 PM
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ok so have we left those who are negative in our lives?
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