Single Mom Of Three Overhears Brother's Wife Use Her As Cautionary Tale About Teenage Pregnancy, But With Few Lies Added
It was an unpleasant experience when a single mom of three found out what her sister-in-law and nieces truly thought about her. OP said she knew her "situation was pretty pathetic," but she didn't believe her SIL thought so lowly of her.
OP was 15 years old and pregnant when her family disowned her. Years later, she reconnected with her older brother after the father of her three children abandoned them because "they weren't worth the stress."
When her brother found her, OP had a job but didn't earn enough to cover rent. Her brother and his wife convinced OP to move into their basement until she and her kids recovered.
OP felt awkward around her SIL and preteen nieces, but their kindness to her and her kids reassured her all would be okay. Things were looking up for OP — she just got certifications that would allow her to find a better-paying job.
Her happiness was dampened after her brother's birthday dinner at home when she overheard how her SIL described her to her daughters. Her brother left to pick up something when OP's son accidentally spilled juice on himself.
OP and her kids all went to the basement. OP stayed with her daughters for a while after she changed her son's clothes and put him to bed.
She then planned to return to her SIL and nieces. She heard her nieces ask their mom if OP did get pregnant when she was a teenager.
Her SIL said yes. She told her daughters how lucky OP was that her brother was kind enough to take her in. She warned her daughters not to get pregnant unless they wanted to end up like OP.
OP wanted to ignore how her SIL phrased her story, but couldn't do the same when she lied about OP doing drugs while she was pregnant.
OP would have preferred if her SIL didn't tell the girls everything about her life.
OP knew she was not a good role model, but was it necessary to lie about a drug addiction and mental illnesses she didn't have to discourage her nieces from unsafe sexual conduct?
OP wondered if she should tell her older brother about his wife's and daughters's conversation. She didn't want to cause a fight but was undeniably hurt by how they spoke of her.
A few Redditors wondered if OP's brother could have embellished her story to make his wife more at ease with OP moving in.
OP said that was not the case because she told her brother and his wife about her story after she had already moved in.
Another Redditor said they understood why OP's SIL would use her as a cautionary tale. OP could discuss the particulars with her brother and his wife to correct the unfair accusations she made about her.
OP shared a few more details about her story to avoid confusion. She knows what her life was like and it serves as a lesson enough without adding lies to the equation.
OP said in another comment that she was extremely grateful for her brother and SIL's kindness. Her gratitude is why her SIL's comments hurt her so.
Redditors advised OP against confronting her brother or SIL as it could jeopardize her and her children's living arrangement.
OP said she is saving to move out of her brother's and SIL's house.
She has also been setting money aside to thank her brother for his generosity when she and her family needed it most.
OP didn't say if decided to speak to her brother and SIL. She said in a comment that if she would talk to them about what she overheard, she wouldn't be aggressive about it.
She wanted to be honest about how hurt she was by her SIL's words and draw a line about not adding lies to her already tragic story. The complication didn't erase OP's awareness of how fortunate she is to have her brother's and SIL's support as she got her life together.
