FULL REDDIT STORY HERE: / sister_has_cut_me_off_... Welcome back to our monthly series, What Would You Do? This episode discusses a Reddit post where a user's sister is directing her regret and jealousy towards her childfree lifestyle.
Now that I am in my late 30s and firm in my CF decision (I was always firm regarding it, I only became more intolerant of people questioning me, implying I don't know what I want or what's best for me etc.), I remove myself from any conversation, situation or relationship that is bringing these questioning, convincing-otherwise topics into conversation regularly. This interests me about as much as war-related political topics do or deer hunting does (being a vegan of 13yrs) - I don't want to engage in it in the slightest. As you mentioned, jealousy takes many forms, and I have experienced it related to this life choice of mine all too often. The sister in the story needs to do some deeper self-examining as well as working on acceptance.
Sis needs help. I hope she gets it. Stay away from the toxicity she's creating within the family. Consider it a gift to be cut off. You're a reminder of the freedom she once had, so consider it a gift to her to stay away.
Hmmmmm, depends. If it was a sister I was close to, then I would possibly try to work things out. If I already had other issues with her, then I'd consider going no contact. Her going to therapy to deal with her constant complaining may be helpful, but only if she's honest and non delusional with the therapist. Being childfree, you see, has always been for me.
I think envy and being jealous is a pretty natural feeling but if a person lets it turn them toxic, that’s on them. I’m incredibly jealous of childfree people but it’s an admiring envy and I fully support the CF movement. Sister is a terrible case of misery loves company.
Odd how family members won’t cut out child abusers though. When it came out that my uncle was abusing his daughter (sexually) everyone kept it a secret. Her own mother didn’t protect her. My grandma, uncles mom also kept quiet and did and said nothing. I only learned about the abuse about a year ago (10+ years after it happened).
I mentioned about my childfree life on a childfree content video. I didn't mention anything about parents or anything like that, just strictly my life. Sure enough, a woman posted about how she loved her kids and went on about how she worked two jobs, her husband worked three jobs, she had a break from her kids because she could get away from them at work and also got away from them because they dropped off at her parent's every weekend and proceeded to tell me that I can do that with my life too. I told her I felt sorry for her because it seemed she was trying to get away from her kids. She popped off. The mother was projecting and toxic. She wasn’t happy with her life decisions and was trying to lie to herself. My best friend of 30 years had a son in her 40's. She tells me it's stressful. Tells me it's not easy. Then tells me the in-laws are taking him for the weekend so her and her husband can get a break from their son. She's honest and isn't lying to herself how hard raising children really are.
