Hi
For ten years, I have been with my husband and I have endured a screwed up relationship with his daughter. During that time I did bond with her three children by taking care of them and giving them shelter when they had none and simply enjoying eachother. My husband's daughter has always managed to manipulate others into doing or giving her things because of the children (Apartments, cars, money,furniture etc..). I played in that cycle for a while until I figured out what she was doing. Now if I don't give in to her or we have a dispute the children are not allowed to come around me. I set the boundary that she was not allowed to come to my home (she or her kids) and asked my husband to go see her and the kids at her home. As soon as I did this, she started sending the kids over to test me and I stood my ground sending them home. Now she has her sister in on this and my husband is upset with me because I refuse to cave. What do I do, am I wrong?
2006-11-01 14:35:22 · 2 answers · asked by Erik 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
No you're not wrong. I've seen this same scenario going on with scads of my friends. Dysfunctional children who manipulate anyone around them for their own benefit. Every family, anymore, seems to have a sociopath like this in them.
The ONLY thing you can do to protect yourself is what you're doing. Unless, of course, you want to be financially and emotionally blackmailed for the rest of your life. You may be alone in this but it's better then being under the thumb of an shallow, self absorbed, manipulative, and emotionally twisted con artist.
2006-11-01 14:46:33 · answer #1 · answered by Ellen J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bump Ellen J's comment, you have to set firm boundaries and stick to them. You may want to continue talking to your husband and ensure you two are on the same page, i.e. understanding the manipulation tactics being used.
2006-11-01 22:54:55 · answer #2 · answered by musclehead12279 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋