It's always nice when family members like and admire your other half, particularly if marriage is on the cards. However, it's important that boundaries are respected.
One woman has been left feeling uncomfortable after her sister overstepped the mark a bit with her fiancé, Gabriel, treating him as though he was the father of her young son and inviting him to attend his activities as her plus one.
According to this baffled bride-to-be, the sister has previously made jokes about how much of a dad 28-year-old Gabriel is to her son, Joe, always asking him to drive them to places. She once even drunkenly asked whether Gabriel would be "comfortable with adopting Joe", despite the soon-to-be-wed couple having already made the decision to remain child-free.
The perturbed woman says neither she nor Gabriel feels comfortable with this arrangement at all, but they were unsure of "how to push it aside without hurting their feelings".
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Taking to Reddit, the worried woman explained that their mother has warned her sister that her behaviour is "inappropriate" on countless occasions. However, she's always responded in a "defensive manner", claiming that "Joe chose him and that it is not her fault'.
Things recently came to a head last weekend after little Joe asked Gabriel if he could call him dad, telling him that his mother had "said it was fine".
All the while, the sister looked at the pair with "the biggest smile on her face", while their mother and brother - who don't agree with the situation either - watched the scene unfold as though they were "expecting his answer".
The concerned aunt - who goes by the username u/EntireAd8057 - wrote: "[Gabriel] sat Joe in his knee and kindly explained to him how he wasn't his dad or even a dad figure, that he was aunt's partner soon to be husband and that made him his 'favorite' uncle, but even if he wasn't his dad, he would never leave him and they'll always be best friends. Joe, being the sweet kid he is, laughed and smiled and said that it was okay, then he ran to the living room to play with something".
The poster believed the situation has been resolved quite well, with Gabriel having explained things to Joe in a kind and caring manner. However, her sister wasn't happy at all with his response and began getting into an altercation with them both.
She continued: "My mom kept telling her to shut up but she was saying things like 'what's wrong with you two?', 'how can you say no to a little kid?', 'he sees you as a father, so you should be proud of that', I had enough and I told her that Gabriel wasn't Joe's dad and that she needed to stop acting as if he was because it was honestly embarrassing".
At this point, her sister began using foul language to insult her and even accused her of being "jealous" of her son. They decided it was time to leave, but her sister still wasn't done with them.
The poster wrote: "She later sent me a text saying that it was best if we step out of Joe's life for a while or we will end up 'confusing' him because he doesn't understand that Gabriel is not daddy. But, as far as I could see, he got it pretty well".
Many of those commenting were disturbed by the sister's behaviour, with some even wondering whether or not she might harbour romantic feelings towards Gabriel.
One person wrote: "I dated someone who had a 'friend' who’d lost her husband recently and continually tried to make my boyfriend the new daddy to her kids - always asking him to come to their sporting events, having them draw him pictures, asking him to babysit, etc. It culminated in her making a move on him and proclaiming that her kids saw him as a dad and they 'needed him'. Just keep an eye out".
Another commented: "I am also wondering if there isn't a jealousy element. Not that sis wants Gabe for herself, but she is jealous that while she struck out on the partner lottery, her sister hit the 'jackpot', ie., she apparently has someone who loves her, and agrees with her, and isn't going to go absentee on her".
Do you have a nightmare family situation to contend with? We pay for stories. Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
