Thread: Family problems
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Old Jan 27, 2020, 04:10 AM
Be Still Be Still is offline
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Member Since: Dec 2019
Location: South Africa
Posts: 48
Hi Imtry! This is really sad especially because your parents aren’t present to intervene. Family dysfunctional dynamics are complicated because I’m sure all of you sisters feel entitled to your opinions of each other, and everyone wants to be justified in their interpretation of where the conflicts may have started. So it’s messy!

For the longest time I was the peace bearer in the family trying to please all sides and make everyone happy and I ended up feeling the weight of the dysfunction. So I learnt to detach myself from the politics and work on ME! Because I had been neglecting myself for so long trying to please my family and avoid conflict. The more I focused on my own development and goals in life, the more I saw my family dysfunction with different eyes. Truth is all of you have a role that you play in this puzzle. You cannot change your sisters’ hearts or minds. You can only free yourself from the burden of drama and conflict.

As for your daughter, let her be. Allow her to form the bonds and relationships she feels entitled to. When we were younger my mother stopped speaking to my dads side of the family for nearly 10 years. Only in my 20s did myself and my cousins and Aunts reunite. I felt cheated and so bitter because their conflict and drama had absolutely nothing to do with me. Please don’t let your daughter have to pick sides because later she will resent you for controlling her ability to have a community and support from her family. She is not a pawn in the game or drama between you and your sisters. Please allow her to experience the gift of having aunts and cousins and that family bond that is so precious in this crazy world.

I pray you heal because you sound like a beautiful soul! And I hope all of you sisters can come to a place of forgiveness. Blessings