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  #26  
Old Jul 09, 2021, 04:18 AM
poshgirl poshgirl is offline
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Britedark, you are not a terrible person!

Rose76 is right when suggesting "claim your space and own your space". Some people feel they have to hug and kiss everything that moves. It may be a need to be loved. Or, to make up for a lack of demonstrative love when they were younger.

In your situation, you are responsible for setting and reinforcing the boundaries. Unfortunately you will need large measures of perseverance and patience. You may also feel guilty as she's your sister. Suppose you could call it "tough love".

Not adding anything to the already excellent contributions, other than to wish you luck.
Hugs from:
Britedark
Thanks for this!
Britedark, mssweatypalms, Rose76

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  #27  
Old Jul 09, 2021, 08:06 AM
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divine1966 divine1966 is offline
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I personally would have hard time directly saying NO and asking people to back off, but I’d make myself unavailable. Like if a sibling called me now to come over, sorry I am not available. If you only see her once a month then maybe you can even handle her hugs and kisses. Limit how often you see her
Thanks for this!
Britedark, Rose76
  #28  
Old Jul 09, 2021, 10:06 AM
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Rose76 Rose76 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Britedark View Post
Thank you, your suggestions are very helpful. Since you have been so understanding I'd like to ask you something further. In the past I have tried to stop the touchy feely behaviour. But then my sister told me that her love language is 'physical affection', and she won't feel loved unless I demonstrate through hugs and kisses. Do you know anything about it? Is that the only way some people feel loved? I am not trying to justify her behaviour, I am just requesting some clarity so I can understand things better.
Remember the dogs and the puppies. Their natural way of bonding is to roll around on the ground together. With no training, any dog you get will do the same with you - jumping up, paws all over you, tongue all over your face, dive into your lap and roll around. Some people allow that and even like it. But, according to every trainer of canines, you can refuse to allow your dog to be that exuberant. You can require your pooch to not jump on you, and it will in no way cause Fido to think you hate him. Actually, your dog will have more respect for you. If you take Fido for walks, praise him, and give him the occasional treat, he will bond to you.

I forget if you said your sister was married. She has a right to physical touchiness from her spouse, or S.O. She can have that style of bonding with her kids. But think of her as "somebody else's dog." It is not your responsibility to provide her with constant belly rubs and endless scratches behind the ear. She has, or needs to find, a "partner" to meet her need for that stuff. I love all dogs, even other people's dogs. They usually like me a lot too. But I don't roll around on the carpet with my neighbor's pooch the way I might gladly do with my own. I don't allow my guest's dog to keep jumping into my lap.

She is being manipulative by telling you those things. That's like a guy on the first date saying, "I won't believe you like me, unless I can reach inside your blouse." Nonsense! She is just trying to obliterate any boundaries between you and her. What she does is aggressive, not affectionate. She needs "retraining."
Thanks for this!
Bill3
  #29  
Old Jul 09, 2021, 11:34 AM
Bill3 Bill3 is offline
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Quote:
But then my sister told me that her love language is 'physical affection', and she won't feel loved unless I demonstrate through hugs and kisses. Do you know anything about it? Is that the only way some people feel loved?
You can read more about it here and elsewhere online:

The Five Love Languages - Wikipedia

What your sister is saying, though, is a misuse of that concept. Having a certain "love language" does not give anyone the right provoke distress, anxiety, suffocation in those that they love. If you don't want the physical touch that she wants, then it is not an act or expression of love to pressure or guilt you into doing it.

If okay, let us know how things go/went today!
  #30  
Old Jul 09, 2021, 12:50 PM
Britedark Britedark is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by poshgirl View Post
Britedark, you are not a terrible person!

Rose76 is right when suggesting "claim your space and own your space". Some people feel they have to hug and kiss everything that moves. It may be a need to be loved. Or, to make up for a lack of demonstrative love when they were younger.

In your situation, you are responsible for setting and reinforcing the boundaries. Unfortunately you will need large measures of perseverance and patience. You may also feel guilty as she's your sister. Suppose you could call it "tough love".

Not adding anything to the already excellent contributions, other than to wish you luck.
Thank you so much for your kind reply. Every little bit of support helps.
  #31  
Old Jul 09, 2021, 12:56 PM
Britedark Britedark is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rose76 View Post
Remember the dogs and the puppies. Their natural way of bonding is to roll around on the ground together. With no training, any dog you get will do the same with you - jumping up, paws all over you, tongue all over your face, dive into your lap and roll around. Some people allow that and even like it. But, according to every trainer of canines, you can refuse to allow your dog to be that exuberant. You can require your pooch to not jump on you, and it will in no way cause Fido to think you hate him. Actually, your dog will have more respect for you. If you take Fido for walks, praise him, and give him the occasional treat, he will bond to you.

I forget if you said your sister was married. She has a right to physical touchiness from her spouse, or S.O. She can have that style of bonding with her kids. But think of her as "somebody else's dog." It is not your responsibility to provide her with constant belly rubs and endless scratches behind the ear. She has, or needs to find, a "partner" to meet her need for that stuff. I love all dogs, even other people's dogs. They usually like me a lot too. But I don't roll around on the carpet with my neighbor's pooch the way I might gladly do with my own. I don't allow my guest's dog to keep jumping into my lap.

She is being manipulative by telling you those things. That's like a guy on the first date saying, "I won't believe you like me, unless I can reach inside your blouse." Nonsense! She is just trying to obliterate any boundaries between you and her. What she does is aggressive, not affectionate. She needs "retraining."
Thank you, I will keep your advice in mind. Since I don't want to cut my sister out of my life, the better choice is to enforce boundaries. To answer your question, my sister is married.
  #32  
Old Jul 09, 2021, 01:03 PM
Britedark Britedark is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill3 View Post
You can read more about it here and elsewhere online:

The Five Love Languages - Wikipedia

What your sister is saying, though, is a misuse of that concept. Having a certain "love language" does not give anyone the right provoke distress, anxiety, suffocation in those that they love. If you don't want the physical touch that she wants, then it is not an act or expression of love to pressure or guilt you into doing it.

If okay, let us know how things go/went today!
Bit early in the day but already my sister is complaining about the lack of affection. She has complained to our mom and mom has called me to ask why I am being rude all of a sudden. I will post an update tomorrow. A big thank you to everyone for being there. Your advice has been very helpful, now it's time for me to follow it.
Hugs from:
Anonymous49105, Bill3, Kozel, mssweatypalms
Thanks for this!
Bill3, mssweatypalms
  #33  
Old Jul 09, 2021, 01:40 PM
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Rose76 Rose76 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Britedark View Post
Bit early in the day but already my sister is complaining about the lack of affection. She has complained to our mom and mom has called me to ask why I am being rude all of a sudden. I will post an update tomorrow. A big thank you to everyone for being there. Your advice has been very helpful, now it's time for me to follow it.
Wow! This is way worse than I even inferred from all you've shared. A grown, married woman is calling Mom because "Sis-sis won't hug me enough?" So now we've got triangulation going on? This family dynamic is way, way sicker than I grasped. DO NOT let these two women make you crazy.

Wow - they really are determined. This is emotional tyranny. That sister of yours is some piece of work. And Mom probably fueled this sick stuff starting way, way back. You're going to have to stop idealizing your sister as this loving, good-hearted person and recognize how truly wicked she is capable of being, whenever you dare to not give her exactly what she wants.

I'm not saying you shouldn't love your sister. But she's got an evil streak that must not be indulged. It's time for you to get very serious about refusing to be controlled by Sis and by Mom. You may need some professional counseling to get through the fight you have ahead if you. These women play for keeps. They figured out that you are so afraid of being labeled as a meany that you will cave in to their demands to avoid them criticizing you. If push comes to shove, you may have to disengage from them for a period of time . . . for as long as it takes.

Sis-sis wants to own you. Do not give up ownership of yourself. You are in really grave danger of damaging your soul through this family toxicity. I'm not trying to be over-dramatic. This is serious.
Thanks for this!
Kozel
  #34  
Old Jul 09, 2021, 02:25 PM
RockyRoad007 RockyRoad007 is offline
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Location: Canada
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Have you considered a compromise?
Ask her if the two of you can meet halfway. You get more hugs than you might like, and she gets less than she might like.
If you're both open to that, it might help keep the peace.
Thanks for this!
Britedark, mssweatypalms
  #35  
Old Jul 11, 2021, 02:02 AM
Britedark Britedark is offline
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Member Since: Jun 2018
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RockyRoad007 View Post
Have you considered a compromise?
Ask her if the two of you can meet halfway. You get more hugs than you might like, and she gets less than she might like.
If you're both open to that, it might help keep the peace.
Thank you so much for your advice. I took it and after an initial conflict things have smoothed down.

This is also to provide a general update. I talked to my sister about age appropriate behaviour. We have decided that for now we will dial down the physical affection and she will also tone down her childish manners. But we have also agreed that the whole dynamic can't change overnight. It will be a work in progress and I'll need to be vigilant that we don't slide back into our familiar roles. Thank you (all of you) for your solid support. Sharing my problem with you was a very good idea and I am really happy we had this discussion. It helped clarify a lot of things. Sending you loads of good vibes. Stay safe and healthy.
Hugs from:
Bill3, eskielover, mssweatypalms
Thanks for this!
Bill3, Kozel, mssweatypalms, RockyRoad007
  #36  
Old Jul 13, 2021, 07:29 AM
hedgehoggy hedgehoggy is offline
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Member Since: Jul 2021
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Posts: 9
Hi Britedark,
I'm new here and just posted something somewhat similar. My younger sister also sometimes suffocates me with her emotions, while showing no emotional availability to me. We also more or less have the same age as you and your sister. Freel free (if possible) to contact me privately, it might be interesting to chat and maybe we can help each other! I hope her visit went ok.
Hugs from:
Britedark
  #37  
Old Jul 26, 2021, 03:35 AM
Britedark Britedark is offline
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Member Since: Jun 2018
Location: Galaxy far far away
Posts: 98
Update: My relationship with my sister has improved a lot. We had a talk about what I found to be problematic about her behaviour. She was surprisingly receptive to it. Perhaps because she is making progress in therapy. But I believe a lot of it was because of you guys and your very constructive advice. Thanks to you I could put a finger on the exact problem, rather than talking about vague irritations, which probably came across to her as accusatory. I recently spent a whole weekend with her without feeling the least bit suffocated. Just like old times.

Again, thank you very much for giving me your time and thought.
Hugs from:
Anonymous49105, Bill3, eskielover, mssweatypalms
Thanks for this!
Bill3, Kozel, mssweatypalms, RockyRoad007, Rose76
  #38  
Old Jul 26, 2021, 06:11 AM
Bill3 Bill3 is offline
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So great to hear! Thanks for making my day!
Hugs from:
Britedark
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