"Relationship between brother and sister"
By prashu
@prashu228 (37524)
India
September 16, 2012 8:23am CST
Hello friends,
Once of my cousin recently got married, he loves his sister very much. They both have same kind of taste , he knows what his sister likes and dislikes very much. The problem arised after marriage. His wife is not very friendly type, and from after marriage the brother is not like before with his sister. Does entering of a girl in brothers life really change the siblings relationship? i am confused , why should it be so? i mean she is not another girl in his life, she is a sister , so why should he change? and what problem does his wife have with this, if he is close to his sister? after all they are brother and sister and not anything else,right? then why so insecurity? friends please share your views, people who have seen much life of their marriage and their children's marriage can understand this problem better i feel, so please clear my doubts...
3 people like this
32 responses
@Dassodils (2010)
• India
16 Sep 12
Hai dear friend...
Now, I am passing through in such a situation.My brother is in love with a girl.and he is not behaving as the old times with me.I feel that he is avoiding me in every matters.Then I feel very sad.While sitting alone my eyes will get wet by thinking that.I cant control myself.It is a variety feeling.It is easy to say anything on this topic.But after getting an experience that same people will change the opinion.I am sure.I love my brother that much.Before the starting of their love,He had time to speck with me and say some jocks.But now he is very busy.He had caring me at the top level.But now,He have no time to care me.It really hurt me..Thanks..
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Sep 12
dassodils that the way love nd marriage work we become much closer to our mate and much more distant from our siblings.,but time will
een it out and he will either marry the girl or not but he will beome closer to you.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 12
hi dassodils,
i understood your pain, the same pain which my cousin (sister) is undergoing, people are just saying to get her married and simply blaming her, which i feel is not right, the brother is the one who is changed , sister is as sweet as before (like you) .so problem is in brother , he should think about it. instead, all of them here are blaming sister , which i didn't like at all.
@ckyera (17331)
• Philippines
17 Sep 12
Hello there!
I can't really imagine my brother changing attitude towards me if ever he got married. My brother and I are very close even if we are no longer living together since I got married. But our brother-sister relationship is still there and whenever we are together, I still feel that "bond" that we have ever since...
Now, that he already have a girlfriend and I kno sooner or later he will be marrying her, my only wish is that our brother-sister relationship will remain strong and that his wife to be will not come between us. That's why its important for me and our parents that his wife to be will be in good relationship with all of us. I mean we don't have a problem as long as we are respecting each other and that we all know where we stand in each others life and of course we want to be "ONE FAMILY"!
1 person likes this
@ckyera (17331)
• Philippines
18 Sep 12
Hi prashu!
We all have different understanding and opinion in every situation. It just so happen that I am also a sister myself. My brother is not married yet but as early as now, we make it clear to him and to his girlfriend that the family bond that we have before must remain the same or make it even stronger, and that his girlfriend is welcome to our family and hope that she will treat us as family as well...
I mean since she marry my brother, she must understand the relationship that my brother and I together with our parents have developed and achieved since we are young and no one should destroy it...because the things that our family have gone through is no joke...
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 12
hi,you understood the problem , correctly, that's what i meant , a wife and husbands relation is important , similarly brother and sisters, but here people are blaming the sister, which is not right,i feel. you went through this, and can actually imagine the pain , so you understood it, thanks for sharing
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
19 Sep 12
i agree , absolutely,the girl is coming to the family, so she she understand all the needs and the family bondings
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
16 Sep 12
Hi prashu,
I am having the same problem with my brother, he is my junior 2 years and many think I shall understand and be the leader in everything, but not anymore, since having girlfriend he no longer speaks to me, calling me sister but always give face for me to see, I got fed up and did not talk to him for many years, now he moved out and I am happy coz I don't see his face anymore, we used to be so close when we are small and teenagers, now with the entering of his foreigner girlfriend, we all including my parents are neglected especially my mom, he is comparing my mom's cooking with her girlfriend's cooking.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Sep 12
wong here in the U S young couples do not sta y with their birth family as they are m aking their own family .also with girlfriends'they are taking the time to ge to know her'and siblings just do not enter this.Your co untry I assum all
stay with the fam ily even after marriage/ t his does not'
work and creates bad feelings and friction
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
17 Sep 12
Hatley aunty:
you are right. In India, Malaysia , Pakistan normally families live together --During 1950/60s the concept of husband and wife living separately was a big issue and considered a sin-- dramas were written on it depicting the neglect of parents.
Even if the newly married are living separately problem arises in the matter of boy's sister contacting him over phone or through email.
In India where you have a son and daughter more or less of same age -- daughter it got married and sent out of home so that when the son gets married and a new girl comes in there may be less problems.
Yesterday evening i went out for a walk (Toronto) to the nearby park. I met a pakistani gentleman -- computer engineer -- he is living with his wife and daughter-- his younger brother who is employed here is also living with them along with his own wife and son-- joint family. I felt happy and appreciated him. If tolerance is there people can be together. We were discussing about the system followed in usa and canada -- where after marriage people live separately and even if parents are old and require assistance they have to manage it themselves.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 12
hi wong,
yes, that's the problem, i don't understand why should a man ignore his parents and siblings ,if he is married or in a relationship?
hi hatley,
may be that's the problem we (asians) stay together, but i dont think its bad at all, even my parents and others stayed like that, and they didn't face any problem, even after 30 years of marriage
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
16 Sep 12
there is nothing in this world without any changes,so change is quite common and we face each day ,we must learn to get adapted and experience it in any sort of relationships
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
16 Sep 12
Sometimes the new wife feels threatened by any other female. She probably doesn't want any attention taken off herself. In other words she wants her husband at her side always. Many families change after there is a marriage. The husband and wife leave the family ties and make their own families. It's the same with friends. My BFF and I stopped being close after we got married and started having kids. It just happens.
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 12
here, the brothers attitude has become odd, not the sisters, so who sister is not wrong at all
@Belle_of_the_Ball (896)
• Philippines
16 Sep 12
Situations change relationships and that is the reality.First of all,the sister should learn to accept changes in her life and her brother's life. Once a person gets married he/she leaves his/her family and live with his/her partner. Her/his priority becomes his/her family. These is even written in the bible.Perhaps,you might advice your cousin to reach out to her sister-in-law.She should be the one to open up to her sister-in-law and break the walls between them. Also,it could be possible that your cousin is just jealous of her sister-in-law because her brother's attention to drawn to his wife
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 12
no, its brothers fault, his attitude has changed and its become odd, sister is as before.
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
19 Sep 12
Hi prashu!
I am not sure if you are already married. If you are not married then your questions are relevant.
I may mention here that after marriage the boy becomes a separate entity in terms of 'family'. His relations with his sisters, brothers and mother-father go a sea change and it happens in most of the cases.
How best he may try, everyone feels that he has 'changed'. His wife expects that as she is the new entrant in the 'family', therefore, she must get all the attention. This is difficult to avoid. The boy faces the problem of balancing the relationship, however, he does not succeed in pleasing everyone related to him, after his marriage.
Your cousin (i.e. your cousin sister) should take it on her stride.
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
20 Sep 12
I think your cousin (sister) needs to accept the reality.
It is a matter of perception too.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
20 Sep 12
I understand responsibilities increase after marriage and they need to work on their relationship, but family cant be ignored, when the newly married girl is not ignoring her family then why should a boy do that?
@namiya (1718)
• Philippines
16 Sep 12
Getting married really affects relationship between members in the family. Once a family member marries his/her foremost responsibility is his/her partner and the family only comes next. Lucky for one who has found a partner that fit in with the family very well for no one will not be affected.
@namiya (1718)
• Philippines
16 Sep 12
and it is like a game of chance too. As they say during courtship both parties tend to present their "best foot forward" and the real you is only discovered when both are now living in the same roof. hence, one could not really be assured that he/she has made a right pick before marriage
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
16 Sep 12
Again much depends on the luck of the person also. some girls though they are born as only child learn to adjust with others. a few others cannot. Also it depends on the image the girl has about herself-- "i am beautiful, i am important, i cannot be replaced for my husband, my husband is dependent on me".. yes. it is a complicated issue. unfortunately there are no ready made solutions.
@annavi23 (6522)
• Philippines
25 Sep 12
I don't have a brother, but then I have friends who are brother and sister but the guy haven't married yet. though, he is strict to presenting girls to his family. He always wants of course to have a partner or a girlfriend who will certainly like his family and vice versa. I know, it would be hard for him to have a partner who will not be close or at least be nice to his family. Your story isn't that nice. so, it is really hard for the guy to have this situation.
I think the girl should really get connected in his family. though, i really can't say it is easy to get connected specially to mother. cause most of the time, if it is the only son, the mother really gets jealous with the wife to be.
@annavi23 (6522)
• Philippines
26 Sep 12
the problem is that sometimes, it's hard to get along with the members of the family.
there maybe times also that because of jealousy from one another, mother and wife to be misunderstood each other and fight for the guy. which means the guy is being squeezed out who to choose to be with...
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
25 Sep 12
the girl should learn to connect with family as she is the one who came into the family after marriage, she should not try to separate them from one another.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
17 Sep 12
There are people who are not comfortable being close to their partner's family. So can call it as being selfish. There should never be a problem between siblings when they have their own families. They should still love and help one another just like the way they used to. Maybe her brother is just trying to stay away from fights with his wife that is wife he has lessen his contact with his sister.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
17 Sep 12
That is true. I am a lot closer to my sisters in law than my real friends simply because we live just next door from her and if ever I have problems with my husband, who is her brother, I feel she needs to know more about it so she can tell it to my mother in law!
@Belle_of_the_Ball (896)
• Philippines
17 Sep 12
That could be true Jenny. Perhaps his brother doesn't want to deal with conflicts.But there are instances that in-laws become best of friends.
@Paper_Doll (2373)
• Philippines
16 Sep 12
Definitely, their relationship will change because the time and attention of the brother will be focused on his wife and their family. They need that to strengthen their relationship and the foundation of their marriage because they are going to start their own family. And when it happened, I think that the jealousy part will come from the sister/mother and not the wife because the brother/son will no longer have time for them unlike before that whenever they need him, he is just a walk or call away. This conflict can really cause a big problem to married couples especially if the original family will make an issue/drama out of it. They will in fact try to divide the attention of the husband and will make him choose. There are times that they invade the couple's privacy and not really ask first before making a schedule that would require the presence of the husband. As a wife, I would be very offended if my in-laws would do that. They should have asked us first because as a family, we also have our own schedule to follow. It is pretty hard when other people would dictate you when or when not to do this and that. I also don't think it is proper for married couple to let other people to decide for their marriage.
And I don't think that there is a wife here who would like to have a part time husband. My husband and I once had a very big fight because of his family. Why? Because her sister and mom would still require my husband to be always available when they need him. They will call him anytime they want without even asking my permission. They will always make an issue about it and would make my husband feel guilty about it. It is kind of stressful since they think of it as a competition. Even had an accident and miscarriage while I was alone in the house. Imagine my disappointment and more so, may parents disappointment that the person they trusted to take care of me is not around during that time.
@Paper_Doll (2373)
• Philippines
17 Sep 12
I would understand if it is really important but from what I have experienced, they do it intentionally so that my husband and I won't have time for each other. They will always make it on a day that they knew that I am just at home which is also supposed to be our day to spend some time together. I live the house at 5:15 in the morning and arrive between 8-9 in the evening but they would always have to call my husband during the time that I am already home.
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
16 Sep 12
Paperdoll
you have told the other side of the story. The expectation of girls is too much. Husband has not come without his parents and his family. why not learn to adjust with them. sometimes possessiveness becomes too much as you said resulting in fight.
I am sorry for the miscarriage you had. Also when you are not happy while carrying chances are more for this. A person can be full time husband also provided the wife learn to adjust to some extent. In some cases there may be problem from the boys family side also.
1 person likes this
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 12
hi, i am so sorry, in your case ,the problem is in your husbands family , they should not treat you like that. But the problem what i am saying here, is completely different, the boys family is good, they love the new girl in the family very much and they give them time too, problem is not that, the girl is given all the facilities , problem is between siblings, the change in brothers attitude, which is unnecessary, why cant he treat his sister as normal like before? does he get any horns after he gets his wife? the sister is expecting only normal affection like before nothing more than that.
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
16 Sep 12
PRASHU:
It is natural for a new bride to consider her sister in law as a competitor for affection of her husband. For the same reason mother in law is considered an enemy because most of the boys are close to their mother.
Success lies in both the sister and the new bride understanding their role and take the other as a helpful person. it is easily said but difficult-- one more reason for this is ---nowadays most of the girls have one sibling or no sibling. They have been getting all the affection, importance from their parents and cannot stand coming away from their parent -- it is a compulsion.
This is ventilated in the form of dislike towards sister in law. If the boy is stronger he can maintain equal relationship with both.
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
16 Sep 12
exactly. the boy has to be tactful and try to manage relationship with wife, his mother, his sister and other relatives in a manner that each one is handled with satisfaction. also much depends on sister to understand the changed circumstances and learn to give up.,
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
16 Sep 12
oh , then i think i should train my self from now itself, so that when my brother gets married, we should not have any problem.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
16 Sep 12
oh, and think, this can be seen more in Our country, as we are more close as a family, brothers and sisters share a special bond here, as totally we have different upbringing and culture. Oh my then this is a serious problem, altogether lol, then everything depends on the boy, he should act wise, and should not hurt any one.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
16 Sep 12
Ofcourse it changes the relationship. If you get married your partner is on the first place not the rest of the family. If you find that weird/strange you should not get married. Getting married means you build up a life/family with someone else.
BTW I don't understand why you are confused if this is about your cousin.
I wonder how you would react if you get married to someone and that person shows more interest in his/her siblings as in you. Would you really stay friendly?
BTW I also think it's not very polite to talk about the wife the way you do. If you really want to know what her "problem" is you go over there and ask her. If you would talk like that about me I would have a big problem with being friendly to you as well. BTW if my husband puts his family in the first place instead of me it's a good reason for me to kick him out. If he feels closer to his sister as to me he should not marry me but stay with his sister.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
16 Sep 12
sister and wife both are different, should not compare them, at first place, sister has her and wife has her place. why i am worried? we are one family, she is also sister to me, of course when a brother changes so suddenly , a sister will definitely feel sad.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
16 Sep 12
the so called wife is maintaining very good relationship with her brother, but she has problem with her husbands and his sisters relation , do you think this is right? a sister cant be a wife similarly a wife cant be a sister. my point is only one thing, just because we entered a new relationship, and got a partner, we should not spoil or relationship with siblings, is this wrong?
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
16 Sep 12
prashu-- yes that girl may be having good contact with her brother because her brother is strong or is not married. The problem will change or get less importance once this girl also gets married.
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
16 Sep 12
Hi friend, sad to hear about this, but mostly brother's affection with their sister will reduce in day by day manner after the brother got marriage, it is quite common in most of the family. After getting marriage, the brother got a new family, and he concentrate with his family and reduce his affection with the parents and siblings, after giving birth to the kid, this affection will completely gone and most of the brother's will change as a selfish person and take care about their own family
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
16 Sep 12
Vidhyaprakash:
Your observation is hundred per cent correct. It is like this. Supposing we have 1000$ with us and we want to give to our four relatives then each one will get only 250$. On the other hand when we have to five people we should try to bring in another 250$ so that all of them will get the same amount. same way -- after marriage the boy should try to extent more affection to others so that others feel they are getting same importance as before marriage.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 12
no one says wife should be ignored, or neglected, along with wife we should not neglect our family members too, who are there with us all the way in life.
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
17 Sep 12
Ravi, after our marriage we are getting more responsibilities and our wife is come from an another house to our house and we are the take carer for them. We must give importance to her, since we are the first relation to her in our house. Giving this kind of importance seems to be wrong to our other family members, but in my opinion there is nothing wrong in it, since our wife is living for us. Our sister have other relations like father, mother, brother and other supporting persons in our house, but our wife don't have any other person apart from us, so we must give extra care to her, on the same time we must give importance to our parents and siblings whoever cared us from the beginning
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 Sep 12
I think your cousins are lucky to have a good relationship as they do. It's sad and strange that the wife is insecure because naturally she is her husband's love. They should all have a lovely time together. If it were brothers (instead of brother and sister) I wonder if she would still be so resentful and insecure?
I'm guessing it is an arranged marriage because for sure, the man would never choose someone who did not like his sister as his new wife. She should realise that her husband's sister is now her sister too and she should endeavour to be friendly. She can only receive good benefits from such an attitude.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
25 Sep 12
yes, but fate, yes it was arranged marriage, hope things will be fine as soon as possible and the SIL will realize it
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
16 Sep 12
My brother told me once that the relationship with the siblings will always be there because of blood, but the relationship might not be good anymore once the other gets married. That's because the brother sleeps with the wife every night and he couldn't afford to lose the wife. And the brother will always know that no matter what he will do with is siblings, they will always be siblings.
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
16 Sep 12
the relationship before marriage with siblings is entirely different from relationship with siblings after marriage. it changes. change occurs due to status, job relationship, place of residence, change of likes,etc. Sister who was considered very close before marriage will turn out to be an enemy after marriage due to the influence of new bride or even without her influence because of new tastes of the boy.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
16 Sep 12
hi, yes i agree, but siblings are siblings ,should never spoil our relationship with them, right? no body says no to a wife or a husband , but should not spoil the relationship with siblings, right.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
17 Sep 12
When a brother or a sister marries, they now have their own separate lives, unlike before when they were still with their parents. So, a sister should never meddle with her sibling's life anymore, since the partner would likely be affected or would get angry if she/he doesn't like it.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 12
sister is not at all involved, she is very nice girl, problem is with brother and his attitude, so far i observed all of them are blaming only sister , with no fault of hers, its brother attitude change which is causing all these.
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
16 Sep 12
Marriage always changes relationships, because someone else takes first place. It should enhance a family but if it doesn't one just has to be patient. The newly marrieds need time to adjust to their lives together and to the families they marry into. At such times a wise relative takes a few steps back and makes way for the new family member to find their place. A good relationship between siblings does not go bad providing no pressure is put by one on the other.
@ravisivan (14079)
• India
16 Sep 12
An excellent point -- relative takes a few steps back and makes way for the new family member to find their place. This has to be understood by relatives--mother, sister, brother, father of newly married boy and girl.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 12
i understood the point, i think this will definitely help , in making good relations, at the same time we should not develop odd attitude towards our siblings , this is what i meant ,in my whole discussion.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
17 Sep 12
i think you didnt understand the problem, nobody married in the same blood line , we too consider it as sin.
@soraya452 (127)
•
16 Sep 12
The wife probably feels threaten by the sister because of how close the siblings are. The Wife probably wishes she was as close to her husband as the sister is a on a personal level. Everyone needs a little time to adjust and things will work themselves out.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
16 Sep 12
oh may be, but why she should be threatened , because a sister i a sister not a girl friend, for her to feel so insecure, but the other thing is ,the wife maintains very good relationship with her brother, even after marriage, this is so mean.
@Paper_Doll (2373)
• Philippines
16 Sep 12
Your husband/wife must be your closest confidant and if not, I think that the marriage will suffer.
As a wife, I know exactly what you are trying to say. This thing happens when the original family is already invading the privacy and the time of the married couple for each other. Definitely, the wife will not feel happy about it.