05/26/2025
After my younger sister got married before me, she stopped calling me "Sister." She started calling me by my first name. At our first family meeting after her wedding, I drove my car. She drove her husband's.
After my elder brothers spoke, I was about to say something when my mother cut me off:
"Let the married woman speak first." She meant my younger sister.
I quietly stood up and walked to my car. My mother looked at me and added,
"You're not the only one with a car anymore. Swallow your pride and ask your sister how she got a man."
That was the last time I went to the family house.
Months later, I met my amazing husband. We got married. We both agreed not to have children immediately, I'm 27. He's 29. We just wanted to enjoy each other for a while. We were both okay with our decision and didn't owe anyone an explanation.
A year later we attended my younger sister's third child's birthday. She handed her baby to my husband. He smiled awkw@rdly—he loves kids, but he's scared of carrying them. They're too fragile and he fears he might drop them. He passed the child to me gently and quickly.
Next thing my sister made a comment along the lines of, "This one your husband is running away from my baby, why won't babies run away from your home."
She said it jokingly in our language, my husband didn't understand but he saw the look on my face and instead of my mother to reprimand or correct her, she laughed. I calmly returned her baby, turned to my husband, and said, "Let's go." He nodded. No questions asked.
Later, my mother called to say I was petty. That it was just a joke. My brothers called too-asking if I was jealous of my younger sister. But the one person who made the comment? She never called. Not even once.
Fast forward to today. She's pregnant again—baby number four. She and her husband want to travel for a vacation and rest before the baby comes. They need someone they trust to help watch the kids for a few days. Guess who she called?
I told her, "Oh, l'd love to help, but my husband and I are avoiding kids for now, we love our peace and quiet and you understand how important rest is for couples, right?" Now my mother and brothers are calling me w!ck£d and petty. Telling me I should apologize.
But NO!
Some lessons must be loud. And some boundaries are not revenge-they're recovery.
