A mom writes in asking for advice about her sister-in-law. She says her SIL “copies everything I do” from home decor to kids’ clothing to social media posts. She also adds that her SIL has a daughter who “does not know how to play well with others” and hits when expressing emotion. She wants to stop her SIL’s daughter from playing with her own daughter.
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A member of the community asks:
“My sister-in-law copies everything I do: Advice?
Am I overreacting? My sister-in-law copies everything I do. It really bothers me. She copies my house, my decor, my kid’s clothes, our social media, everything! Should I be bothered?
Also, she had a daughter when she came into the family… her daughter doesn’t know how to play well with others. She expresses her emotions by hitting others. She hits my daughter & I am pretty much fed up with it and told my husband her daughter is not allowed to play with our daughter anymore. Am I going to far by not allowing them to play together anymore?”
– Mamas Uncut Community Member
Community Advice for This Mom Whose Sister-in-Law Copies Everything She Does
To see what advice the Mamas Uncut Facebook community has for this mom in need, read the comments of the post embedded below.
Advice Summary
The community offered this mom in need a lot of great advice. Read some of their responses below.
“Teach her how to play with your daughter correctly; that’s her cousin. Be flattered she wants to be like you. She could just like the same stuff you do coincidentally.”
“Mimicry is the greatest form of flattery.”
“Yes, in all honesty, I do believe you’re going a little too far. They are kids. Don’t drag them into the middle of whatever it is you have going on with her. Maybe nicely address the issue with the hitting… but kids can also learn to work out their issues with one another without parents always coming to the rescue. Let it be a teaching moment… explain to your child that hitting is not okay and for them to address the other child and tell them that it isn’t nice and it hurts their feelings! You’d be surprised by the things children can work out on their own!”
“Sounds like she thinks you got good taste. All kids fight; maybe you could sit down and talk to the little girl about the hitting.”
“Are we 12? ‘Mom she’s copying me’ is all I heard lol. Grow up… express how you feel to the girl if it bothers you and encourage sharing. So what if she had a kid when she came in, be accepting and play nice. It’s not that serious. Everyone pretty much decorates like one another lol. What’s in is in… Clothes? Well be flattered.”
“As far as the copying goes… Usually that’s a form of flattery. Take it as a compliment. As for her child since they are cousins perhaps you might step in when they are playing and correct her rather than keep them apart. Maybe a little talk with your sister-in-law about her child’s behavior and how far she will allow you to go to correct her.”
“Teach your child how to stick up for herself. As for her copying everything, omg I know it’s annoying but consider it a compliment. Orrrrr, you could just ask her why she tends to copy you and tell her that her daughter is a bit aggressive towards your daughter and that you’d like her to speak to her daughter about it.”
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