#1182, #1183, #1184: “Do I have to be friends with my sibling?” or, Advice For Relationships You Don’t Want to Lose But Don’t Want To Work At.

March 4, 2019March 4, 2019 ~ JenniferP ~ 172 Comments

Hi Captain, For over a decade, I had a really bad relationship with my sister. She struggled with addiction and suicide ideation and, often, was just plain mean. I enabled her by making sure I was always available to her during her emotional crises and never saying no to anything she wanted. I got a … Continue reading #1182, #1183, #1184: “Do I have to be friends with my sibling?” or, Advice For Relationships You Don’t Want to Lose But Don’t Want To Work At.

#1163: “I’m screamingly jealous of my sister’s fiancé.”

January 1, 2019January 1, 2019 ~ JenniferP ~ 259 Comments

Dear Captain Awkward, My sister is 37 and I (also female) am 34. We share an apartment and consider ourselves best friends. We’ve both had bad luck with relationships, and I had quietly given up on either of us marrying. But in the past few months she has finally found love and is now engaged. … Continue reading #1163: “I’m screamingly jealous of my sister’s fiancé.”

#1059: The reluctant pet-sitter (An ‘Art of No’ Post)

December 11, 2017 ~ JenniferP ~ 340 Comments

Dear Captain, This seems like a very minor thing to be asking for help with, I know. But I feel like even if there's no solution to my "problem", getting the input of a bunch of neutral parties (particularly neutral parties with solid understandings of boundaries) would make me feel better, and if you feel … Continue reading #1059: The reluctant pet-sitter (An ‘Art of No’ Post)

#896: “One wedding, one funeral, and a crapton of sibling conflict.”

September 8, 2016May 31, 2019 ~ JenniferP ~ 180 Comments

Dear Captain Awkward, My brother died suddenly in an accident in May. He was my only full sibling. The only sibling I grew up with and lived with. I also have 3 older half siblings from my father’s first marriage- we’re not super close, we see each other at holidays and text quarterly updates. After … Continue reading #896: “One wedding, one funeral, and a crapton of sibling conflict.”

#382: My sister probably isn’t coming home for Thanksgiving. How do I tell her how hurt I am?

October 17, 2012 ~ JenniferP ~ 211 Comments

Hi Captain Awkward, So here's my situation (long, apologies): I have one younger sister who I see pretty infrequently, as I live on the East Coast and she attends school in the Midwest (our hometown is also in the Midwest). We bickered quite a bit growing up and are fairly different people to this day, … Continue reading #382: My sister probably isn’t coming home for Thanksgiving. How do I tell her how hurt I am?

#241: Am I my extremely difficult sister’s keeper?

May 8, 2012May 8, 2012 ~ JenniferP ~ 52 Comments

Dear Captain Awkward, I would like some advice about a difficult family relationship. My sister C’s been stuck in a loop for several years. She thinks that she’s worthless and that everyone hates her, so she spends most of her time at the computer instead of going out and doing things and meeting people, and … Continue reading #241: Am I my extremely difficult sister’s keeper?

Reader Question #6: I’m worried about my sister. She is still very close to our abusive parents.

January 19, 2011January 20, 2011 ~ JenniferP ~ 9 Comments

Dear Captain Awkward, I currently have a kind of weird situation going on with my sister that I really don't know how to deal with. My parents and I are estranged, and after many years of denial and telling myself that it was always my fault (when in fact, it never was, it was just … Continue reading Reader Question #6: I’m worried about my sister. She is still very close to our abusive parents.