Dear Snarky – My Sister’s “Poor Me” Act Ruined Our Family Vacay

Dear Snarky,

I have some advice for you – never travel with family. For over a year now we have been planning a Disney World trip for my parents 40^th wedding anniversary.

My parents said they would cover all the airfare and the hotel room charge but any expense beyond that you had to pay for.

Well, of course, my deadbeat brother-in-law and cheap sister show up and say they have “no money.” We are standing outside the Magic Kingdom and can’t go in because they “need help” getting their tickets.

They also “needed help” stuffing their faces at the park and at the end of the trip my mom tells me that my sister and her husband had a room service charge that was almost $500!

They ruined the trip with their non-stop begging and “poor me” attitude. My parents, my husband and I, along with my two brothers had to take turns paying their way. Then, they had the balls to extend their trip and go off on a beach vacation of their own!!!

So, they can’t pay any money for a Disney trip but they can afford their own beach vacation. I was so furious I sent them a bill for what they owed everyone and now my mom is mad at me for “stirring things up.”

I don’t feel like I did anything wrong. Did I?

Signed, Not Happy

Dear Not Happy,

You did nothing wrong and I applaud the fact that you sent them an invoice and I hope you stamped payment due upon receipt in big red letters.

The fact that no one has ever called them out on their B.S. is why they have zero problems taking advantage of family members. Not only did they mooch off you, but they did it in such a way that you couldn’t say no.

Seriously, standing outside the park with no money – it’s calculated and downright diabolical. They knew, at the very least, that your mom would pay for their tickets. And then for them to go off on their own vacation after fleecing your parents and siblings – I have no words.

Here’s a hard truth – sometimes family members suck and don’t deserve your generosity. Trust me, it’s time for some tough love for this duo and the way I see it they’re lucky all they got was an invoice.

***

Wow, after reading that I think I need to take a break with a cold drink 🍹and a fun and fab book called EMPTY. Yes, I’m totally plugging my new 2022 book EMPTY – again. 😉 So, just roll with it and click this Amazon link for all the glorious details. www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZKPGQZQ

3Comments

Add yours

1

BJ on March 20, 2018 at 10:33 am

Preach! You did the right thing.
2

Elizabeth on March 20, 2018 at 1:23 pm

Hell yes you did the right thing. The mother is total enabler that has let her daughter and son in law take advantage of the family and it won’t stop until family members start presenting a united front and say no.
3

Eastcoastgal on March 20, 2018 at 2:56 pm

You absolutely did the right thing by sending your mooch of a sister and BIL an invoice.
I have a friend who is enabling her daughter. The daughter has gotten worse since she presented her mother with a grandson a few months ago. My friend gets mad at her daughter but then uses the excuse “she’s my blood”. I haven’t heard from my friend since I said “she may be your blood but you really need to allow her to grow up”.