My boyfriend's little sister is jealous...?

[BallerinaGirl]

My boyfriend's sister is 7, and she always gets jealous of me when me and my boyfriend try and do something alone, she'll cry, sulk, and get angry. She also draws pictures of her crying and me being mean to her. When I am not with my boyfriend and just with her, she likes me a lot, and she always wants to play with me when I come over. But when I try and hang out with my boyfriend, she turns into a little devil.

My Boyfriend is really nice, but anytime she sulks or cries because we aren't paying attention to her he rushes over to her and gives her attention and plays with her. This means we get almost no free time. Its getting to the point were he'll even bring her over to my house when he comes to visit for the evening! I have no idea what to do...

[starangel248]

I think your bf's sister thinks that you're "stealing" the guy's attention from her. She's 7, so she can't understand that you two are dating and needs alone time just by looking. What she probably sees is that this big sister (you) who somehow gets to spend a lot of time with her big brother, but she doesn't get to do that like she used to anymore. That can be very confusing to a girl her age. So to make sure she gets the attention she used to, she's most likely acting the way she is (crying, making you look like this mean girl).

I would recommend you have a talk with the little sister. Tell her how you care about her big brother, and that he's your really good friend (I think a 7 year old can understand a "good friend" term better...). Tell her that you would like to spend time with him, just like she would like to spend time with her very good friend. I would also explain to her that just because her big brother is not spending as much time playing with her doesn't mean that he doesn't care about her. And if she gets all that (I hope she does), try to come up with some agreement, like all three of you guys would hang out once a week or something. That way the little sister doesn't feel like completely left out.

Anyway...that's my suggestion. :) Good luck!

[Darkfairie17]

I would talk to him about it, establish some rules. Tell him that although you like his little sister, you two need some time alone. Also, if every time he rushes over to his sister when she gets upset, he is just reinforcing that behavior. She knows that crying is what it takes to get his attention, so that is what she does. Set some boundaries, say that when he comes over, not to bring his sister. You two have a right to some alone time without her. You are not a daycare worker or a babysitter, so you shouldn't have to deal with her. Whenever you two aren't at his house, you should be able to be free of her. He shouldn't be bringing her along. I would stress that you two need alone time, as you are boyfriend and gf.

[BallerinaGirl]

My boyfriend treats his sister as a bit of a princess, he knows he spoils her. I'm not sure how he would take to rules about time without his sister..

[Cassie16]

I agree with starangel.

But this little girl would understand the word "love", I think. Disney movies, fairy tales and all that.

Try to talk to her in her world. Her brother is her best friend and you're stealing him away. But if you explain he's the prince on the white horse and you're Snow White... She can be one of the dwarfs, a good friend and companion forever.

Just a suggestion, though. XD

[Dabrowski]

she wants attention and is a brat.