Dear Annie: Feeling hurt by family betrayal
MLive
Last updated: May 12, 2026
The author's sister has taken over the family home after their mother's passing and continues to live there with their father. The author expresses concern over the sister's increasing control and feels excluded from family decisions regarding the home and their father's care.
- The sister, living with their father in the family home, has assumed control of household affairs and financial matters following their mother's death.
- The author feels sidelined, with the sister making decisions about the house and their father's well-being without consultation.
- Specifically, the sister has changed the locks, managed the father's finances, and is making unilateral decisions about potential renovations.
- The author is worried about their father's isolation and feels their own relationship with him is being impacted.
- The author seeks advice on how to address the situation and regain a sense of involvement in their family's life and the family home.
- The situation highlights potential power dynamics and communication breakdowns within a family grieving a loss and navigating a new living arrangement.
