Latest news with #sisters
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Woman offers pregnant sister hundreds of dollars to not use dream baby name
Sometimes, sisters don't want to share everything — especially baby names. In a recent post shared to the popular 'Am I The Asshole?' Reddit forum, a 30-year-old woman questioned if she was in the wrong for asking her sibling, who's about to have a baby, not to use her 'dream baby name.' The woman's sister, 27, is eight months pregnant with a baby girl. The Reddit user explained that while it's her dream to have children, she's not sure if she can carry them due to fertility issues. She was recently talking about baby names with her sister, who 'proudly said they chose' the name Isla for her baby girl because it's 'unique and special.' However, the 30-year-old said that she'd always wanted to name her child Isla, which her sister knew. 'I have been saying this since I was a teenager. Everyone in our family knows this,' she explained. 'So when she told me her name choice, I told her that she cannot use it because it has been my dream name forever. I explained that if she uses it, she will ruin my future experience if I ever get pregnant.' While the pregnant woman laughed at this conversation, she later realized her sister was being serious. The soon-to-be mother then told her older sibling: 'You might never have kids. I am literally about to give birth,' which the Reddit user thought was a 'cruel' comment. The 30-year-old also told her sibling that if she cared about her, she'd pick a different name. But the mother-to-be is firm on naming her child Isla, which has caused a divide between the family. However, the older sibling still wanted the name for her baby one day, so she offered to pay her sister a hefty sum to pick a different moniker. 'My parents think she should keep her name because she is the one having the baby, but some cousins agree with me that it is messed up for her to take the name she knows I have wanted for years,' the post continued. 'I even offered to pay her $500 to pick something else. She said I am being controlling and weird. She posted about it on Facebook, and now I am getting hate from strangers calling me unhinged.' In an update to her post, after receiving a lot of criticism in the comments, the Reddit user doubled down on wanting to keep the baby name for her future child. 'People saying 'you don't own a name' — technically true, but morally, I think family should respect each other's wishes. Second, things have escalated,' she wrote. 'My sister posted screenshots of our private messages on Facebook, calling me 'toxic' and 'controlling,' and now half the family is gossiping.' She said that if her sibling uses the baby name, she wouldn't be there when the soon-to-be-parent has a baby shower or even gives birth. The woman's sister 'laughed in [her] face' about this remark. However, the Reddit user said that she'll still name her daughter Isla, even if her sister uses that name for her soon-to-be-born baby. While the pregnant woman called this 'psychotic,' her older sister 'said it's called consistency.' The 30-year-old added that she's taking the next steps to have a child, explaining she's booked her first IVF consultation. She also noted that her fiancé agrees with her in this situation with her family, and he's even urging her to announce the baby name now on Instagram as one 'reserved for [their] daughter.' Many Reddit users in the comments encouraged the woman to let her pregnant sister use the name Isla for her baby. 'When you get pregnant, find a new, wonderful name you can use. Would I do what your sister did? No. It's hurtful. But you're making yourself look bad by throwing a fit about this,' a stranger wrote. 'Let it go and focus on your own life. When you eventually get pregnant, you'll have a wonderful experience regardless.' 'What your sister said was thoughtless and unkind, but you can't put 'dibs' on a name. Plus, there's nothing to stop you from calling your daughter Isla as well, or maybe changing it to something similar, e.g. Isla-Marie,' another wrote. 'I also think it's poor form that your sister has put it on Facebook. It is something that should be dealt with privately.' Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
The kindness of strangers: I was five years old when a woman I'll never know gave me an extravagant doll
When I was very young, my family and I emigrated from Albania to Melbourne. As a child of refugees settling in Australia after the second world war, I experienced the searing poverty that myriads of displaced people dealt with as they tried to rebuild lives in far away, unfamiliar places. As a result, my brothers and sisters and I very rarely enjoyed the magic and thrill that come when a child gets a new toy. One day – I must have been no more than five – I was wandering through the local town hall with my mother. Some sort of fair was in full swing and I happened upon a table where, for a mere penny, I could try my luck to win a doll. I didn't have a penny, but I did have a fervent wish to have a doll – particularly the beautiful one with the gloriously extravagant light blue dress! I lingered at the table watching people try their luck and hoping no one would win the doll I felt was mine. At some point, a woman – I'll never know who she was – decided to play and won the chance to choose a doll from the dozen or so settled along the wall. As she prepared to claim her prize, she turned to me and, with a smile that I can still remember today, asked me to choose. I hesitated until she said: 'Which one would you like to take home with you?' Feeling emboldened, I pointed tentatively to the doll with the magnificent pale blue dress. A moment later, the doll floated down from the wall and into my waiting hands. It was mine. I was overwhelmed with wonder. This incredibly kind woman had noticed the longing in the eyes of a little girl and made her dream come true. Her act of kindness was a moment of pure magic. I cherished that beloved doll until I was 17, when we left Australia to move to Canada and luggage restrictions forced me to bequeath her to another. That woman sowed the seeds of my own belief that small acts of kindness can change lives. We are regularly confronted with choices about how to treat other people and how to interpret their words and actions. I try to be forgiving and empathetic because I believe very sincerely in the goodness of people, in large part because of that day at the fair. Sixty-five years later, I can say I am a better person because of that woman. From making your day to changing your life, we want to hear about chance encounters that have stuck with you. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you're having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Venus Williams is back in tennis and wishes Serena would come out of retirement to join the fun
WASHINGTON — Venus Williams is back on the tennis scene, ready to compete for the first time in more than a year, and while she smiled or laughed frequently Sunday while discussing her return at the DC Open , there was something that would make her even happier: if her younger sister Serena were along for the ride.
New York Times
09-07-2025
- General
- New York Times
If I Don't Invite My Difficult Sister to Visit, Can I Invite the One Who's Less Trouble?
I have two sisters who live in different parts of the country. All of us are mothers with young kids. Both of them have visited with their young children, but one family was a real strain on us while they were here: Toys were destroyed, food was smeared on furniture, and cleanup and cooking were left mostly to me. Usually, I have the energy for these visits, but we're really not feeling up to it this year. I haven't seen either of my sisters for a year and a half. Am I correct in assuming that if I tell one sister that I am not up for a visit from her family, that I cannot invite my other sister — whose family members were easy and helpful guests — either? SISTER As a sibling myself, I suspect your conundrum may be rooted in history: The sister with whom you had the difficult experience probably has a track record of not pitching in, right? (That's how it is with my family, anyway.) So, my job here is twofold: first, to assure you that you can invite whomever you like to your home. It would be a shame not to see either sister simply because you don't currently have the energy for one of them. More important, though, I want you to know — and I can back this up with personal experience, too — that relationships with siblings can change in adulthood. For starters, your sister's children are nearly two years older now and probably less likely to break toys and smear food on furniture. And, as an adult, you can explain to your sister that you are exhausted now — and predicate any invitation on her willingness to be your partner in managing the house (and all the children) during their visit. If this seems impossible to you or destined to fail, I respect your feelings. So, how about proposing a meeting of your sisters (and their children) at some neutral location — at cabins on a lake, maybe? And I think it's worth considering whether a single difficult conversation with your sister, one for which you can prepare in advance, is preferable to letting a lifelong relationship wither. Even at Dawn, No Peace in the Gym I live in an apartment building that has a private gym for residents on the ground floor, with windows facing the street. I often use it by myself at 5:30 a.m. During business hours, packages for tenants are delivered to the front desk. But before and after hours, there is a system for making secure deliveries to an unmanned package room and a sign that tells delivery drivers how to do this. I'm not sure if they see the sign or know how to use the system, but drivers often bang on the gym windows instead and ask me to let them into the building. I don't feel safe doing this as a woman alone early in the morning. Still, I know that delivery drivers work hard, and I don't want to make their jobs more difficult. What should I do? Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Meet Lauren Sanchez's younger sister who dramatically turned her life around after being 'up to her ears' in debt
's sister Elena Sánchez Blair has been quietly supporting her from the sidelines all their lives – and their love is 'unconditional.' Philanthropist and businesswoman Lauren, 55, recently wed Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos, 61, in a luxurious ceremony in Venice, Italy. While celebrities – including Kim Kardashian, Orlando Bloom, Gayle King, and Oprah Winfrey – were in attendance, it was her youngest sibling, Elena, 42, who was front and center for the big day. Here, Daily Mail's Femail takes a closer look into Elena, her career, and her relationship with Lauren. Lauren was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her older brothers, Paul and Michael. Her parents later divorced, with her mother going on to remarry and welcome Elena. Elena, who lives in Seattle, has a particularly close friendship with Lauren and the pair understand each other more than anyone. 'My sister and I are so close that our relationship is sometimes hard for others to understand,' Elena penned in a heartwarming birthday tribute for Lauren in December 2023. 'It's hard to describe. 'We get into our own world instantly when we are together and when we aren't together we talk on the phone at least two times a day, usually more. 'We have a conflict free relationship which is rare in life but it's true. We support and care for each other unconditionally. 'She sees me and understands me like nobody else… I am so lucky to be loved by her. 'Lauren is the life of any party, the most generous in any room, the most empathetic human I know, she really is the most dynamic woman. 'She is my kids' other mother and they are so lucky for that.' Concluding her post, Elena described Lauren as her 'soul mate' and 'best friend.' 'I love you more than any words could ever express,' she added. 'This is what I will remember… our family so full of love and joy,' she captioned the upload alongside a red love heart emoji. Tagging Lauren and Jeff, she added: 'Love you both so much.' Elena has worked as a photographer for almost two decades. She is also a registered nurse and worked in hospitals before pivoting to the art medium aged 28. 'If you'd asked me 17 years ago if I was creative, or an artist, I would have laughed at you,' she penned on her official website. 'I was working full-time night shifts as a registered nurse, had a newborn baby, and was suffering from isolation and exhaustion. 'Somehow, I thought I had "made it." I mean, I had a Bachelor of Science and a mortgage! What more could a girl want?' Elena made the move from nursing to photography after the birth of her son and following a house break in. 'It was one of the most violating experiences of my life,' she recalled. 'My ex and I were broke and in debt up to our ears, so this felt like more than we could handle. Yet for some reason, we spent our insurance check on a new camera, the Canon 50D. 'Call it what you will, but I don't believe in chance. Something inside me told me to just go for it. Something inside told me I needed an outlet and perhaps photography was it 'Little did I know, that purchase would change my life.' Elena says that photography quickly became her and that it also unlocked her entrepreneurial side. But disaster struck when her husband left her, and she became a single mom to their three children overnight. 'Once again, photography saved me,' she added. 'My passion for this art form solidified my identity. 'The prosperity of my business took on a whole new meaning. It was a lifeline, the means of survival for my family. 'Sharing my story has strengthened my purpose which is to create from the heart, earn in a meaningful way, and empower others by providing education and resources so they too can live abundant, authentic, meaningful lives. 'I love showing others that they can pursue their dream of becoming a photographer and that they can build a meaningful and profitable business.' Despite breaking up with her first husband, Elena has found love again and has remarried too. Last month, she celebrated the six-year anniversary of her husband, Rob, sliding into her DMs. 'While our wedding anniversary isn't until December, this day feels like the true beginning,' she penned. 'And it's absolutely worth celebrating. I wasn't sure I'd ever feel the feeling of family again, but Rob gave me that feeling instantly. We fell madly in love, fast. We went all in without ever looking back. I regret nothing about that decision. 'Blending a family isn't always easy, but somehow our kids just clicked. Right away. And our loud, messy home was instantly full of so much love. 'We've lived a lifetime in these six years. We've stood beside each other through grief and joy. It's been a dream. A happily ever after I wasn't sure I'd ever have, but I do. And I'm grateful every single day that I replied to that one random DM that changed everything.'
