My sister banned my daughter from the swimming pool while all the other children splashed aboutso I asked her why, and her answer left me horrified.
It was my niece Poppys birthday partya grand splash fest at the local leisure centre in Manchester, with the whole family invited. Naturally, my little girl, Emily, was over the moon. She adores swimming, so we happily accepted, not realising the day would turn into an absolute farce.
At first, everything was smashing. The kids shrieked with laughter, chasing each other around, all excitement and sticky fingers. Then came the moment they all piled into the pooleveryone but Emily. I noticed my sister, Sarah, hovering like an overzealous lifeguard, blocking my daughter from joining.
Emily, ever polite, whispered, “Mum, can I go in too?”
Sarah cut her off sharply: “No.”
My heart sank as Emilys lip wobbled. She stood there, fists clenched, watching the other kids shriek and dive while she was left stranded on the tiles. Something in me snapped. Straightening up, I marched over to Sarah.
“Right, whats this about? If its the entry fee, Ill pay for Emily myselfshes five, for heavens sake!”
Sarah met my glare with a frosty look. “Because I said so.”
“Thats not an answer!” My voice hitched. “Whats the real reason?”
She sighed, then dropped the bombshell with all the grace of a lead balloon. “Because youve *always* been the golden child. Perfect daughter, perfect lifeand now your kids the same. Everyone fawns over Emily, even at *my* Poppys birthday. I wont have her stealing the spotlight today too.”
I stood there, gobsmacked. This wasnt about pool rulesit was decades-old resentment, bubbling over like a dodgy kettle.
Quietly, I took Emilys hand. “Come on, love. Were leaving.” She buried her face in my shoulder, sobbing all the way to the car.
That day taught me something: jealousy doesnt just ruin partiesit chips away at family until theres nothing left but the cracks.
