kirstenwithak,

First of all, I want to be empathetic with you on what I assume the pain of feeling like people are mean to you.  That must be really hard in your time of grief and loss.

Usually I share things that are close to my heart only with people I trust with my heart else I would feel more vulnerable and hurt.  Bene’ Brown talks about this.

Insofar as talking with your sister, well.. family is more complicated… I don’t know how emotionally close you are with her or your history so that can play into this.  I have a family where my Mother was dying of cancer and she did not want to tell my older brother that for not wanting to worry or bother him.  Our whole family communication dynamic is that way.  I know that I can count on my brothers for support but also we don’t really share our lives and certainly not our “personal” lives with each other.  My brother divorced, married and god know what else without me knowing.

You ask what do you about it?  I always go to Marshall Rosenberg’s Non-Violent Communication process as well of communicating.  Google it.  It’s a simple and straightforward process.  It is based on Universal human needs.  Out of which, comes the emotions that are based on these needs.  Then there is a clean way of making requests of the other person.  Ex. When I heard that you had a baby, I felt hurt for I need connection and closeness.  My request of you is for us to figure out a way where we can communicate better so I won’t feel surprised about such significant family events.

I am sorry for your loss and lack of compassion in your life Kristen.

Mark