Sil Is Self-Estranging And Blaming It On Covid-19, What Do I Do?

[Cruiseandpaul]

SIL recently quit her job and took her kids out of school to do homeschooling (before Covid-19 also, I am American). She claims it was bc one was being bullied in school but the other wanted to stay in traditional. When asked, she said she "just didn't feel like taking them to the bus stop". Then she got pregnant right after I had a baby and that's when Covid-19 hit here. She (understandibly) safely social distanced but started being moody. Now she has the baby and she won't even let her daughters hold it. When family wants to come she asks for everyone to shower and put on fresh clothes beforehand. Her house is an absolute mess. She acts like it is Covid-19 but she is fine to take the baby out shopping with her hubby. Her older daughters are doing homeschooling from cell phones and when we offered to get them some cheaper tablets she said no because they were only good for schoolwork and not for gaming. I'm afraid she is developing a mental illness or becoming depressed. What should I do? I have only been in the family 2 years even though I've known and worked with her for 8 years. She needs help.

[woofgang]

is her husband your brother or is she your husband's sister? Either way what does her blood relative think?

[Apc2604]

I think she needs to be gently directed towards getting medical help. If you are close friends then perhaps you could have a chat with her. She sounds very depressed. Her obsessive behaviour can be caused by depression.

Woofy, with respect I don't know why it matters what a blood relative thinks. Apart from my OH my best friend knows me far more than my blood relatives and we are very close.

[Cruiseandpaul]

Wolfgang she is my husband's sister

[woofgang]

so what does your husband think?

[Cloverjo]

My sister is going through a similar thing with her daughter in law. No one on our side of the family is allowed to see the baby. Sister didn’t help when she suggested that d-in-law might be depressed. It made things worse.
Best to have a word with your husband and their mother if possible. Or back off and hope she comes through it.