I would say, yes it's bullying, but I agree with trying not to cut the line off to your nieces. Something like not allowing them to stay at your house (hotel, anyone?)
We started staying at a hotel when visiting in-laws because of m-i-l antics. It was DH's idea, so that was nice.
There is more emotional garbage heaped upon nice kids and people in the name of "teasing" ("what's the matter - can't take a joke...?") and having the victim be portrayed as "too sensitive" "a baby" - and as OP pointed out, it's often given as an excuse when the bully is called out on their behavior.
My older sister was mean to me (and once I had to stay home from school because she scratched up my face so bad my mother was embarrassed to send me to school) and she was very rarely disciplined. I was always asked to put up with it and told "she's your sister, she really does love you " etc. What a bad, bad, bad message.
Last edited by bzylzy; 01/30/13 05:23 AM.
