We have a problem with our sister-in-law. We’re a family of seven siblings and our oldest brother was the first to get married. Initially, we thought this woman was ‘ideal’ as she was of the same religion, a professional, had good parentage (as far as we knew) and no known scandals in the community.

She was also the first-born in her family of five siblings. So it seemed a perfect match from the get-go. The only thing we missed is that her family came from a different region than ours and, in the past, there were issues between the two regions.

We thought it was history. Shortly after the wedding, they moved to California. She had no problem landing a job in her career.

But my brother couldn’t find employment. So together they decided he should go back to school for medicine. She seemed to blame our parents for underfunding their son’s professional career and took it upon herself to put him through medical school.

The most affordable for her budget was in our home city (in another country). While apart, she was curt and dismissive to our brother. While he was home, our father died and our mother needed help.

As the eldest brother, the responsibility fell on him. His wife was uninterested in coming to visit until he threatened divorce. On the rare occasion that she did return home, she would tell all of us, his siblings, that once he becomes a doctor we will never see him again or receive one penny.

What is this woman’s problem, and how should we siblings deal with.