How to respond, In-law sent perplexing email!

I’d tell her and your SO to solve what’s going on between them and keep you out of it. Tell them you don’t like having to choose sides amongst family, and that with the holidays coming the whole family has to get along.

I’ve never had this kind of problem, so good luck! I would not want to be caught in the middle.

Wait, your SO’s sister is writing you? Because she doesn’t talk to her brother anymore? Is that right?

I think you should write her back saying you hate to see her so upset, but you know nothing about it and she should contact your SO directly.

Don’t be in the middle relaying information.

Totally agree with @JLeslie. DO NOT get in the middle of this one. It is a lose-lose situation.

Are you your husband’s business agent? Because if you aren’t, it seems to me that you should not respond to this email. This is your husband’s problem. If you must write back, you could acknowledge receipt and thank her for trying to keep you in the loop. That’s if you are trying to be polite. If you don’t care, then tell her thanks, and she really shouldn’t bother since your husband keeps you informed of everything he thinks you need to know about.

There’s no need to tell her to pull on her big girl pants. If she doesn’t know that by now, there’s not a thing you can say that will get her to do it now. This is a family dynamic thing. You should stay away from it. If your husband asks for advice, you could give it. Otherwise, just listen. It sounds no-win to me. Stay as far away as you can.

“This really sounds like something that should be handled between you and [s/o]. And if your children don’t want any more contact with me, they are more than welcome to ask that of me themselves.” The End.

So her children act as if nothing is wrong and she claims to have banned them from contacting your S/O, correct? They discuss NFL and other fairly mundane, daily subject is what I gather from your story. It appears to all but her that everything is golden yet you have no clue as to why she is coming across as bat-shit crazy.
I honestly would write her back with a sort of, what the heck are you talking about approach. Is she and you that passive aggressive that neither of you really know whats going on?
Perhaps she is seriously losing her marbles so to speak.
It is also a possibility that your S/O is hiding something from you.
Either way, sounds like drama. Sorry.

I’d want to hear what my S/O has to say about it first.

bat-shit crazy – ahhh it makes me lol every time!

@WhiteWingDove Am I the only one who has no idea what you are talking about or what your SIL is talking about? Is your SIL implying that something was stolen from her? I would either try to get some kind of clarification as to what the hell she is talking about or, better yet, have your SO deal with it. Let him read the email and see what he makes of it. As far as I understand this, she is his sister and he is the one who seems to have done something wrong. Am I wrong about this?

Thank you all so much for your advice, you’re all awesome!

I agree with others that you can only lose by involving yourself here.