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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that i would not choose them as friends?

264 replies

DonnyDoris · 21/11/2024 13:54

I feel really conflicted about this - my nature is to accept people for who they are, what they are and not to judge, however peri meno seems to be making me increasingly less tolerant!!!
We have some friends - albeit more DH's friends than mine - who live in the village where we used to live. When we lived there we may have seen / socialised with them 1 / 2 times per month so not massively, although they were part of our lockdown bubble and i suppose it got a bit more frequent after that.
We moved house about 2.5 hours away 3 years ago, and honestly you would have thought the world had ended! Some very hurtful stuff was messaged to me by the wife, but I was told to let it all go because "that's just the way she is" - so I did, but it still niggles tbh.
Anyway, since the move, we've had to go back to the area a few times a week for my work and usually stay over at theirs 1 night per week - I can't deny that this is helpful for us financially as even a travelodge in the south is ££££, however on the occasions we don't stay there we get bloody chapter and verse on why would you camp / stay in a hotel / stay with other friends when you've got us??? To clarify though, I provide all the food and drink for when we stay - including alcohol, I cook, I take my own pillows and towels (they don't have a spare room so I sleep on the sofa and DH sleeps on a chair) - they literally are not put out by us.
I just find them sooooooooooooooooooo draining - the husband has recently been late diagnosed ADHD, and whilst he's always been a bit annoying, this seems to have massively increased since the diagnosis. The daughter has also been diagnosed ADHD which appears to have given her free reign to be a narcissistic spoiled entitled brat, but its ok "because ADHD" (a example from yesterday - she launched her almost brand new Iphone 14 in a temper, lost it in a field but that's fine because it's insured). The wife is depressed but wont seek help, gets medication from dodgy sources and goes round in a permanent state of negativity and hate.I've tried suggesting coping strategies / therapy / putting a positive spin on things, but it all falls on deaf ears because they are so stuck in their cycle they won't accept anything ..... DP is a super accepting understanding person adn really just sees it as an interesting scenario - he does get how I feel, but says I should change the way I feel as they can't change the way they are.
I honestly do completely get that all of these things must be so challenging to deal with and will totally mean that life will be nothing like it is for a neuro typical person, but I just find any time with them so draining - they are not even people I would choose for friends in the first place, so I really don't think it's their issues that cause me not to want to spend time with them - they are just not my people!
So....
AIBU - I should just fight my feelings and suck it all up because of their issues
AINBU - It's OK not to like people regardless of their issues

OP posts:
DonnyDoris · 21/11/2024 14:05

PearlQuail · 21/11/2024 14:02

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to not like anyone, you are free to like and not like who you choose! But, it’s a bit cheeky to use them for free accommodation if you really don’t like them. The pattern of them expecting you to stay with them will not change until you do something different and reset the dynamic and expectations.

I agree - and this is really where my dilemma lies. I'm more than happy not to stay at theirs - obviously! But when we dont, it's like WW3 has kicked off and in their eyes we are rejecting them - so we stay to placate.....

OP posts:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 21/11/2024 14:05

How can your DH do a proper days work after sleeping in a chair, you are both a bit bonkers TBH to let yourselves get sucked into this

AffIt · 21/11/2024 14:04

In what way are you discriminating?

And why is your DH there if you're travelling for work?

Fuck that for a game of soldiers. I'd either suck up the cost of travel or extend my commute.

Onlycoffee · 21/11/2024 14:04

Of course you don't have to like them or be friends with them if you don't want.

You also don't have to stay with them given you don't actually like them.

So it's up to you, pay up for the Travelodge or stay at theirs but I think that's going to get harder if you admit to yourself you don't like them.

DonnyDoris · 21/11/2024 14:03

immoreexcitedthanthekids · 21/11/2024 14:01

You stay with them one night per week and think they aren't put out by you?

In what way would they be when i provide all of the food, drink, bedding, towels and DP gives him a lift to the station at 5.30am?

OP posts:
PearlQuail · 21/11/2024 14:02

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to not like anyone, you are free to like and not like who you choose! But, it’s a bit cheeky to use them for free accommodation if you really don’t like them. The pattern of them expecting you to stay with them will not change until you do something different and reset the dynamic and expectations.

DonnyDoris · 21/11/2024 14:02

GabriellaMontez · 21/11/2024 14:01

You sleep in their sofa once a week? And cater for everyone for the privilege of doing this?

You must be off your tits.

Yep - I think i am!

OP posts:
DonnyDoris · 21/11/2024 14:01

@VickyEadieofThigh thank you! This is exactly what I want to do - but so afraid of being the bad guy and "discriminating"

OP posts:
GabriellaMontez · 21/11/2024 14:01

You sleep in their sofa once a week? And cater for everyone for the privilege of doing this?

You must be off your tits.

immoreexcitedthanthekids · 21/11/2024 14:01

You stay with them one night per week and think they aren't put out by you?

Dollshousedolly · 21/11/2024 14:00

Just book the Travelodge going forward and say you’re feeling too old to be sleeping on a sofa/chair one night a week.

magicstar1 · 21/11/2024 13:59

I totally get that you don't really want to spend time with them, but while you're using their house each week to stay in, you can't complain.
Either accept how they are, and stay with them, or stay somewhere else.

magicstar1 · 21/11/2024 13:59

I totally get that you don't really want to spend time with them, but while you're using their house each week to stay in, you can't complain.
Either accept how they are, and stay with them, or stay somewhere else.

VickyEadieofThigh · 21/11/2024 13:58

You stay with them, despite the fact they cannot actually accommodate you properly AND they don't feed you either?

Mate - end this nonsense. Stay elsewhere and if they find out, tell them you weren't at all comfortable and leave it there.