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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to avoid this woman as much as possible?

131 replies

LilacHedgehog123 · 19/05/2026 13:41

My husband is from a small town where everyone know each other. When we first got together 18 years ago, and up until about 8 years ago, every time there was a night out with a group of friends from this town, one of the wives used to be quite rude to me. For some reason, every time I tried to make conversation with her, she would just walk off. Not make an excuse and leave, I mean she would literally just walk away from me. It was extremely awkward. Especially when our husbands would be chatting.

The last time she did this was about 8 years ago (at a wedding).

Recently, her son and my friend Anja's daughter have become friends in school and consequently, my friend Anja is now friends with this lady.

We're going to a wedding in a few weeks. This lady and my friend Anja will both be there. Our husbands are all friends and recently spent a fun weekend together at the stag do so I know I'll be in this group of people, with this lady.

I'm assuming she'll talk to me as normal now as a lot of time has passed since she was so mean but I don't know how I feel about it. We're both good friends with Anja so I can see us spending a lot of the day together and although I wouldn't say anything as it's a wedding and I'm not one to make things awkward, it just feels like I'm doing myself a disservice if I chat to her politely when she was so rude to me for so long!

What would you do?

OP posts:
MachineBee · 20/05/2026 16:06

Do update us @LilacHedgehog123 on how the wedding goes.

SleepingStandingUp · 20/05/2026 14:09

you're not 12 so go, be polite, she'll either walk off in which case shrug your shoulders and enjoy time with your friend or she'll talk back in which case you can keep it polite and basic

ChocolateAddictAlways · 20/05/2026 14:07

LilacHedgehog123 · 19/05/2026 14:27

She won't walk off in front of everyone. She's going to be extra nice, I'm certain of it. And I'll be left wondering whether to just get over it or whether I should bare a grudge! Rude woman.

I had a colleague like this. She would walk past you in the hallway and ignore a hello or wave, if no one saw, but if other people were present she was the friendliest person in the room. So weird.

LilacHedgehog123 · 20/05/2026 13:32

Helgirl666 · 20/05/2026 13:28

Lol this can be worse for someone on the spectrum. If someone doesn't speak for even a short spell then often the person with ASD will assume the conversation is over and walk off.

But the conversation never gets started. I say something to her and she walks off. Anyone else speaks to her and she quite comfortably and animatedly chats back!

I am curious to know whether she'll do the same at the wedding but I am also determined not to give her the chance.

OP posts:
Helgirl666 · 20/05/2026 13:28

LilacHedgehog123 · 20/05/2026 12:44

I'm certain this isn't the case. She really doesn't come across this way and she seems to be able to speak very well to the people she wants to speak to. I'm not intimidating to talk to, if anything I can be a bit quiet.

Edited

Lol this can be worse for someone on the spectrum. If someone doesn't speak for even a short spell then often the person with ASD will assume the conversation is over and walk off.

LilacHedgehog123 · 20/05/2026 12:46

Thank you all for your replies. I have decided to rise above. I will chat to everyone else I know at the wedding and have a nice time and pay her no attention whatsoever.

If it comes up in conversation this weekend, I will let Anja know how she has behaved in the past.

No these aren't their real names, I made some names up to make my post read easier.

I don't know why I'm thinking about this so much, I just hate awkward situations so much. Which is why I probably don't bring things up when I should.

Thank you all!

OP posts:
LilacHedgehog123 · 20/05/2026 12:44

Helgirl666 · 19/05/2026 19:07

Have you ever considered that she might be on the spectrum and isn't intentionally trying to offend but doesn't always understand or conform to societal norms? I only wonder as I am on the spectrum and can struggle in social situations

I'm certain this isn't the case. She really doesn't come across this way and she seems to be able to speak very well to the people she wants to speak to. I'm not intimidating to talk to, if anything I can be a bit quiet.

OP posts:
Helgirl666 · 19/05/2026 19:07

Have you ever considered that she might be on the spectrum and isn't intentionally trying to offend but doesn't always understand or conform to societal norms? I only wonder as I am on the spectrum and can struggle in social situations

Buzyizzy217 · 19/05/2026 18:48

Can you clear the air before the wedding? This might be over a simple misunderstanding and it would be great to all relax and enjoy the wedding together.

Sasha07 · 19/05/2026 18:44

I know a woman who is exactly the same! She was raised in care so I just assumed it was maybe something she did to get through that?

She'd be sitting on her doorstep smoking and we'd step out of the door (the doors were basically next to eachother) so we'd naturally say hi and she wouldn't even acknowledge us! My SIL somehow made some small talk with her one day, my brother came out and said hi to her and she completely didn't acknowledge his existence while still being totally normal with SIL. She was either great to the people she chose to be or an absolute arse to the people she couldn't be bothered with, for whatever reason she had 😅

I just hope Anja stays with you if horrible woman does snub you. I'd be worried she'd try to separate me from Anja but make it look natural while deep down knowing it was to be a cow to me 🤣 Hopefully Anja will recognise it if so and keep neutral at the least 🤞 have a plan of action, you know what she's like, expect nothing from her and just enjoy the day (despite her being there...)

Poorluce · 19/05/2026 17:43

LilacHedgehog123 · 19/05/2026 14:15

What I find intensely irritating is how all the husbands think she's great. They all think she's really fun and a good laugh because they don't see the rude side!!

your husband too?

you last got together with her 8 years ago… so perhaps they aren’t all enamoured with her anymore

AprilMizzel · 19/05/2026 17:11

I'd be polite when mutal friends are around - talk directly if need to but chances are you can just join in joint conversations and then leave first if you get left with just her- excuse me or just walk off first or turn and talk to someone else.

If she ignores you in group conversations you coulld call her out - oh I see you haven't changed - or just avoid those situations.

It's what I learnt to do with DH uni friends - I did think they were mine as well but got really rude in later years. I haven't seen them in years now as no interest in interacting.

Error404FucksNotFound · 19/05/2026 17:09

It's best to just be polite.
Someones wedding isnt the time to do anything other than be civil.
If she chooses to be rude she only shows herself up.

MilkyLeonard · 19/05/2026 17:06

I think you’re overthinking this (and a few drama queens on this thread are egging you on). You’re going to the same wedding as someone you don’t like, that’s all. She’s not marrying into your family.

You know she’s treated other people like this, so therefore you know it’s not personal; there’s no big mystery around what, if anything, you could have done to upset her. You say you haven’t mentioned it to Anja before in case it makes her feel awkward and unable to invite you both to events. Well, this is someone’s wedding - surely it’s even more important to make sure the bride and groom don’t feel awkward? You don’t want a scene or any atmosphere.

Be polite when you see her, but concentrate more on chatting to other people. If, further down the line, Anja tries to broker some kind of friendship between you, maybe then is the time to say “Look, I know she’s your friend, but I find her quite difficult to be honest. She’s done that walking away mid-conversation thing to me too”.

fabstraction · 19/05/2026 17:04

I'd either mention it beforehand to Anja or just wait and see how The Weird One behaves when you see her again. If she does it again, Anja will see for herself. If she's magically polite when others are watching, treat her normally, but later mention to Anja that it's a relief to see that Weirdo has gotten over her odd quirk, because you weren't certain if she'd still just wander off without acknowledging you, as she used to do. I would probably want Anja to know that her new weird friend was rude to you in the past. Maybe it's better to let it go, but it would eat away at me if I didn't mention it.

OriginalSkang · 19/05/2026 17:02

I would make zero effort with this woman unless she sincerely apologised. I would say hello etc, but wouldn't start a conversation with her

Slowdownyouredoingfine · 19/05/2026 17:01

Just be your normal self OP, don’t act like a bitch because she was one. If it’s not who you are as a person don’t let her bring you down to that, it won’t feel natural. Just be civil and say hi but don’t make any attempt at conversation, if she attempts it reply of course… and don’t give it too much head space. That would be my advice.

Sparklinggreen · 19/05/2026 16:55

I would mention to Anja that she used to do it to you in the past. Seeing as she does this to everyone she doesn’t want to converse with I would ignore it. I’m sure you are lovely and it’s her loss not to gain your friendship, so without being big headed I would think of her through that lens - her loss! Enjoy the wedding!

38woman · 19/05/2026 16:54

I'd completely blank her. Each and every time you cross paths.
And apologize to no-one for this. Fuck her.

MSDOUBTFIRE · 19/05/2026 16:53

You need to stop dwelling on something so trivial, you sound like a teenager ! Just be nice, and move on.

nomas · 19/05/2026 16:47

LilacHedgehog123 · 19/05/2026 13:59

The most ridiculous time it happened was a long time ago at a friends birthday party. I knew the horrible lady was pregnant. Everyone gets chatting in a group and I end up standing next to horrible lady. I then try to make conversation by asking when she was due and she just walks off. I felt SO BAD because I assumed I'd got it wrong and that she wasn't actually pregnant and that I had massively offended her!! But she was pregnant!!

Is this rude woman called Blake Lively?

the80sweregreat · 19/05/2026 16:47

I agree that being light and breezy is best. If you’re rude to her then people will think it’s you with the problem and not her. Some good advice on here
I knew someone like this and they were just nasty and wouidnt speak to me. No idea what I’d done wrong either. People can be so funny.

InterestedDad37 · 19/05/2026 16:46

InterestedDad37 · 19/05/2026 13:57

Do the same to her. Start a convo, stop mid-sentence, turn around and just walk off.

... but know where you're walking off to 😉
Don't go striding purposefully into a broom cupboard 😂

fatphalange · 19/05/2026 16:45

I’d assume she’ll be the same as she always was, not sure why you’re assuming she’ll now be wanting to stand and chat when she never did before. Just be your normal self and when she embarrasses herself by inexplicably walking off mid convo, just have an amused little laugh and a ‘what is she like’ comment and go on with what you were saying.

Happyjoe · 19/05/2026 16:42

I have zero time for people like this. I wouldn't even entertain talking to her, sorry. She can sod off regardless of how she feels about you after all these years.