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AIBU?

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Friend never free to meet up but somehow annoyed with me that we never do

32 replies

CurdinHenry · 28/07/2026 11:06

She and her husband are professionals doing the same job but she's expected to do all the childcare (I mean all) and it's been like that since the first was born eleven years ago, youngest is nine. He's a prick and I think she should leave him but not my place to say and we don't quite have that sort of friendship - I think she'd find it very rude if I suggested it, actually.

I've tried very hard over the years to keep in touch and be as flexible as possible (any time, any place, happy to come to hers for a coffee in the garden if she can't get out, happy for her to come to mine with the kids if she needs to). But she almost never firms up a plan and on the rare occasions she does she will arrive and immediately say she has to go in 45 minutes because of some bullshit thing her husband supposedly needs to do then she spends the entire time looking at her watch.

You're probably thinking there's an abusive dynamic because I know that's how her behaviour seems written down but I actually don't think there is(aside from the arguably abusive refusal to let her have a life but I'm not sure she's ever said no to him and I think she thinks this is normal?).

Anyway, all of this is shit and depressing but what's really annoying me is that she seems increasingly to blame me for us rarely meeting! She'll say oh we hardly meet up oh I hear you were seeing so and so as though I'm cutting her out somehow and her isolation is down to me. It's really pissing me off a lot at this point. I will say to her I can meet any time unless I'm literally at work or away on holiday and I'll move other stuff around but she never gets around to it then she will quite venomously complain that I don't make effort to see her.

Aibu to just stop trying at all? (She's also one of those people who brags about wealthy a lot which I could kind of do without anyway)

OP posts:
Sidge · 28/07/2026 12:59

Sometimes you need to get a bit blunt.

Next time she comments why don't you be honest? "Hang on Laura, I've given you plenty of options to get together and been extremely flexible. Yet it's you that either can't make it or can't commit to a proper get together, so don't lay the blame at my door!"

CurdinHenry · 28/07/2026 11:36

PashaMinaMio · 28/07/2026 11:25

This is the sort of thing you might write. If you offer her proper dates and an arrangement (which may not suit her) at least it gives her an opportunity to lead on dates she can do.

IF nothing comes of it, at least you’ve tried and frankly, I’d drop the rope,

”Hi Susan, let’s get together soon as I’ve not seen you for ages. I’m free for a coffee on (insert dates) or we could chat over a cuppa one afternoon on (insert dates).
If these dates don’t work for you, let me know a couple of dates you are free and I’ll move my diary around. Looking fwd to seeing you soon I hope.”

Oh I have tried both specific dates to save her the mental labour and totally open dates and neither lands.

OP posts:
PashaMinaMio · 28/07/2026 11:25

This is the sort of thing you might write. If you offer her proper dates and an arrangement (which may not suit her) at least it gives her an opportunity to lead on dates she can do.

IF nothing comes of it, at least you’ve tried and frankly, I’d drop the rope,

”Hi Susan, let’s get together soon as I’ve not seen you for ages. I’m free for a coffee on (insert dates) or we could chat over a cuppa one afternoon on (insert dates).
If these dates don’t work for you, let me know a couple of dates you are free and I’ll move my diary around. Looking fwd to seeing you soon I hope.”

PrettyLittleRose · 28/07/2026 11:21

Wide berth for this one. She's not a good friend.

Larrythecatforpm · 28/07/2026 11:17

“Susan its you who can only meet for 45 minutes before having to dash home, its you who doesn’t want to meet up. i’ve tried with you but I am not going to force you.”

MargotLovesTom · 28/07/2026 11:14

Couldn't be arsed with that. I'd be keeping my distance.
Have you actually said, hang on, it's YOU who can never make it, why are you having a go at me????

BMW58 · 28/07/2026 11:10

Why don't you tell her what you've said here?