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Old friendship threatened by new playground mum

37 replies

Oblomov · 13/07/2010 12:45

AIBU ? Probably. Why do I feel so threatened ? And is there anything I can do ? Probably not.

DS1 in Year 1. I fell out with a mum in the first term of reception. 3 boys playing a bit roughly. mine was as much to blame as the other 2. approached the mum and she just went mad. claiming her PFB didn't do this and it was all my sons fault. Then she ignored me and has snubbed more for the last 18 months. My son was extricated from the small group, not invited to some parties. he had other friends aswell and has since got on fine. but i felt bad that i hadn't handelled it better. i was so naieve that playground politics and nastiness went on. i had other mums to talk to, but it was hard being blanked by her.
then i became friends with another mum. turned out she lives in the next street. her son was in the other reception class. then in year 1, they were put in the same class. our kids get on o.k. not great but o.k. and i like her. her ds2, pushes my ds2 around alot, but we try and ignore, tell him off. they come for bbq's with her dh and my dh getting on fine.she pops round for coffee on my days off (2.5 pick ups, work 2.5 days). we are close and i value her highly.
she unfortunatly had also just been extricated from a much larger group, in reception, becasue her son was too rough. turned out it wasn't just him, and when they mixed the kids up, to go into year 1, he has since thrived.now that old big group that she was once part of all socialise alot and also has loads kids parties. that her son is nothing to do with. this pains her. she had all my sympathy, becasue i had been through similar, although hers was worse.

when i am in the playground , i often walk in with her, since we've just had coffee at my house, but we both talk to lots of others mums aswell.

she goes to a party, the other day. the old mum i fell out with is there. she has fallen out with a number of other mums and tells my friend she is very lonely. and that she has no one to talk to. and says she would like to become friends with my friend.
but that can't be true. she does talk to other mums in year 1. and her 2nd son is in reception, so surely she has also made friends there.
so my friend asks if its o.k. to basically talk to her. because this mum has also fallen out with one of our other friends, over also saying that her son is too rough. PFB again, I think to myself.
Don't be so silly, i say, you can talk to however you want. I say, meaning it and also trying to do the right theing.
but then later, i think about it. this woman knows that my freind is close, after she blanked me. of all the women in either year 1 and reception ( 2 classes of 30, so she has the choice of 120 women) to make new friends. why is she choosing my old friend.
i speak to dh and he says that i am over thinking and being paranoid. mind you he also thinks that my friend is so nice, she probably won't realise that she's being used.

which is true. she's too nice. but this other woman really hurt me. she is proud to be a toal bitch and claims this. this is probably a protective measure.
why does she want to be friends with my friend.
actually as i type that, i feel like a silly 6 yr old myself. why am i so threatend?
i don't want to bad mouth this other woman. and appear to be bitchy and bitter. do i have to let this drop and just hope that my friend doesn't get hurt ?

OP posts:
OfficeBird · 13/07/2010 12:49

Your DH is right. Stop over analysing it ands get out there and make some new friends....

Oblomov · 13/07/2010 13:12

i do have other 'playground acquaintances'. probably 10 mums to be pleassant to, say good morning. or a few pleasantries.
i have another playground mum i go for an occassional coffee with.
very nice it all is too. but she has now become one of my closest friernds.
my best friend is from uni and lives, 3 hrs away in devon. my other closest friend, a school friend lives 45 mins away, but i see her every few months.
i don't want or need any more friends thanks. i do value this one though. is that so wrong.

OP posts:
compo · 13/07/2010 13:21

Do you work? Or socialise in any other way that doesn't involve school? Because your ds will change friends and might not want to go round their to play all the time
and eventually will move to secondary school and contact with other mums will be via the phone to check whereabouts
is it really worth this much hassle!
Or just trust your friends instincts
if she's as good a friend as you believe she'll see through the other mum, if she strikes up a good friendship with her you'll realise she's niot the person you thougt she was

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Thomcat · 13/07/2010 13:27

If you have a good friendship then there is no reason her becoming friendly with a mum you have fallen out with should not effect you.
There's nothing you can do, it's not really your business who becomes friends with who. Just keep being you, be friendly with as many people as you can and enjoy the friendships you have and work on making even more.

Oblomov · 13/07/2010 13:30

yes i work 2.5 days. thats why i only do school drop off 2.5 days. i like my colleagues alot and socialise with them from time to time.
i have other friends aswell.
i also have PNG friends, who came round for a bbq on sunday.

compo, i became friends with this mum, mainly becasue i liked her. and i think she likes me. i tell her most of what is going on in my life. we have talked about the fact that are friendship is based on us, liking eachother. not becasue our boys like eachother.

i was hoping that our friendship would survive whether or not our boys were friends now or not, or in secondary school or not.

"if she's as good a friend as you believe she'll see through the other mum, if she strikes up a good friendship with her you'll realise she's niot the person you thougt she was ". I guess thtas my biggest fear. I like myself and think i make a good friend. maybe deep down i am just being silly and fearful that she doesn't think the same.

yes of course , you are right.
why am i so worried. its silly, isn't it.

OP posts:
Oblomov · 13/07/2010 15:10

So, i am just to keep stum. not say a word. and try and get on with it.
general consensus ?

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 13/07/2010 15:15

You can't make people be friends with you or anyone else. It seems rather petty...develop friendships based on your personality, not because your children go to school together.

llareggub · 13/07/2010 15:21

Is it really the case that so many women have fallen out with each other? I can't remember falling out with anyone since, well, primary school.

I'm really not looking forward to DS1 starting school next year if I have all this to look forward to.

Oblomov · 13/07/2010 15:30

scurry, i am friends with this woman becasue of me. i have said this many times, on this thread. our friendship is not based on the boys being in the same class. it is based on us being friends becasue we like eachother. nothing to do with the boys.
the boys get on o.k.
can i spell this out anymore ?

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 13/07/2010 15:32

If your friendship is so strong then, what on earth are you worrying about?

Oblomov · 13/07/2010 15:34

true. it obviously matters to me more. will have to try and let it go abit.

OP posts:
Oblomov · 21/07/2010 13:42

So. Update. I went to collect ds from school, at the end of the week and there was my friend talking to her. And I got all upset by it. Silly. So, I phoned her and said "you know when you mentioned it, the other day, and I said don't be silly, talk to who you want. and i meant that. well when i saw you today, i felt really threatened, and i know that is silly. but i had to tell you". And she said she understood. And that if the same had happened with the woman who spurned her, she would feel the same.

So we carry on.

Then she comes to my house. And says she has something big to tell me. but she hasn't been able to find the right time, becasue she didn't want to upset me. I tell her not to be silly, and am I that unapproachable !!
She says the woman has arranged a night out. And everyine has been invited. Except me. So i tell her not to worry. I don't want to go.
Dh says 'i'm like dracula and only go where i'm invited' and says not to go.

Its tonight the night out.
God, I'm so glad thtas its the end of term and i don't have to deal with this playground shit, for the next 6 weeks. I can't stand it.

OP posts:
Dropdeadfred · 21/07/2010 13:56

But if that was me, whom the other woman approached, I would have said 'Great, I'll bring Oblomov too!'
why didn't your friend?
or why didn't she at least quesion why they would be so cruel??

werewolf · 21/07/2010 13:59

Ugh! Horrible.
But you know she's doing it to hurt you, so try to ignore. Or is it that you're upset because your mate wants to go?

Why not arrange something nice for just you and your mate?

thatsnotmymonkey · 21/07/2010 13:59

Oh god Oblomov, I would go go go to this party! It is not exclusive, it is for all the mums. You should go, be friendly and fun and honestly kill them with kindness. The majority of the mums there will have no idea of the politics of this and I am sure there are lots of people there you will be able to chat too and who would like to see you there.

Call up some of your other school mum mates, find out the details and arrange to go with them. Then your good mate, call her, and say, Oh I have decided to come along tonight after all, what you wearing?

If this woman makes a scene tonight, laugh at her. I mean it laugh in face and say "Have you honestly invited everyone but me to this tonight, and think that that is OK? You are bloody brilliant, every playground needs a bully I suppose! and laugh some more!

werewolf · 21/07/2010 14:01

The thing to be positive about, imo, is that your friend is actually telling you about it. You won't find it out from Facebook, or something someone mentions in front of you.

bibbitybobbityhat · 21/07/2010 14:05

Chuffin heck Oblomov! What is this other woman thinking of? Why are you not invited?

I am sorry to say but I think you do sound rather possessive and needy about your original friend and that you will push her away with your intensity if you are not careful.

But ... surely some mistake over the drinks tonight? That everyone else is invited and not you?

gegs73 · 21/07/2010 14:08

This sounds awful. I HATE all the playground stuff. I avoid most of it by picking up and dropping off as quickly as possible.None of my close friends are school mums. However that doesn't help you!

Anyway as thatsnotmymonkeysaid, get yourself out tonight!!! It sounds like a whole class thing and what right does this woman have to tell you you can or can't go. Its not just her and a couple of other Mums!!! Grr makes me really annoyed reading this.

thumbwitch · 21/07/2010 14:10

Oblomov I am for you that you are on the receiving end of these kind of playground tactics. We hope that when we grow older and have our own children that this kind of shit stops but no! it carries on.

You feel bad - that is understandable, especially as this woman does seem to be deliberately trying to ostracise you more (I think you meant that when you said extricate?). If your friend is as good a friend as you think she is, she will not stay friends with this woman for long. The woman has already lied to her ("I have no friends" and then invites everyone on a night out) - it won't be long before she starts trying to turn your friend against you and if your friend does turn, then she's not the friend you thought/hoped she was.

Tonight might be shit. It's quite possible that it will be a complete nightmare and many of the mums will be utterly pissed off that they wasted their time going. OR they might quite enjoy themselves. BUT - they will not spend the whole time thinking or talking about you. Some of them will miss you and wonder where you are - if they ask the organiser, she might be embarrassed to answer.

Keep your head high and ignore the silly bitch's games - rising to it and trying to fight back will only make her more spiteful.

ASk your friend how the evening out went and say that you are glad she enjoyed it (if she did) and then arrange another evening out yourself, with just the mums you know and like.

Ingles2 · 21/07/2010 14:11

How horrible Oblomov... that kind of thing makes you feel dreadful.
\But I don't understand why your friend hasn't tried to smooth things over. Why hasn't she stood up for you?
How does she know everyone is invite but you?
mmm...
I'm not convinced your friend is as good a friend as you think.
Personally, I'd refuse to go without you or insist you come, or invite you as my guest...
Infact do that, no idea where you are, but come over to mine tonight. I have pink plonk!

Ingles2 · 21/07/2010 14:15

oo and if it makes you feel any better
I was included on an email to go to the beach for a party after school... the lady has been avoiding me and when I checked the email yesterday realised she invited me by mistake. Quite a few of my friends are going and none have said anything...
was a bit sad but am now feeling a little better as it's raining!

coventgarden · 21/07/2010 14:33

I think the first mum to ignore you is either getting a taste of her own medicine, feels guilty about how she treated you or just wants to stir things. You won't know until she and your close friend spend time together and see how it goes.

I said something to a mum which she took the wrong way and since then, no other mum has spoken to me. No loss to me. They are acting like toddlers.

AnyFucker · 21/07/2010 14:37

This is why I never have got friendly with mums in the playground

Oblomov · 21/07/2010 14:38

oh you all speak sense. and bibbity too. why do i feel so threatend. how needy is that. I do feel such a twat.
Friend has insisted that I go. But I said no.
Ingles, you sweetie, with your pink plonk.

OP posts:
FioFio · 21/07/2010 14:43

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