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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:
bibbitybobbityhat · 21/07/2010 14:56

Could it be that the new woman wants your old friend to be her bessie mate and is jealous of your history together (yes, this does all sound extremely playground) and is doing her best to separate you? If so, it will never work out in the end, as Fio says.

But, whatever you do, retain your dignity and try not to appear despearate in front of either of them. You've said what you needed to say to your old friend, no need to go over old ground. Just keep treating her the same way and be polite and smiley to the newbie.

TotalChaos · 21/07/2010 14:58

agree with Fio (not that I have ever been in a situation like Fio describes, oh no ). Let it play itself out. A person's essence always outs sooner or later.

Oblomov · 21/07/2010 15:00

I agree. I do have dignity. And i don't want to be drawn into bitching about anyone.
I do not have any plans to see anyone over the summer, even my close freind. This will be a good break. You are right, neediness is a very unattractive quality.

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thatsnotmymonkey · 21/07/2010 15:05

I would still go. This woman thinks she is alpha dog

I think it would be priceless to see her face tonight.

OnEdge · 21/07/2010 15:19

What goes around comes around. It will sort itself out and in a week or so when you have had a break from it it will all fall away and you will feel better.

I bet your mate feels awful about it all.

There is no need to feel threatened because the bitchy alpha dog will never be able to have a relationship with your mate like yours.

CarGirl · 21/07/2010 17:29

Flippin Heck what a bitch indeed!!!!

I wondered if you were at St A or somewhere else?

Ingles2 · 21/07/2010 17:41

do you know what Oblomov...go!
Stick some slap on and go.
Otherwise she'll think she's won and you never know it might not be as bad as you think.
I've just had a lovely hour with friends and beach woman!
in side because it was raining.
Sometimes you've just got to stick your chin in the air, plaster on a smile and feign nonchalance even if you're dying inside.
I'll have the virtual pink plonk waiting for when you get back.

Oblomov · 22/07/2010 08:56

Yes CG St A.
I am hanging this morning. too much wine.
So I went. walked with my friend. had a fab time. even talked directly to the lady, as part of a group discussion. and talked to some other lovely ladies who i hadn't talked to before.
AND got a text to go to a picnic after school finishes at lunchtime. so, when I've finished work, i'm off to that.
All is good.
Glad you had a good time Ingles. Lets crack open that virtual pink plonk

OP posts:
thatsnotmymonkey · 22/07/2010 09:11

Whoooo hooo! I am so glad you went I knew you would have a good time. I am so chuffed for you.

Pass the plonk will you?

CarGirl · 22/07/2010 10:02

Glad you went.

I do think it has a tendency to be extra cliquey because it's all about who you know via church etc etc

My friends dc go there and she is really fed up with the negativety and bitchiness of some of the other Mums.

Oblomov · 22/07/2010 10:39

CG, I feel same as your friend.
I am not sure its church related thoough. most of the ppeople i speak to , go every so often. not ever week. a few are diligent. most aren't.
but cliquey it is.
last night, a few reception mums were there. one asked me if there were alot of competitive mums in our year. and my friend and i said no.
but presumably there are in hers. over reading ? are they boasting about 'my sons on level 15' and that kind of thing ? yuk

This is such a shame. I am so happy with the loving ethos they teach the children. and ds1 is thriving. but this aspect ???????

I don't do bitching. I refuse. I am too gobby. I just tell it how it is.
Glad I work p/t and only do 5 pickups/drop offs.
Glad we have a 6 wk break. I will seeing NO ONE

OP posts:
CarGirl · 22/07/2010 14:09

I don't think it's church per se just more thats another connection with each other, mixing in the same circles etc.

My friends was telling me about the cost and traumas of irish dancing I was

Enjoy your 6 weeks off from it all.

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