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Neighbour/friend overbearing

32 replies

Sunny4876 · 26/06/2021 11:18

I have a neighbour who used to be friends with my mum when she lived in this street,(I lived with mum for 18 months with my children too)she would pop in maybe once a day for cuppa.
4 years after my mum moved I moved in opposite neighbour and have been here 4 years . I suffer very badly with MH so have been off work for a long time.The issue is that ever since the neighbour is popping in 3 times a day or expecting me to go there and watch programmes with her(she's retired and widowed) if I don't go over once kids are in school she's phoning to see where I am or comes over,she's very opinionated and acts like my mum would.
She doesn't like it if anyone disagrees with her etc.
Don't get me wrong,she has a heart of gold in some respects and have bought me and the children some things she thinks we need but it just makes me feel more beholden to her,its not as if I have have a gentle word and ask her to back off because she will take great offence.
It's got to the point where when the kids go to school I'm hiding in bed some days all day just to get away from her.Im afraid I'm going to lose it soon and tell her to do one which will make living close awful,I don't want to have to move as this is the best place we've ever lived but I'm starting to think we'll have too,or awfully I'm hoping something happens and she dies just so we have peace.
After mum moved from street,

OP posts:
Sunny4876 · 29/06/2021 09:10

I did it,by text
(which I know is shitty and I definitely do feel shitty about it,but I know for a fact I wouldn't have been able to get my words out and would have ended in a panic attack)
I can't remember word for word but went ....
Hi I know ideally this should be done face to face but I'll have a panic attack.
I'm so so grateful for everything you have donefor me and the girls..
But,I'm finding your obvious disapproval of my choices,how I raise the girl's,deal with my mental health etc suffocating.
When the girls are in school I need that time alone to recharge,clear my head.
I'm sorry to upset you but I need distance.

Sent it last night and obviously couldn't sleep then,got a reply at 1am just saying OK.
Was hoping I'd feel relief but just overwhelming guilt at moment,hopefully over coming days the relief will take over.
Thank you all so much for the support.

OP posts:
SmellThat · 29/06/2021 09:26

Well done, sending the text was a huge achievement. She should feel very proud of yourself. Enjoy the peace for once

billy1966 · 29/06/2021 10:48

Excellent text, well done.

Doing it by text is just fine.
You were succinct.

Why should you be imposed upon by someone so opinionated and critical of you, in YOUR home.

Please do not back down in any way.

If she calls over it will be further proof that she is just using you.

You need space.

Do not allow her into your home again.

You have done the really hard part.

Of course it is very hard and upsetting standing up for yourself but the relief you are going to feel going forward with be so good for you.

Feeling imposed upon in your own home is the worst feeling.

I am a reasonably sociable person but I wouldn't be able to cope with what you have put up with.

Neither would any of my dear friends.
We all love our privacy and the quiet of our home.
I live 25 years here and I think a neighbour may have been in my home a couple of times, despite being so kind and lovely.

How you are feeling is so normal and you must actually be extremely strong mentally to have tolerated this and not cracked before.

You have done the hard bit.
Do not back down for a second.

Flowers
Sunny4876 · 29/06/2021 17:47

Thank you.

OP posts:
M0nstermunch · 29/06/2021 20:01

Hope you have had a nice day OP and well done on the text.

Notaroadrunner · 29/06/2021 20:02

She'll probably move on to someone else fairly quickly so don't feel guilty. After a couple of days you will just feel relief that you have your time to yourself.

Laceandflowers383 · 29/06/2021 20:21

You'll probably feel wretched over this for a while. I'm someone who has a very hard time speaking up for myself and the few times I have , I haven't coped very well with the fall out. She'll probably give you the silent treatment for a while and she might even turn nasty but you've 100% done the right thing, you couldn't carry on the way you were so well done and try not to dwell on it now. Just enjoy the peace!

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