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Toxic mum friend, no escape

5 replies

RedoneP · 11/06/2023 13:15

I was extremely close to a local mum whose son is friends with my daughter since preschool.

Our children ended up at primary school together. My friend started constantly complained about teachers, school, the PTA and curriculum. Then my daughter who is an only child, she started quipping she's spoiled. This mother was privately educated abroad and is from another country. She is constantly bitching about the UK and how she hates it here and makes racist comments unwittingly. I let it go but after sometime on a mums night out I called her out on it. No one said a word. She stormed off in a huff. The following week I went to her house and we talked. She tore my character apart saying in a group I'm too bubbly, I never complain or bitch on my family or tell off my child. My clothes are too smart, I make her feel bad about herself. She said my life is too perfect. I just took it as I can't bear the thought of school gate drama and glossed over it.

After a few months she joined the PTA, volunteers constantly at the school and has applied for a job there. She's become a high maintenance parent and the class busy body and totally changed. She's easily offended. I keep my distance.

Some months ago I asked her if she noticed in class my daughters behaviour as I suspected neurodiversity. She said no, she's just a classic spoilt only child. I had my daughter diagnosed shortly afterwards with a neurodiversity and her face was priceless. Again I keep my distance but am polite to her and her child but unfortunately she is so cliquey that those I'm friendly with she turns up a lot. It's tricky to hide from her.

I then lost my mother unexpectedly and she was wonderful. I thought she'd changed. Then I received a text message accusing me of upsetting her son by asking him to sign my daughter's class book. Apparently he didn't want to and she'd told me he didn't want to but I didn't hear her. Then I get another tirade of how perfect my life is. Again I apologise (just to appease her) but there is such a friction there.

Our children have 4 more years together and then secondary school. I feel I'm constantly treading on eggshells round her and her comments from a year ago have really affected me. I don't socialise with anyone there anymore. I've become self conscious. She's so orchestrating and present at every event or the occasional chat I attend and super nice to everyone I wonder why she's singled me out? How would you deal with it? It really hurts and I can't seem to stop carrying the hurtful things she said around. No one has ever spoken to me like that and that candidly and it's horrible.

OP posts:
Nagado · 11/06/2023 14:00

How would you deal with it?

I would read back all the things she has said and done and understand that she’s utterly bonkers. Normal people don’t behave like this. The problem is her and there’s nothing to be self conscious about. None of it is going to be true, she’s just picked on the things she knows will hurt you. She wasn’t being candid. She was being spiteful. Are you a dreadful person because you aren’t horrible to your family? Or because you’re friendly? Or because you have smart clothes? Of course you’re not. That’s insane.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 11/06/2023 14:05

Can you find someone else to buddy up with? The only way I have found of dealing with a Queen Bee in a group is to find other friends in the group, and when I see QB just say hello or smile and move on.

LaMaG · 11/06/2023 14:57

Oh dear she has major issues. Racist comments and calling your child spoilt! There is no excuse for that. She is definitely jealous, but saying your life is perfect in a nasty way is so bizarre. We all know no ones life is perfect ffs and anyone raising a ND child is well aware of the imperfections!!

Try to rise above it, these are the words of a sad and bitter woman. Maybe she singled you out cos she thought you were likely to take her words to heart more than others, or maybe she really did think you had an easy life and wanted to bring you down a bit. Either way it's her issue not yours. I have to admit it's the type of thing that would really eat at me too

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Coffeeforus · 11/06/2023 17:33

She is quite clearly very unhappy in her own life and jealous of you for whatever reason. She is NOT your friend so stop falling for her again when she becomes all nice as you know from experience that she will turn on you and manipulate the situation at some point.

Grey rock her, be only very polite, don’t give her info about your life including asking questions on your DD’s behaviour in class (that was asking for a battering from her), don’t reply to any texts, and focus on being friendly with other parents instead, even if to just have quick chats with at the school gate.

Most people can see through people like her because her behaviour is absolutely not acceptable, however some people will keep ‘in’ with her to avoid being a target themselves. It’s shit and it’s obvious from MN threads over the years that lack of assertiveness and bullying is alive and well at the school gate (and beyond).

TheYearOfSmallThings · 11/06/2023 17:36

Stop listening to her idiotic criticism and stop apologising for nothing. Don't be afraid of falling out with her - you would be well rid.

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