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Friends who are rubbish at contact

3 replies

Amberkitten7654321 · 25/06/2025 09:41

I used to live in the same city as one of my oldest friends for almost a decade. She’s not had the easiest life and there were often dramas we went through, but because we were only 20 or so minutes walk away we stayed v close throughout.

I moved away when I had twins a few years go (so 3 dc now) and she has also moved out somewhere in another direction with her dc. We are now approx 2 hours drive.

She is absolutely useless at replying to messages. She just doesn’t read them, esp when stressed, won’t answer calls etc. she is continuing to have a hard time with family / health but I’m at a total loss as to how she expects me to support her (and she does seem to expect it) when I can’t physically meet for a drink or go for a quick walk like we used to for her to talk it out. She doesn’t seem to understand that either the way we communicate and talk has to change (and she needs to accept replying to messages) or our friendship changes.

she has got v angry at me recently as another friend of ours knew some stuff which had gone on with me but she didn’t. However she hadn’t replied to any of my previous messages, but my other friend had, so we’d then met up (as we’re closer distance wise). And my old friend was furious she hadn’t been invited.

but it is unreasonable to say - you get out what you put in. I can’t forever be worried about someone who lives so far away and won’t rely to my calls or messages. She obviously needs the geographical proximity which I can’t give her, so she needs to accept things will change, and she can’t be angry at me for getting my support elsewhere?

OP posts:
Catcooper25uk · 25/06/2025 13:39

I'm 1 of them rubbish friends who doesn't always reply to messages straight away.
When im in a bad place mentally I can go days even weeks without speaking to anyone or seeing anyone I will just stay in my home and keep to myself, its not a personal attack on anyone that I dont get back to right away I literally sometimes want to just be left alone.
On the other hand when I am in a good place mentally I will reach out to people and see how they're doing, what they've been up to etc...
Obviously I know nothing about your friend and if she had mental health struggles/general life struggles or could she be worried that messages might get into the wrong hands and not want others to find out what she messages to you? Is there a way you could arrange to meet up maybe once a month or once every 2/3 months for a full catch up? I know you say you both have kids aswell maybe you could meet at a play centre or something so the kids can be occupied whilst you both have a good catch up. Or do you think your friend could be pulling away knowing that you both live quite far from each other now so kind of whats the point? Obviously it could be a number of reasons and you know your friend better than anyone on a mumsnet forum.
Anyway I really hope you hear from your friend soon.

Jollyhockeystickss · 25/06/2025 14:00

I would just stop lifes too short, nothing winds me up more than friends who dont reply or ignore you, ive found when you just dont chase them the friendship dwindles, no relationship should be that much effort,

Lurkingandlearning · 25/06/2025 14:43

I think people sometimes lose sight of what is reasonable behaviour with the people they are closest to. They react in a knee jerk way when they would be more measured with people less close. That’s not a good thing but it happens and I think that might be what your friend did when she learned you’d found support from someone else.

I also think that being able to occasionally have words, a bit of a spat, thrash things out and move on is a sign of a good friendship.

She’s told you how she feels without holding back. Call her and do the same. One way or the other it will clear the air. She will either realise that to maintain the closeness you’ve shared she needs to put more effort in (and tell you when she has a problem with you rather than telling a mutual friend). Or you’ll agree that as you are now so far away from each other, you cannot sustain your friendship. You could agree to stay in touch, but I find going from close friends to practically acquaintances quite sad.

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