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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To end this ten year friendship over this (long sorry)

393 replies

catinboots · 17/02/2011 09:46

Sorry this is very long, but I need to give you some background about our friendship first. I met my friend at University when we were twenty. I was living with my boyfriend and our one year old son in our own flat. Friend was living in halls of residence and was a total party animal. She was totally wild and had a different bloke every night of the week!! I used to party with her when I got the chance but I lived a fairly dull life in comparison. I had to work and look after a baby as well as doing my degree. Despite the difference in our lives, we formed a really strong friendship. We were definitely best friends.

Fast forward about six years and I went through a very messy break-up with the boyfriend. She was very supportive, but had just met a new man herself and moved three hours away to be with him. Finding myself newly single I went a little bit crazy for about a year. I did a lot of silly things which I deeply regret now. I partied too much, I drank too much, I had too many boyfriends and I was a bad mum. I messed up my job and upset my family and friends. During this period my best friend kept her distance. At the same time I noticed she was changing - she was gradually becoming like a Stepford wife. Dinner parties and making chutney - not like the girl I first met ant uni!

Anyway, I subsequently sorted myself out, got back to reality and luckily met my DP. However, whenever I tried contacting her she was very offish with me. In the end I asked her outright what was wrong ? and she said that her DP didn?t approve of her being friends with me! I apologised for how I?d been behaving and told her how much I valued her friendship. Things had been okay since then and after a couple of years we seemed back to normal ? talking almost every day etc.

DP asked me to marry him last August and she was the first person I asked to be a bridesmaid. She?s been really helping with all the wedding planning and organising the hen and it?s been lovely! On Christmas Eve her DP proposed to her and she was over the moon. Naively I just presumed I would be a bridesmaid for her. She hadn?t mentioned it but I didn?t think anything of it until yesterday when she told me she was going to a wedding fayre. I asked who with and she said her mum, her sister and her two other best friends. It suddenly dawned on me that she isn?t going to ask me to be a bridesmaid. I rang her last night just chatting about wedding stuff and just slipped it in to conversation asking what she was doing about bridesmaids. She said I?m having my sister, the two other friends and one of DPs old friends. Then just started chatting about their dresses and didn?t even address the fact she wasn?t asking me.

I am so hurt and so upset. Not because I?m not being a bridesmaid ? but because our friendship obviously isn?t what I thought it was. I feel like an idiot now ? because I truly thought she was my best friend.
I don?t want to say anything to her because it?s up to her what she does at her wedding. But I feel uncomfortable now. It?s changed things and I don?t think I can just carry on planning my wedding with her as though everything is fine between us. I?m thinking the best thing to do is just cut her out altogether. No confrontation, no discussion. To be honest I don?t think she?ll be that bothered.

AIBU??????

OP posts:
catinboots · 08/03/2011 12:04

Nope I haven't done it yet. I know I need to but I haven't yet.

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Needanewname · 08/03/2011 12:06

Well if and when you do - good luck.

catinboots · 08/03/2011 12:07

solooovely - I'm not like that at all!! You've got me so wrong. Many of my friends I speak to once or twice year - because we are so busy! I'm not needy like that!!

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solooovely · 08/03/2011 12:17

Oh! Well sorry then, although it wasn't meant as an insult, just the impression I got. I thought I read somewhere something about you wanting to speak everyday, being upset that she isn't continuously trying to contact you to see if you are ok even though she has phoned (unanswered), emailed, emailed your sister etc?

This is a very long post and I missed a big chunk in the middle so sorry that I got you so wrong.

catinboots · 08/03/2011 12:24

We used to speak a lot at various times when we needed each other. And yes, we've been taling/emailing a lot more since she'd been helping me organise wedding stuff.

I told her my mum was ill.

She called me the next day - I missed the call.

A week later she emailed my sister (why not me is what I don't understand?)

My sister told her in a very softly/nicely manner that I was upset about mum but also a little bit miffed abou the BM thing(and that she was ojnly telling her as she knoew that I wouldn't)

Nothing since

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catinboots · 08/03/2011 12:24

naff typing again sorry

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solooovely · 08/03/2011 12:28

Oh ok that clears that up. I tried going back to read but it was all a bit confusing.

I think speaking on the phone would be much better then emailing as with emails the tone of voice gets lost so people take things in a way you didn't mean. I can understand you wanting to email though, I don't like conversations that can turn confrontational either, so I'd be tempted to email as well.

How's your mum? Is the breast cancer back in her breast or somewhere else?

Desperateforthinnerthighs · 08/03/2011 12:29

Cat - sorry to hear about your mum being poorly, hope she will be ok.

Re your friend not contacting you - my mum was diagnosed with luncg cancer last year and one of my "friends" who I have really been there for...boy, have I been there for her......didnt contact me at all - apparently she didnt know what to say to me!!! Do you think your friend maybe is unsure what to say?? No excuse at all and our friendship took a dramatic turn as obviously she isnt the the friend I thought she was.

Re the BM thing...dont send the email but i think you do need to sit down and talk rationally to her...maybe she just didnt think...I dont know her so it is hard to judge what is going through her head.

Hugs honey, I remember when my mum was ill I was soooo overly sensitive and things were a million times worse than they should/would have been xx

AitchTwoOh · 08/03/2011 12:35

good luck when you do, cat. you never kknow, perhaps she's eating herself up over the fact that you haven't returned her call... i hope it all gets resolved soon.

catinboots · 08/03/2011 12:43

Thanks guys. I will do it - I just need to pluck up the courage and maybe some Wine Wine Wine

So - the cancer is in her other breast Sad and it's a grade 3 tumour Sad

OP posts:
Katisha · 08/03/2011 12:46

Leave a message now. Just saying "we need to talk." Then that's the first step out of the way. And if she picks up the phone, just go for it.

And very sorry to hear about your mum.

beesimo · 08/03/2011 13:09

Cat I think your friend may of used your sister as a intermediary precisely because she didn't want to 'catch' you at a bad moment and genuinely wanted to find out what your problems were. It COULD of been with the best of motives and now your double thinking her and feeling upset about it. Try to accept that like all of us she is only human we all are guilty of miscommunication with the important people in our lives saying to little saying to much and sometimes as with that email you drafted saying far far too much make allowances for her and yourself and crack on with life. Don't stay bogged down with this life really is too short either end the problem one way or another TODAY with a phonecall or just let it go and move on.

Jacksmania · 08/03/2011 13:14

Good luck catinboots. I'm so sorry your mum's cancer is so advanced :(

YellowDinosaur · 08/03/2011 21:06

Just like to add cat (I work with breast cancer so know what I am talking about) that as long as the cancer is just in her breast (and there isn't any evidence that it has spread elsewhere - if this is a second cancer they should have done tests to check for that) then it will be treated with a view to curing her just as it would have been the last time.

So surgery then whatever treatment is indicated by what the tumour looks like under the microscope and for most people that will be the end of it.

Not trying to play down what is obviously a worrying time but for most people breast cancer is CURABLE.

Thinking of you and your mum and fingers crossed you manage to sort things out with your friend when you have the emotional energy to do so x

kittya · 09/03/2011 11:54

I wouldnt leave a message saying "we need to talk" it will panic the girl. Anyway, I think this has been left long enough now its far to late to ring her. I just hope your friend realises that you dont want her as a bridesmaid anymore. I think it would only be manners to tell her.

YellowDinosaur · 10/03/2011 20:51

What happened here then? Have you spoken to your friend yet?

AirhostessMum · 10/03/2011 21:30

Yes what happened?Love to see the outcome after all these weeksGrin

Mammie81 · 12/03/2011 00:13

I really want to know what happened here! How'd it go?

bluejeans · 12/03/2011 00:26

I didn't ask the girl I was bridesmaid for to be my bridesmaid. I felt bad but my mum said 'it's not a reciprocal thing'and she was right - 15 years on it hasn't affected our friendship. I hope you manage to get through this

catinboots · 14/03/2011 09:31

Okay - the phonecall never happened. It's all been too long. I've just emailed her. Kept it very friendly and breezy. Apologised for not being in touch - said I've maybe been over sensitive and preoccupied. Told her I am hurt about the BM issue - NOT not being asked to be a BM, but hurt that she didn't feel she could talk to me about it...

Judge away and watch this space...

OP posts:
beesimo · 14/03/2011 09:49

CAT IN BOOTS I am so please you have posted you sound much better and more positive lighter somehow. I did get vexed with you at one point but I always wished you well as I know your upset was genuine. I've realised being on MM for awhile now I can be a bit judgemental and overbearing I have three lasses and 2 lads and I'm always 'sorting them out'. Think I should maybe listen a little bit more instead of laying the law down. Thanks for showing me a not very comfortable home truth Brigx

AitchTwoOh · 14/03/2011 12:51

sounds great! (i do think it better not to mention venereal disease in these sorts of things... Wink) hope you get a nice reply. best wishes to your mum.

Needanewname · 14/03/2011 13:17

I'm pleased that you've got in touch, hopefully all will be good.

Hope all goes well for your mum too.

catinboots · 14/03/2011 21:57

no reply yet Sad

not looking good [sad}

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catinboots · 14/03/2011 21:57
Sad
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