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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is it my responsibility as a friend?

171 replies

littlemisssarcastic · 08/12/2011 20:47

I have a friend who is imo in an abusive relationship. Her P deprives her of money, doesn't lift a finger in the house at all, not even to make a cup of tea ever, she doesn't trust him with their DC because he has zero patience, and she really struggles to keep everything going.
She does all of the childcare, housework, cooking, cleaning, organising, everything. Her P works f/t and then spends the rest of his time playing computer games with his brother/surfing the net. (My friend is banned from using the net btw.) When he isn't doing those he is sleeping, sometimes for the whole day.

Now, whilst it is frustrating to watch her struggling and see the effect this relationship is having on their DC, she refuses to contemplate a life without him because she says he is a good man Shock and he is not perfect but he is the same as other men. Hmm

She talks about him alot, and brings him into every conversation, and I honestly don't think she can see how bad he really is. She criticises other people's partners when her own is awful. I have learnt to say nothing, because she gets defensive (I understand that.) and nothing changes so there seems little point until she accepts she deserves more IYSWIM.

Anyhow, her P lets her down alot, he wont take her shopping (she doesn't drive) and he sometimes disappears to his brothers all weekend from friday night to sunday evening to play computer games, leaving her with no gas (meter) and no electric (meter) and no money.

(He also takes the modem when he goes to work/his brothers so she can't go online for anything.)

She tells me all this and then says 'Ahhhh bless him, he worries' It is very frustrating to sit back and do nothing but that is the situation.

Anyhow, I am getting increasingly frustrated that while her P is playing computer games, or sleeping, my friend is asking her friends (including me) to take her shopping, because P is sleeping..bless him, or nip to the shop with her gas key (a bus ride away) and lend her a fiver to put some gas on, because her P hasn't left her with enough, or pick her DC up from nursery/school because her P has just phoned to say he wont be picking them up because he has gone to his brothers/is sleeping etc.

Only this last week, one of her DC was feeling quite poorly, and she needed to take this DC to the OOH Dr's (weekend) so she phoned her P but guess what? He was at his brother's and was in the middle of the next level on the computer game and couldn't just leave the game at that point, he needed to get to a save point first and he couldn't do that in time to drive back and take her to the Dr's. Shock

So she phoned me and I took them. On the way, she was very open about telling me that she'd told P not to worry, that she'd get a friend to help her out again and he wasn't to worry, she would cook his dinner for when he came home.

I feel that by helping her I am enabling him to continue not to bother. I don't want to see her suffer and her P knows this, he knows that she will find someone else to help her and the DC, but tbh, I am getting really frustrated by it now..it is every 2/3 days she needs another favour because her P has let her down again.

I am a shit friend, I know. I must be because I'm not happy about changing my plans at a moments notice to sit down a OOH Dr's surgery for 2.5 hours waiting for one of her DC to be seen, whilst watching the other DC when she went in to Gp with ill DC, because her P can't be fucking arsed and she can't see what's wrong with that!!

I must be a shit friend because I don't want to spend one day every week taking her shopping because her DP is fucking sleeping (after sleeping all night too) or surfing the net, or quite often because he just doesn't want to take her shopping..because he hates shopping (unless it involves power tools.) He has said this in front of me and other friends, so it is not just my friends version.

AIBU to think it's not my responsibility to pick up where her P is slacking and then have to listen to how bloody wonderful he is because she has to mention him in every single conversation, I kid you not??

OP posts:
AThingInYourLife · 18/03/2012 12:25

Cut her off. She is a silly, selfish bitch who has been taking advantage of you for years.

She is happy in her poxy relationship, so it's up to her to make it work.

Kayzr · 18/03/2012 12:26

I really hope your DS is ok and comes home today.

I would never ever speak to this woman again. I would ignore all phone calls and text messages.

MinnieBar · 18/03/2012 12:31

That would be the deal breaker for me. You wouldn't and didn't let your XP treat you like this, so why let a 'friend'?

Spero · 18/03/2012 12:35

Sorry. There is no balance here, she is not a friend, just a drain on your resources. I agree with everyone else, just let her go.

Flimflammery · 18/03/2012 12:45

Don't be her rescuer any more. She's just a drain on your time, energy and emotions. It's her choice to allow her H to behave in this way. And her choice to not help you when you needed help. Don't just stop answering calls, though, tell her why you no longer want the friendship to continue.

Casmama · 18/03/2012 12:47

I would send her a note explaining exactly how you feel and why you no longer wish her to contact you.

mumknowsbezzie · 18/03/2012 13:00

id have to tell her how i felt and how i couldnt continue the friendship because when i needed desperate help, she just wouldnt help me

then i would probably never speak to her again

leave her to it, she is obviously happy with her relationship and everyone else running round after her

ivanapoo · 18/03/2012 13:10

I too think you need to have it out with her and end the friendship unless you saw immediate changes in her behaviour/ meaningful apologies. With friends like these...! Hope your son is OK.

Arion · 18/03/2012 13:13

Hi Littlemiss, if I had someone here to make sure the kids were safe even if I thought they wouldn't get up I would have gone. Even if one had woken up immediately the longest they would have cried is 40 minutes. I think P would have got up if he was being disturbed and to be honest, weighing it up, a hold crying compared to someone needing help after being mugged, I would help the person who'd been mugged. It would be different if she was a lone parent, you have the risk of a fire etc and getting them out safely but to have someone there and say you couldn't come out is a pathetic excuse in my opinion.

She seems to only take and not give anything back from what you've posted so far, no matter how much fun she is.

Arion · 18/03/2012 13:14

That should have been "child" not hold! Hmm

HazleNutt · 18/03/2012 13:20

you really should tell her everything you have written here, why you no longer wish to help her, how her refusal made you feel and why her DP is a wanker.

MadameChinLegs · 18/03/2012 13:24

Good lord. I was all for stepping back an bit and trying to get her to see how abusive her DH was, but after your recent posts, I honestly think that she is a bit of a cow.

The next time she rings, i'd say (if it were me) "Friend, I have helped you for years whenever you needed it, giving you money, food and lifts. I'd have given you the coat off my back if you needed it. The one, ONE, time I ask you to help me in return you give me some ridiculous excuse about your useless feck of a partner. The man who caused you to need so much helo off me and other friends for so many years. This has been a big wake up call for me, and the next time you need help and your DP refuses, do NOT come to me".

Harsh. And my legs would be shaking like a shitting dog's, but it's time to get tough.

toutpuissant · 18/03/2012 13:36

I've just seen this thread now. OP, you have been the best friend this woman could possibly want and I am disgusted with her attitude towards you. I would cut off all contact with her from here out, but not until I had spelled out exactly why. Let her sort her own mess out.

Hoping your DS shows up today and is OK.

Onesunnymorningin2012 · 18/03/2012 13:37

I hope your DS is okay.

I agree with other posters - she sounds like a user, and not a friend. What a shit thing to do after all you've done for her.

RuleBritannia · 18/03/2012 13:38

I have just read this thread right through for the first time and could not believe what I was reading. Allposters have said the right thing, especially MadamChinLegs. Good words.

I would be a bit nervous of coming out with the wrong words if I were to tell a friend that I want nothing more to do with her but there is a way to get out of it. Keep your landline's answering machine on and, when you hear her speak, ignore it. If it's someone else, you can pick up the phone and start a conversation. Keep your mobile off, too, you can see who the missed calls are from and choose whomn to ring back..

RuleBritannia · 18/03/2012 13:38

Until she gets the 'message'.

Alligatorpie · 18/03/2012 13:38

Wow. I would not answer her calls from now on. If she does manage to get through to you and wants a favor, just say " no, I can't" and repeat.
Her behavior is shocking. She is obviously happy with the way things are going in her life. I would not hesitate to stop her.

Alligatorpie · 18/03/2012 13:39

I mean drop her!

bleedingheart · 18/03/2012 13:40

I agree with what MadameChinLegs posted above. My goodness, I had some sympathy for this woman to start off with but now I think she is selfish and entitled and a drain on your life.

I hope your son is okay.

Sidge · 18/03/2012 13:41

She's not a friend, she's a user.

However shit her own life and relationship is she's just shown you her 'friendship' is a one way street.

I hope your son is OK.

brighthair · 18/03/2012 13:42

There is only so much you can give while someone else is taking. Emotional vampire as said above is the right word
And adult or not, age 22 I was assaulted and my parents drove from Yorkshire to
Lancashire at 2am to hospital. And my friend was with me 5 minutes after I rang her, exactly as I would do for her

stabiliser15 · 18/03/2012 13:45

Her behaviour was appalling after everything you have done for her. Drop her. Hope your son is ok.

PoultryInMotion · 18/03/2012 14:00

You poor thing, you're obviously a really good friend. If it were me I'd be tempted to print off this thread and post it to her.

QuintessentialyHollow · 18/03/2012 14:10

Drop her. Write her a letter and write her off as a "Bad Friend". You dont need such a drain in your life.

OlympicEater · 18/03/2012 14:21

Littlemiss I am absolutely raging on your behalf. What a selfish woman.

She is not your friend and you will be better off iwthout her in your life.

I do hope that your son is recovered from his attack, and you get to see him today.