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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to not give these women any more opportunities to exclude me?

324 replies

MomoandTeddington · 08/02/2012 10:04

I have namechanged.

At my 8 year old DD's school there is a group of mums, 9 of them. I have known most of them for several years since DD was at nursery with their DC. A couple of them live in the same road as me. The ones that I haven't known since nursery have been added to their group along the way, one knows one of the mums from tennis club and another lives next door to another one. I have always liked them all and got on well with them all, but I always feel they have excluded me a bit.

For example, they will arrange nights out and not invite me, yet invite me to others. Last time I went on a night out with them they were all talking about their previous night out to X restaurant and it suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't been invited on that one. I said "Oh, you didn't invite me on that one, girls" and one of them said "oooops probably shouldn't have mentioned that night out". They will invite me if they are having, say, a bodyshop party and want as many attendees as possible, but then other things they exclude me from.

I am probably the closest to one of them who lives a few doors down from me, we text each other occasionally and sometimes meet up for coffee, however for the past few months she has continually said about meeting up and then when I've suggested a day and time she has either been busy or forgotten or cancelled at very short notice. So I have now stopped suggesting meeting up with her, and am leaving the ball in her court.

The other thing they do is if one or two of them talk to me outside the school, they will be very vague with me and keep looking over my shoulder or behind them for other members of their group, and if they see one of them they will start smiling and waving at them and I feel they never listen to what I say, and sometimes are just waiting for me to go so that they can continue their conversation. One morning recently 3 were talking to me, they then all said they had to go, so I went off in my direction and they in theirs. A while later I went out in the car and saw them still talking in a group but they had moved round the corner to the other side of the school where they thought I wouldn't see when I'd gone. this morning two started talking to me and asking me about something that has happened to me recently, and I started talking too and next thing they were both looking over my head waving at someone wildly, totally ignoring what I said so I just said "Oh, bye then" and walked off.

I have decided I am not going to give them any more opportunities to exclude me. I am going to decline all invites out, and will say hello and be polite if I see them but it will be more of a "say hello and carry on walking with the buggy" than a hello and a chat. I am also not going to suggest any meet ups with any of them again. Another one of them and I went to an exercise class together once a week for a while but it dawned on me recently it was me making all the effort and so I stopped contacting her to see what would happen and she hasn't contacted me since. She always says she is busy yet has plenty of time for meet ups with the rest of them, but if I suggested meeting up in the day she would suggest a date in 2 or 3 months time because she's so busy, presumably hoping I would forget.

AIBU to think "stuff the lot of them"? I have other friends at the school, and other friend away from school btw. I don't think its me or anything I do/don't do, I think it's more that I'm not quite good enough for their clique.

OP posts:
Gargula · 08/02/2012 14:39

Why are these women "nasty bitches" - nothing they've done sounds terrible to me, they just prefer spending time with other people. Nothing wrong with that.

I am sympathetic though OP as I have exactly the same thing. There is a little group which I would LOVE (in a totally pathetic way) to be "in" with. I have been invited round a few times to their houses but nothing else. They are constantly in and out of each other's houses and I am jealous of that, but I recognise that, while friendly with me, they aren't "friends" with me, if you see what I mean.

It's just one of those things. No need to get unfriendly with them yourself, just accept the relationship as it is and look elsewhere for proper "friends".

aldiwhore · 08/02/2012 14:48

Think what I meant was, WhatMeWorry was that in my experience, the existence of a job or not hasn't really been the issue, more the existence of something better to do than hang around longer than really necessary at the school gate!

So I agree with you about finding something else to do.

My negative clique experience was a combination of factors. The mums did work (most of them) and ran the toddler group and were on the PTA,. half of them loitered at the schoolgates doing the whole coffee ritual, the other half would be present via Iphone!

I have better things to do now, like come on here and slag them off... whoops!

Whatmeworry · 08/02/2012 15:04

Think what I meant was, WhatMeWorry was that in my experience, the existence of a job or not hasn't really been the issue, more the existence of something better to do than hang around longer than really necessary at the school gate!

Ah Ok, then we are in furious agreement. :)

cheekyseamonkey · 08/02/2012 15:14

I don't really see why they're nasty bitches. Some people just have mOre in common with you than with others. It is hard not being part of the group, but I hate the term clique.

I'm actually quite surprised by a lot of the replies to the OP, if the OP had mentioned someone who was clinging on to them even though they had little in common except for dc and had one or more major social defect (not saying you do OP) and that they found the situation awkward or draining, I can't helP but think the advice would be to pull away as much as you need to, life's too short for taxing relationships etc.

You can't MAKE someone be friends with you & I can't help but think that tone of your post suggests that you're insecure & therefore maybe (bear in mind I can't possibly know you from some typed words on a website) a wee bit hard work.

Heyyyho · 08/02/2012 15:14

Gargantua did you miss what they did re her dd party invite?

They are very spiteful. The op was considered a friend until they decided to drop her.

MadameCastafiore · 08/02/2012 15:18

Sorry but I am probably in the minority and agree with cheekyseamonkey - when I read your post I thought 'Paranoia' and maybe your just not that interesting!

historyrepeats · 08/02/2012 15:25

God there is always one or two of those replies on AIBU. Hmm cliquey bitches

Whatmeworry · 08/02/2012 15:27

(Ominous Voice) If you can't see the Clique, then you are a part of it....

historyrepeats · 08/02/2012 15:29

I like it who me

exoticfruits · 08/02/2012 15:39

I think that those who can't see a problem with a clique are probably those who make them.
Everywhere has them-I have never liked 'in-crowds' -I find the outsiders far more interesting.

cheekyseamonkey · 08/02/2012 15:41

What's wrong with being in a clique or group? I have a lovely close group of friends whose baby's were born at the same time. We are almost exactly the same age, did or do similar jobs, like similar music, books etc, enjoy each other's company like wine & have a laugh & share very little in common in terms of politics so enjoy lots of healthy debates!

There was one other woman who was part of our clique if that's what we're calling it, at the beginning. She turned out to be paranoid, dull, self centred to the extreme, totally inappropriate with regard to her comments (bitchy, manipulative & often nasty) & had little in common with anyone. she tried very hard to exclude one woman who presumably she perceived to be the weakest member (she had PND). She was called on it & tied herself in knots with more nastiness. She found other friends, one of whom is also a friend of mine & described us as a bitchy clique.

She has since pulled the same old shit with them. whatmeworry If you can't see the paranoid individual, it's probably you.

exoticfruits · 08/02/2012 15:42

You get them on here -last week I got 'me and my friends were discussing......' when I changed to a slightly different tack! If you want a chat with just friends you don't use a public forum IMO.

fuzzPigwickPapers · 08/02/2012 15:48

YANBU. You don't need to be friends with these people just because they conceived a child within the same 12 months as you :)

MomoandTeddington · 08/02/2012 15:49

Am laughing at Madamecastafiore deciding I'm paranoid and not very interesting from one post on an internet forum! Cheekyseamonkey, it sounds as though your clique is based on snobbery, most cliques are.

I agree, exoticfruits

OP posts:
cheekyseamonkey · 08/02/2012 15:50

Why snobbery? Just curious?

exoticfruits · 08/02/2012 15:50

It all goes to prove, from the way it has gone on here, that OP wants to be perfectly friendly but ignore them-she doesn't need them.

MomoandTeddington · 08/02/2012 15:52

Cheekyseamonkey how does the tone of my post make out I'm insecure and "a wee bit hard work"? Just curious?

OP posts:
cheekyseamonkey · 08/02/2012 15:54

I don't really get why some people get to make assumptions and others don't. I maintain that having friends who you want to spend more time with is not a crime.

Having read more of the thread, I think the women in question need to stop being flaky & letting OP down re playmates etc, but maybe they're finding it awkward & thought she would take a more gentle hint. Not my style, but some people truly hate confrontation.

MadameCastafiore · 08/02/2012 15:55

No most cliques are based on people having shared interests and personalities, standards and sense of humour and all the other things that go to make a friends ship - one or all of the above if you like.

If someone was nice, friendly and intersting I would make an effort to speak to them and include them in friends as I am sure my friends would - if you were a dull paranoid person I would probably not!!

MadameCastafiore · 08/02/2012 15:56

THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH YOU.

cheekyseamonkey · 08/02/2012 16:01

Was just about to answer but Madame has done it for me. The paranoid part, 'they moved to the side of the school where they thought I wouldn't see them'. Really? You think that's why they did it? I've been in similar siuations where we all say goodbye, one person walks left to home/car, everyone else goes right, someone says, 'ooh before I forget!..' No? Also, may be discussing something that's just not your business, doesn't mean they're hiding?

So go on, why do you think I'm a snob? Tit for tat lass.

Sevenfold · 08/02/2012 16:10

MomoandTeddington yanbu
walk away you are better that this.
you will find your days much more relaxed and fun
(go on a mn meet up they never leave people out)

Borntobeamum · 08/02/2012 16:13

Id rather have you as a friend than them x x

onelittlefish · 08/02/2012 16:14

Blimey - I never realised a school playground was as bad as actually being at school.

The thing that I noticed OP is that it has taken you so long to realise that they are not worth it. Next time walk away with your head held high (if there is a next time).

cubbie · 08/02/2012 16:14

They are nasty bitches and deserve each other. It is horrible though, being on the receiving end.

My DS1 starts school in August and I will only be able to take him on my day off. I'm kind of dreading this kind of thing, having read lots of similar posts, but I am chatty, friendly and pleasant to everyone, so hopefully people will be nice back! (i'm not implying for a minute that you aren't Op, just saying I ma naturally very outgoing.)

I know it doesn't always work like that, though! TBH, I barely have time to see the (long-standing) friends I do have, so won't really be looking to make any new ones, though if I was invited for a coffee etc, I would certainly accept.

My Ds1 is having his birthday party in a couple of weeks and already feel a bit anxious, given the minefield that it seems to be these days! DS was asking why we had to invite everyone in his group, about 8 in all. I said you invited everyone and didn't leave anyone out, that wouldn't be nice.

He also wanted to ask another boy in a different group, and I asked a boy in DS2's group (I was going to have to take DS1 to the boy's party in a soft-play centre, even though it was ds2 who was invited. I had no-one to watch DS1 and it was a soft-play centre so open to all, was going to pay him in and obviously not take him into the party room. His mum said it was fine to bring him, I felt I had to explain why he was there. In the end up, we couldn't go 'cos DS2 was ill, but I did tell the mum that her son would be invited to ds1's party.)

Last year, only 4 of them came and I was hurt for Ds, though he didn't notice and the mums n dads enjoyed the buffet! I maybe didn't pick a good day (my afternoon off, thinking it would be quieter) or venue but it was where Ds1 wanted it to be, turned out to be too far away. Having it on a Saturday this year, in a new place nearby where we've already been to a couple of nursery parties.

Anyway, YANBU, just realistic and sensible. I hate cliques, yes, it's fine to have a special group of friends, but not nice to be mean and unkind to others. No need!!

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