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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to end this friendship

14 replies

laughlovelife · 27/03/2012 11:16

I have put this in relationships, but thought id get a more honest opinion here.

I have been friends with a woman for over 3 years, started a friendship because our children are the same age/same school. She has just ended a 12 year relationship with the children's father, and has no family in our area, and just 4 friends, who I am very close friends with.

Her children constantly hit, demand, scratch/bite my children, ds1 has been bitten and hit and kicked by the older 5 year old child, ds2 is constantly being scratched, hit and getting toys took off him because her DC wants the toys she has.

My children are no angels, however only hit when provoked, we do not have any problems with any other children in our group, they all play well, and love each others companies, and are extremely well behaved.

In the company of said friends children, there is always a fight, either with my DC or with other DC.

About a year ago, her DC continued to hit my older ds, ds told his mum, but nothing was done, in the end my ds picked up a toy hoover and hit her DC which resulted in a huge black eye. DS was punished, and made to say sorry, as although he was provoked, I dont and wont condone this sort of violence or hitting.

I have since found out this week, that she has been telling everyone that my ds is a bully and that her child does nothing to provoke anyone, friends have got involved and said the truth to friend, that she needs to discipline her children and stop blaming everyone else for her children poor behaviour.

Also my youngest ds face is shameful with scratches from youngest DC, as apparently my ds get too close in her face, so that warrants DS face to be scarred and bleeding

Ending this friendship is going too cause friction and animosity in the group, but I cannot continue to be friends where my children are being subjected to this and also being blamed for her children's behaviour because she wants a easy life in not disciplining them.

This has been going on for over 2 years and I am not at the end of my tether, older ds was bitten by her 5 year old child 3 days ago, because my child accidentally bumped into him, and nothing was done, I honestly think I am failing my children, but in also doing this, I know I am going to loose my friends and also our social life with toddler groups etc....

If I take the children issues out of the friendship she is a good friend, currently she is going through some serious issues (on the verge of having a breakdown) and needs her friends, so my mind is telling me one thing, but my heart (my children) is telling me another.

OP posts:
CupcakesAndBunting · 27/03/2012 11:22

You can't end a friendship just because of a person's kids. What you do is ring her and say "I'd love to see you for a coffee but let's do it when the kids are at school as they don't seem to be having fun together at the minute." She sounds like she's having a shit time.

Fuzzywuzzywozabear · 27/03/2012 11:26

I ended a friendship for precisely this reason

skybluepearl · 27/03/2012 11:28

can you meet without the kids? in the evenings round at her house maybe when all are asleep?

where are these incidents happening? i think you could continue your play groups/park visits etc and if you bump into her you bump into her. don't arrange to meet up in each others homes or on play dates but catch up if you do see her accidentally. if she says anything explain that your kids need space from each other and that you really value her friendship but need to make sure you kids are happy.

thatboysmum · 27/03/2012 11:29

I personally would not and could not put up with that sort of thing, it is not fair on your children especially if it is to the extreme you describe. If you really feel it is worth it then I would have a relationship with her that does not involve play dates with the children. If she is going through a rough time and is on the verge of a breakdown then maybe understandably she might be being a bit slack but it still doesn't excuse it at all. I don't understand where you will lose friends, especially if your friends have stuck up for you and put her straight?

OTheHugeManatee · 27/03/2012 11:29

Can you just see here without DC for a bit? It sounds as though she needs support but I don't blame you for wanting to avoid her DC.

Pandemoniaa · 27/03/2012 11:31

Is there a tactful way of avoiding spending time with her children? Only your friend sounds as if she's got an awful lot to cope with right now and quite possibly, the behaviour of her children has a lot to do with the upheaval in their lives.

I'm not saying this to excuse awful behaviour but if she is a good friend and needs support, could you manage to see her away from the house, say, or somewhere else that doesn't put your children at constant risk of being bitten or hit.

skybluepearl · 27/03/2012 11:32

it sounds like they are all having a very tough time and hitting out. she must really need you friendship right now. maybe they will be nicer kids when the mom is more settled and happier. can you tackle things together. Have an open and honest chat about how to make things better? You could probably crack it together if you tried and she was open to it.

laughlovelife · 27/03/2012 11:34

They happen anywhere, together, toddler groups, friends houses etc... the only place it does not happen is when we are child free. Cant meet in the evenings as other commitments etc... we go out once in every 3 months, with all the girls.

I have tried to speaking to her, nothing gets done, you cant tell her DC off as we get told not to by her.

yes she is going through a shit time, hence my thread, as dont know what to do for the best, however some of us are going through some awful things too, yet we still discipline and tell our children from right and wrong.

OP posts:
DeWe · 27/03/2012 11:50

Haven't you posted this before (not in relationships, as I don't read that usually)? Either that or there's two small boys hitting with hoovers in self defense.

LydiaWickham · 27/03/2012 12:02

well, first off, you have no obligation to be friends with anyone if you don't like them, regardless of what they are going through.

If you can see her without the DCs, that would be great to be able to support her, but I'd be honest and say your DCs need a break from hers.

If you don't think she will accept seeing you without the DCs, then you should stop seeing her for a while, I don't think you should put your DCs in a situation where they are possibly going to be hurt and will be scared, just because adults are having a hard time.

perceptionreality · 27/03/2012 12:07

I can understand why you would feel this way, especially if you've only known her for 3 years. I think if you were very close to her you would think the friendship was worth keeping in spite of the situation with the children. I tend to not have people in my life who add stress as life is stressful enough!

So YANBU.

Cherriesarelovely · 27/03/2012 12:20

Difficult situation OP particularly as your friend is going through a tough time. The only real solution is to see her without the kids and maybe to say to her "look, our kids aren't really getting on very well at the moment are they?". I know the reality is that her kids are being very unkind and she is not dealing with them adequately but my own experience is that if you actually confront a friend about this they do not take it well!

We recently lost very good friends over a very similar problem, we were keen to try to resolve it amicably with them but they were mortally offended by our bringing it up and that was that. They now completely ignore us all and to be honest it HAS made other friendships difficult. That's not to say I regret doing it, it is brilliant not to have to put up with their kids behaviour and I know it was the right thing for DD but it has been very sad and hard.

AutumnSummers · 27/03/2012 12:22

I have a friend whose kids I can't stand. They are both horrible teenagers and the older one really gets on my nerves. She comes to my house and moans about everything. She's no better at home. So i either invite my friend round to mine or go see her when her kids are at school.

MissFaversham · 27/03/2012 12:29

OP, speak to her privately and ask how she's doing etc. offering a shoulder etc. to cry on. Bring the conversation round to the kid's saying "It seem's like they're having a tough time too blah blah and gently tell her what's going on asking whether you could step in from time to time to sort out these incidents with the emphasis on easing her burden" IYKWIM.

If that doesn't happen I'd be inclined to give her a wide berth for a while when kids are being involved.

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