Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be really dreading my friend staying with me this weekend because of all her bad habits and my uptightedness?

127 replies

Mumbelievable · 18/12/2012 11:13

My friend (who i've known since we were both 4) is coming up to stay with me this weekend - Saturday night through to Sunday evening. She wants to see me and dd and exchange gifts. She lives several hours' drive away.

I love my friend to bits, and I'm really excited about seeing her, but the thought of her actually sleeping over in my house - and staying here for over a full day - is filling me with dread.

I feel like a right cow posting this, but i don't think i'll get appropriate advice unless i paint the full picture. Sad

She has really poor personal hygiene (doesn't wash hands after the loo, doesn't brush her teeth, only showers once a week, has really greasy hair, and smells (sorry for tmi) like she has a vaginal infection (fish-like). (Concerned she might have an STI actually as she had a one-night stand last year, but she won't go to doctor). Sad

She's quite open about this and admits she doesn't care as she's perfectly happy the way she is and doesn't see the point spending lots of time making herself look presentable for other people.

She passes gas constantly. And the smell is horrendous. She laughs about this.

She helps herself to food from my cupboards/fridge etc. Which i don't mind, but she eats almost half my weekly shop each time she visits. Whenever i've asked her not to take so much, she goes into a huff and begrudgingly orders in a takeaway instead, whilst telling my i'm a bad hostess. Bearing in mind i provide a dinner and also buy in lots of snacks etc for her when she visits. She has her own designated cupboard of stuff escpecially for her, but she always strays into mine and dd's other foodstuffs that's supposed to last the week.

She is too big for my couch, so has to sleep in my bed, which i'm actually really worried about as she broke my last one (it was cheap wood though). This one's metal, but still not very strong and i'm worried this one won't be strong enough for her either. And i can't afford to get another one at this time of year.

She also passes wind a lot in her sleep and the smells gets right into my sheets. And my last matress ended up stained from her (i think it was sweat/make-up).

I realise i'm going to get a lot of replies along the lines of 'you're a bitch', 'you don't sound like a good friend' etc, and i hope you'll understand when i don't respond to these posts. Because i know i'm not a bitch, and i'm trying to be a good friend, which is why i'm seeking advice.

Whenever she visits, she normally stays with her parents (who live around the corner from me), but they're doing a house swap thing this Christmas with a couple from Ireland.

I love spending time with my friend. Just not long periods of time in my house. And i can't go to hers because of DD's special needs.

I'm a bit of a clean freak, and sometimes get anxious easily, so her bad habits are probably a bigger deal to me than a normal/sane person.

I'd appreciate any advice on how to get through the weekend. I honestly don't think i can just grin and bear it again. I've tried talking to her, and she just shrugs it off and tells me not to be so uptight and boring.

Sorry if this has offended anyone. I'm prepared for a heap of biscuits getting hurled at me, but I'd prefer some constructive replies. I'm a bit weepy about this so hope no one's too harsh.

OP posts:
AlienRefucksLooksLikeSnow · 18/12/2012 14:52

Yes, to the inflateable bed, and if she asks why, don't lie about a bad back, tell her! She broke the last one, didn't help you replace it, and there's no way you can afford another new bed!

AlienRefucksLooksLikeSnow · 18/12/2012 14:52

You sound really nice OP, but your requests/concerns are not unreasonable, don't let her make you think they are :)

Toughasoldboots · 18/12/2012 14:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BluelightsAndSirens · 18/12/2012 14:55

What sort of customers visit your home op?

This is getting weirder as it goes along, don't be her feeder, provide meals and some nibbles and then keep everything else out of sight or don't buy it until she has gone, no one needs their own cupboard of food on top of curry, fry up, baguettes and a roast!

Atthewelles · 18/12/2012 14:55

There's no way I'd let someone like that stay in my house. She sounds disgusting.

Mumbelievable · 18/12/2012 14:56

Thanks, Alien. I'll text her just now to let her know that's where she'll likely be kipping.

You've all been a great help and made me feel less stressed. Thanks. Smile

OP posts:
Mumbelievable · 18/12/2012 14:57

Hi, bluelights, i do laundry/ironing and sewing. So it's customers dropping things off and picking things up. But i don't work over weekends.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 18/12/2012 14:59

I would run her a bath with lots of nice smelly bath foam and just tell her you have run her a nice hot bath.

Tell her you aren't sleeping well at the moment and are up a lot in the night so have bought her a camping mattress - £10 from Argos or I got mine from Tesco direct.

WRT to her smell lingering - just open all the windows for ten minutes once she has gone.

Tbh I'm not sure I could be friends with someone who stank my house out, rifled through my cupboards and had dire personal hygiene no matter how sportive she was! Confused

theoriginalandbestrookie · 18/12/2012 15:01

Did she know that she had broken the bed last time? If so what was her reaction - I'm assuming it wasn't terribly well, apologetic.

Yes phone her and let her know she will be on an airbed. I find them terribly uncomfortable btw so I would imagine she will not enjoy it. Are you prepared for her to cajole and blackmail you into swapping beds?

I know you want to be a good host, but I would feel obliged to say something like
"Sorry dear guest, but last time you stayed you broke my bed. I cannot afford to buy another one so you must sleep on the airbed or go home"

Oh and the riffling through your cupboards. You are not being in the slightest bit precious. My cupboards are messy but I would be very stabby if a guest took it upon themselves to raid through them and chuck stuff everywhere, instead of asking for a snack.

valiumredhead · 18/12/2012 15:04

Rifling through cupboards is just plain rude btw unless you are making a cup of tea and just looking for tea bags!

Bunbaker · 18/12/2012 15:07

Unless she is exceptionally tall a size 24 probably would be classed as morbidly obese.

I don't think you are being uptight at all. I wouldn't want a house guest with grubby hands going through my food cupboards. Your friend's habits would be totally unacceptable for me to keep a friendship going.

maddening · 18/12/2012 15:50

Do your week's shopping on Monday after she has gone - only have enough in for the weekend.

Make one of your activities swimming with dd - forces a shower.

Get a mattress protector or an inflatable bed for her ( I have an aerobed which has an integral electric pump and is a full height kingsize - useful for future too.

hermioneweasley · 18/12/2012 16:08

Erm, washing your hands after going to the loo isn't "boundaries". I could survive if I farted in front of an old friend - hey, these things happen, but i Woukdn't think, "now i'm with mumbelievable I can really let my hair down and neglect the most basic principles of hygiene. Brilliant"

Out of interest, what did she say when she broke your bed?

Also, there was definitely a thread earlier this year about a friend with BO and terrible wind who ate the OP out of house and home. I can't believe there are 2 of these people. Perhaps you are both friends with her.

WhereYouLeftIt · 18/12/2012 16:09

"Do your week's shopping on Monday after she has gone - only have enough in for the weekend."
And tell her that what's in the fridge/cupboards is for the meals, not one of her Scooby Snacks. Seriously, that's a hell of a lot of food she's ploughing through. If she wants more she can take a trip down to the shops and pay for it herself. And no, that would not make you a bad hostess she is a bad guest.

Pomtastic · 18/12/2012 16:25

She sounds like 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea'.

zzzzz · 18/12/2012 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PessaryPam · 18/12/2012 16:55

Get a mattress and pillow protector and make sure the duvet is washable if you are going to have the dirty cow to stay. I can't bear dirty, smelly people, it's bad enough when they wash and then put on sweaty clothes. BO makes me gag.

Salmotrutta · 18/12/2012 17:03

Yes, PessaryPam - but I asked OP upthread and apparently she has never posted about this before.

So there must be two very smelly friends who eat people's cupboards bare.

Salmotrutta · 18/12/2012 17:04

Sorry - I meany "Yes, zzz etc."!! Blush

Salmotrutta · 18/12/2012 17:05

I meany??

I meant

I give up.

PessaryPam · 18/12/2012 17:12

LOL Salmo!

Toughasoldboots · 18/12/2012 17:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EuroShagmore · 18/12/2012 17:15

I thought I'd read about this before too.

Anyway, I couldn't have someone like that staying in my home, sleeping in my bed and rifling through my cupboards. I just couldn't.

YoucanringmySleighBells · 18/12/2012 17:17

I also think this is familiar...didn't the the similar thread end in the Op getting a toasting for not supporting the friend?

FivesGoldNorks · 18/12/2012 17:19

I don't remember the thread but the OP of this one does seem supportive