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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Warning: Dull and NCT related but help me work it out

70 replies

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/08/2013 08:00

Riiiiggghhhht....DS nearly 9 months

I know I'm lucky - he's a good baby who eats and sleeps well after a rough start. A placid little chunky thing.

He's pretty flexible and I've tried not to be a slave to routine in that he will sleep when out but I do like to have one of his naps at home during the day at least and at least three times a week, we potter about near or at home to let him have quieter days and not get too overtired as now hes a bit bigger and mire interested in things, he diesnt slerp as well shen out and about. He has the reputation in the NCT class as being the "easy" baby - through them observing him snoozing off quite happily etc rather than any boasting by me!

Now to the issue, there is a girl who hasn't made many of the meet ups. Her baby seems to be more "difficult" I can't think of the appropriate word and that is her description she often calls off at the last minute (she must have had at least 6 friends emigrating abroad that she just found out about on the day they were leaving which coincidentally is our meet up day-- no problem - no one's obliged to come.

However, where I'm getting a bit annoyed is that she has asked to meet up with me separately on 4 occasions. The first 3 she has cancelled on the morning of the day. Last Monday, she cancelled due to the fact that she and get DS had a very bad cold. No problem - I just arranged to meet up with two other friends for a coffee. Where it got slightly embarrassing was that whilst we were sitting in the coffee shop window, we saw her walk past. She did a huge double take and looked totally embarrassed. She was with another friend and when we mentioned about the colds and glad to see that she and DS were up and about for a walk, the friend looked a bit Confused. So it was all a bit cringe.

Anyway, she texted me and asked to meet up today. I usually always go to near where she lives (about 6 miles away) to meet up but this time I asked if we could meet near me as that's more convenient for me tiday and I think we should the load of going to meet each other. That's polite, right? We both drive. I've just had a text asking if I can come to her house as her DS is crawling and won't sit still

I'm feeling pissed off. I have to pay for parking where she lives and I don't really want to do a 12 mile round trip for her convenience - I feel everything is done for her convenience and there's never any consideration of mine and DS'. I'm also nearly 20 weeks pregnant again and whilst I'm bit precious about it, I don't really want to lug DS in to her house in his seat. I normally have to park about 500 yards away down a hill (oy on street, paid parking). Prams are not allowed inside but have to be outside in an unsecured bit and I don't really want to have to take DS into the house, go back with the pram and repeat when we leave.

DH thinks she's a piss taker and I should just say no, sorry. Doesn't suit. He's normally quite live and let live. Howrver, he thinks I should just be politely unavailable for any further meet up suggestions. But I don't want to be OTT.

AIBU to follow DH's suggestion or am I actually being unkind and need to appreciate the fact that I should be going out of my way for other people sometimes?

OP posts:
SaucyJack · 19/08/2013 13:04

It's very telling that you haven't even mentioned that you actually like her, or described her as a friend in your OP.

You're not obliged to pretend to be BFFs for the rest of your lives just because you once went to antenatal classes together. Promise!

You clearly have other friends you like and who prioritise your company in return.

Kick her lazy, disrespectful arsehole to the curb, and relax. That's an order.

ENormaSnob · 19/08/2013 13:42

Shes taking the piss.

mnistooaddictive · 19/08/2013 16:30

I would like to state again that this thread is NOT NCT related and the title suggesting it is, is offensive to the many thousands of NCT volunteers across the country who give their time to help others. Sorry OP I understand you didn't mean this, but the NCT has nothing to do with this thread, that lady or her behaviour.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/08/2013 16:39

What on earth?! It is to do with the NCT - it's to do with people met on an NCT course. NCT is simy being used as a descriptive part of the title. To show context and to show that I'm not talking about someone I met at work, for example.

It's quite clear on reading the thread that I am not being offensive or criticising the NCT or its volunteers. If I was I would have said "this is ALL the NCT's fault for putting me in that group". Or my title would say "Shit NCT have ruined my life". Which I haven't. As that would be idiotic.

I'm going on another course in November for DC2 and your post (which apparently purports to be on behalf of outraged NCT volunteers) has quite put me off. And probably anyone else who reading

OP posts:
maja00 · 19/08/2013 16:49

Don't be silly, of course it isn't offensive to NCT volunteers Grin

No more so than threads saying "school gates related social problem" are offensive to everyone who works in schools!

jacks365 · 19/08/2013 16:52

So op how did it go did she meet you near yours or find an excuse to back out?

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/08/2013 17:00

I came on to update but was so cross that I forgot to! Grin

Well - NCT chum oooooh the outrage turned up at 1:30 on the dot and we went for a walk for an hour so that was good

On balance, I think she's a flake but the baby exacerbates that. She kept asking me how I managed to get out of the house etc. Sadly I had no magic advice Grin

I've decided that if I'm free, I'm happy to meet up but I won't reorganise or go out of my way to do so in the future. I'm also going to have firm boundaries about what I will and won't do - I.e I won't go to her every single time. Shots each

TBF - her DH doesn't sound massively helpful and her mum does take the baby for two nights a week so they can spend "couple time".

OP posts:
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/08/2013 17:07

.....At his request, I meant to add.

OP posts:
jacks365 · 19/08/2013 17:13

So her mum comes and does her housework daily and has the baby two nights a week? She really doesn't know how lucky she is but I wonder if its not really helping her build up confidence in herself

usuallyright · 19/08/2013 17:49

I had a friend like this. Note the word 'had'
Ex friend.
Things only happened on her terms, when she wanted, what she wanted etc. she even seemed to have different categories for friends, ie. the inner sanctum who went on European mini breaks, the outer sanctum who met up for lunch and coffee, and the losers she saw if and when she deigned to grace us with her company.
So she became an ex friend cos I can't be arsed with that.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 27/08/2013 07:56

I have to reinvigorate this thread and update re NCT flakey acquaintance!

We did meet up when she came to see me for a walk last week - however, I now realise that I was being groomed to help her with her flexible working request employment lawyer as got a text asking me to help the next day.

Sent a helpful email and then got a text asking me to go to get house today for two hours to discuss further - she would provide lunch. Hadnt replied to that yet as was uhhhmimg and aaahing despite DH telling me not to go. I couldn't and didn't want to go for two hours but was contemplating popping in for 30 mins as she has the meeting tomorrow

I then receive a further text this morning telling me I can't come as she's getting lights put up so there wouldn't be space for DS and me Hmm Confused

Thankful I hadn't agreed to go or rearranged anything today or wasted 2p sending a text about this nonsense.

I know, I know you have all said she is a flake I promise I'm not a troll or making this up and I didn't agree to go anyway but I just need to vent as I might have changed things Grin

Surely, if you know you are having lights put up you don't invite people?! If it's an emergency, then you offer to take that person out for lunch? Not muck them around....again

OP posts:
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 27/08/2013 07:58

Actually, I am turning into one of those posters who gets outraged about things that nearly happened though Grin

OP posts:
hermioneweasley · 27/08/2013 08:10

Ah, that makes sense. She's a user. Cut her off, or more fool you.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 27/08/2013 08:13

Yes - will do. I'm so cross at the moment that I want to chuck in the NCT stuff but that would be silly as (a) she hardly goes; (b) DS and I quite enjoy it; and (c) I know in the scheme of life, that this is not A. Big. Issue.

However, I do feel very cross

OP posts:
tomatoplantproject · 27/08/2013 08:13

I would drop her. She's clearly using you. And actually at 9mo unless there are medical problems (which it doesn't sound like there are) she's being utterly pathetic - dd is same age and we are out and about each day super easily. And she has help every day and time to go out with her dp?!

I'm more in awe of you being 20weeks pregnant and doing this and if you were my mate I'd be making life easier for you not vice versa.

I also think that you get thrown together with Nct people - we meet up each week but we're only recently getting to the stage where true colours are starting to be shown. I'm starting to recognise patterns of behaviour and realising who are the loons and who are the people I'll stay in touch with long term. You don't owe her anything and she's not exactly adding anything to your life is she?

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 27/08/2013 08:25

I was going to send a text saying - "OK. I wasn't sure whether you still needed to discuss post my email. I'm quite tied up today so was going to suggest I try and rearrange a coue of things if you needed to discus so thanks for letting me know pre doing that. See you later" (as we have the NCT meet up today.

On reflection this looks a bit petty and pointed so may go with DH's suggestion - "OK. See you later".

OP posts:
MrsMoffat · 27/08/2013 08:52

God what is it about having babies that makes women feel they must persist in making friends with other mothers despite said other mothers not being at all what you would want in a friend
You are still you, you don't need to associate with anyone just because they have a baby too.
You clearly like doing things yourself, and if you are going back to work I promise this woman and probably the whole nct group will be totally irrelevant when you do.
Just ditch her. Smile politely, be distant, slow to respond to texts and always busy.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 27/08/2013 09:52

No - not going back to work for the time being as I'm having another baby in 19 weeks. But even if I was going back to work and had work to "distract" me from being so "silly" - which your post seems to imply - I still want to sort the issue out no.

They may be irrelevant in years to come. But they may not. Really - nearly any problem will probably be irrelevant in years to come but that doesn't stop making it an issue for the time being. I'd rather deal with it proactively that sit back passively waiting for time to pass

I'm not trying to force a friendship with anyone. I don't want to cause an atmosphere in the group so that precludes me from giving her a few choice words and totally avoiding her which I would do if she was just a random acquaintance unconnected to anything else.

OP posts:
Thaumatrope · 27/08/2013 10:04

Honestly, just send the minimal text. Never apologise, never explain, with people like her. You owe her nothing, no explanation of anything: she would not and does not give you one, so take your lead from her.
If you enjoy the NCT stuff then do it: discount her, don't get involved and have no expectations of her. Don't rearrange anything to accommodate her. SHe isn't worth it!

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 27/08/2013 10:22

thauma - yup. Sent the short text.

I've realised that there's actually no point in getting into wondering whether to say anything.

Will now be constantly busy if she wants to meet up and if I am asked anything else re employment law aaaarggh will just smile nicely and say I'm out to enjoy the walk etc

I think I was just rather irate as Ive never actually met anyone quite so rude!

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