I have known this woman for a few years, been close friends for a couple of years. We met at work but she lives nearby and we've seen a lot of each other outside of work. We've done stuff together with our DH's and our children, who are similar ages.
She's often indicated that she likes me a lot and that our friendship matters to her. She helped me out a lot when I was having a difficult pregnancy last year. I've been a listening and supportive ear when she wanted to talk about some difficult family stuff. After she had her most recent baby she sobbed on my shoulder when things were tough in the early weeks.
She is on maternity leave and I have recently left my job to be a SAHM. As I said, she lives very local to me. You would think that we would see each other sometimes. We were both looking forward to this time and the stuff we would get up to together.
But no. I haven't seen her for nearly 2 months. We have texted and talked on the phone (although that conversation was all about her - she didn't ask me about me). She seems to have replaced me with another couple of newer mummy friends, who (from what I can gather) she has regular weekly meet ups with.
I've asked her over for coffee a couple of times in the 2 months and she always responds enthusiastically but then either can't fit me in or cancels at the last minute.
She has actually invited me to a couple of outings with her new friends but it's always at the last minute as an afterthought with the phrasing "We are going ... You are welcome to join us." Which for some reason makes me feel really cross. I don't want to tag along like a grateful outsider - I want my friend to want to spend time with me iykwim. The way she asks me just makes me feel she's asking me out of pity!
But her most recent text has really upset me. Apparently her time is all booked up until Christmas so she hasn't got time to see me. She actually signed her last text off (a couple of days ago) with 'Have a lovely Christmas.'
Let me re-iterate: she is on mat leave, I'm a SAHM and we live 5 minutes away.
I need to accept it - I've been dumped, haven't I?