Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not tell her when I have my baby?

17 replies

whatshouldido1923 · 06/12/2016 20:07

I have known M for approx 12 years. At one point, she was the person I considered my best friend. However, as time went on, I found her to be extremely hard work, self-absorbed, patronising and negative. There are many, many examples I could give but it would take too long. Whenever we met, she would pretty much dominate the conversation, usually about her ex-boyfriend. I'm happy to discuss him but this went on for years and basically nothing I ever said was right. She is very much one of these people that bemoans her life (fed up of being single, overweight, her job, no friends, no hobbies, etc) but would do nothing about it. As awful as it sounds, I have felt obligated to maintain the friendship out of guilt as I'm her literally her only friend but over the years, I have dwindled contact and meet ups. I'm really not an awful person but she had no one else.

Anyway, the final straw came when back in the summer, she was texting quite a bit about meeting for cocktails. After the third text (I had been replying to the first few) I decided to bite the bullet and tell her that I was pregnant so couldn't drink alcohol. I was only 8 weeks at the time and had only told both sets of parents and siblings after a private scan. So I rung her and told her. Her response: Oh great, another friendship that's ruined then. When I asked her what she meant, she said that I'd be too absorbed in the baby to see her anymore. She then asked if it was planned...yes it was....Are you happy about it....well, yes clearly. She then spent another ten minutes rather aggressively questioning if I would be finding out the sex (no), her telling me that was stupid as I should find out so I can buy pink or blue things, asking if I had a preference for a boy or girl (no, I really don't, as long as baby is healthy) implied that I was lying because EVERYONE has a preference Hmm. Her mother, who I know to say hello to when I see her, sounded thrilled for me and offered her congratulations. I then wanted to finish the conversation as DP was coming back to the car from the supermarket. M gave a half-hearted 'congrats' just before we hung up. I'm not expecting a fanfare and confetti every time I tell someone I'm pregnant but for the person who I've known the longest, that was the worst response I've had and honestly, I was quite upset and annoyed. We haven't been in contact since.

My baby is due early next year. DP thinks I should give her one more chance. My question is, should I contact her after the baby is born to tell her? AIBU to not want to bother anymore?

OP posts:
Champagneformyrealfriends · 06/12/2016 20:11

I'd just include her in whatever Non-family announcement eg Facebook, announcement text/cards etc. I wouldn't deliberately not tell her but I wouldn't single her out as a special friend anymore.

LillyBugg · 06/12/2016 20:11

I really wouldn't bother. What do you get out of this 'friendship'?

Kpo58 · 06/12/2016 20:12

If you aren't getting anything out of your friendship (eg someone to share time with, talk about your problems with, etc) and it's all about her, then I see no point in it continuing.

whatshouldido1923 · 06/12/2016 20:18

LillyBugg Nothing, but I just feel guilty because she quite literally has no other friends.

A couple of years ago, she got annoyed with me because I wanted to have the conversation of an early miscarriage I'd recently had in private, not whilst standing in a busy queue in a shop (she couldn't understand why I wouldn't discuss it there and then) Hmm just one of the MANY things I've had to deal with. But like I said, it's out of guilt and obligation.

OP posts:
LostMyBigGirlPants · 06/12/2016 20:28

She must know when your baby is due, so really, I'd leave it up to her to get in touch. I'm just wondering what it will be like though, if she's popping round for a whinge when you're sleep deprived with a newborn. You need a mate who is going to be sensitive and kind; who will offer practical and emotional support, not one who will leave you feeling drained. She sounds as though she could be hyper-critical, too. A friendship should be mutually rewarding - this sounds very one-sided. Don't feel guilty - leave the ball in her court.

whatshouldido1923 · 06/12/2016 20:34

Just to add: I'm not on Facebook so the only way she'd know is if I text her, or the off chance she bumps into my mum.

OP posts:
mamatiger2016 · 06/12/2016 20:46

She sounds like a complete knob, no wonder she has no other friends.

As PP have said, let her know in a general birth announcement but I wouldn't go out of your way to tell her before others.

GeekyWombat · 06/12/2016 20:47

Flowers and Cake for you OP. I totally understand why you're feeling the way you are.

I had something similar happen with my 'best' friend (although the friendship has been one way supportive traffic for at least three years). I had a very difficult last month of pregnancy - both my and DS's life at risk, hospital appointments every day with a view to being admitted and induced at any moment. This all coincided with my friend (who I had been supporting through the 'emotional upheaval' of a break up of a four month relationship for the best part of two years at that point) shutting down her Facebook account in a fit of pique to see if anyone noticed. Usually the only person that would have was me, but I was focused elsewhere and didn't come running over quickly enough. I suddenly realised that I'd not heard from her for a few weeks (usually it was me emailing / texting every day to check she was ok, she never started the conversations) and realised she'd deactivated (again) and I thought to myself 'let's see how long it takes for her to contact me and ask how me and the baby are.

My son was seven weeks old before she did. If she'd been on Facebook she'd have seen the birth notice but as she wasn't she didn't. When she did finally email me she didn't ask me how I was, whether I'd had the baby or anything, it was a link to a piece about narcissistic personalities which (I shit you not) she had decided was relevant because it sounded like her ex.

I feel guilty but I've taken this as a sign to distance myself a bit. In my low moments I do worry about her being alone but my husband points out that if you're a self-absorbed dick that can be why you don't have many friends. Also, if I'm honest, having a baby limits the amount of spare time I have and makes me think very carefully about the people I spend time with. Guilt carries so far but it doesn't make the friendship fun or enriching.

HarryPottersMagicWand · 06/12/2016 20:58

She has no other friends because she is a twat. This is NOT your problem at all. Dont tell her. She clearly wasnt actually happy for you. Ditch her and be happier for it.

Congratulations Flowers

blueturtle6 · 06/12/2016 21:04

Say you will be absorbed by your baby, because it is a little miracle and they are 100% reliant on you and she can either put up with you talking about every little windy smile or shut up.
Congratulation on pregnancy x

stripybluejumper · 06/12/2016 21:04

Congratulations!
Your friend seems totally self absorbed. I had a friend like her and I recently decided that I was better off without her company as I felt drained with all the negative talk! You will need all the energy and positivity during your pregnancy and when your baby arrives! Join some good mother and baby groups where you will receive psychological / social support. I wouldn't waste my time and efforts upon this friend. Best of luck! Smile

FlappysMammyAndPopeInExile · 06/12/2016 21:08

She has no other friends because she is a twat

THIS ^^^

Sometimes there is a reason people have no friends . . .

(And to have a friend, you have to be a friend, and want good for the other person - she clearly doesn't feel liketht about you)

baconandeggies · 06/12/2016 21:08

You're not responsible for her and she's not a true friend. YWNBU not to bother anymore.

HeyRoly · 06/12/2016 21:13

I had a similar friend once. VERY similar. Note past tense.

I had an epiphany one day after a bout of particularly self centred behaviour. I realised I got nothing out of the friendship and she never said or did anything especially nice to me.

I kind of gave up after that. And it might sound awful, but it was kind of a relief.

movpov · 06/12/2016 21:20

There is a reason she has no other friends. Not your problem.

gillybeanz · 06/12/2016 21:32

If you want to help her, just ignore her. Maybe she'll have to start looking at her own shit then, when she has nobody.

Atenco · 06/12/2016 21:42

I have a friend who was a twat and ended up without any friends for a while. Over the years he managed to improve, I think some reflexion was done.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page