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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I not taking a hint from a friend or AIBU

157 replies

bbsamsmam · 20/04/2017 10:45

DH and I are very good friends with another couple, we both grew up with the guy from primary school and he moved 3 hours away when he was 16 but we've stayed in touch since. We got married, he married a girl from where he is now and we both have young children, they're god parents to our eldest and vice versa, we've been on big holidays together, go away for weekends together ect (you get the picture) all was the same until last august we were all talking about booking a big Christmas holiday to the Caribbean. They are a lot better off than us financially but we try our best to keep up when they want to be a bit more extravagant (but do say no if we can't go) so went along looking for holidays with them. We told them from the start our budget was about half of what there's was and that I'm big on xmas so would fly any day Boxing Day or afterwards but didn't want to be gone for xmas day, time wise didn't matter to them so we agreed to try to find a happy medium. It took weeks of back and forthing when they came up with a holiday that was more there budget than ours and which also flew 3 days before Christmas and didn't get back until after the new year. DH said that Christmas was a deal breaker for me but he liked the hotel they found so would look for other dates and get back to them. I spoke to her 2 days later to arrange a day out meeting with the kids and I said we can finally get this holiday sorted as well and she was like oh... he's already booked ours? Did I not know? She was under the impression that when he spoke to my DH about the deal he found that he told him he was going to go with it but that's not how it was left our end. Anyway my DH got a bit peed off and said for me to make my excuses for the meet up as he was annoyed with them. We eventually met up child free a few weeks later for a night out just the 4 of us and there was no atmosphere or tension or anything, everything was fine but that's over 6 months ago and we haven't seen them since? Which is very unusual! I send her kids little gifts all the time, sent a big Halloween hamper as I felt bad I wouldn't see the girls to give them any sweets, sent valentines gifts and cards to the girls (which we usually do for each other's kids) but received nothing for my DCs, sent her youngest a birthday present, let her know it was on its way and when I checked to see had it got there she said oh yes we did receive a rocking horse a couple of days who but didn't know if it was from you or someone else who said they were sending something. I speak to her every other week at least and try to arrange a meet up but there's always an excuse. I spent £45 on an egg hamper for her kids at Easter and she sent a little egg each for mine. I'm not being ungrateful at all, if it had been that on its own I wouldn't have even noticed but with everything else it's stood out to me.
The only thing it could be other than the holiday is Christmas presents. They sent mine presents before they left but I haven't sent theirs yet as they're much too big and heavy to post (a big Costco doll house and all accessories for it) which is why I've been so desperately trying to arrange a meet up to give it to them! But I think it was the holiday that kicked it all off as normally we'd have met up loads before Christmas. I didn't get a birthday card which I always do, Yesterday was our anniversary and they always send flowers and a card and this time they didn't even send a text. Its not about what they're not sending, if they would agree to meet up it'd put my mind at rest that everything's okay but what's bothering me is that's right now it's all one sided. It's their anniversary in 2 weeks and normally I'd send flowers and a card but am I just making a fool of myself pushing myself on them when they're looking very disinterested in us? But then I don't want to seem petty for not doing what I'd normally do in case there's other reasons for their distancing themselves from us? I'm upset about it as they are our closest friends and DH is getting more annoyed with them and telling me not to bother but I'm not like that? What should I do? I don't want to out and ask them if there's a problem as I know they'll say no regardless? AIBU to be thinking like this?

OP posts:
bbsamsmam · 20/04/2017 13:03

I don't know if there's any underlying reason they're being cool with us, she hasn't said anything at all that would make me think so.

TBH I'm mentally exhausted after posting this I feel like I've had a row with her already haha I hate confrontation if I'm honest that's why I'm avoiding the subject with her. I'll call her tomorrow and try to arrange another meet up with her again, hopefully she doesn't have an excuse and we can clear the air face to face

Thanks for all the responses

OP posts:
CardinalCat · 20/04/2017 14:27

Re your thread title- YANBU, but neither are you taking the huge neon lighted hint. I think they want to back off a bit, and from how you describe the relationship, that is probably wise.

expatinscotland · 20/04/2017 14:44

I'd back off, not call her and try to arrange another meet up. All the gifts, the to'ing and fro'ing over the holidays, the going out is knackering me just reading it.

I'd follow their lead and cool things off. Sell the dollhouse.

And branch out, start getting other friends.

MrsELM21 · 20/04/2017 14:53

Just to be clear, this holiday was last Christmas? They ended up going but you didn't go? They gave your kids Christmas presents but you haven't given them theirs (I don't think that this is a massive deal by the way) and they haven't really had much to do with you since they came back from the holiday even though you used to do loads of things together?

You're still sending all of these gifts but they're not really participating now?

All sounds like it was extremely intense to me and a bit much, they're obviously trying to pull back for some reason. Awkward but you're never going to find out unless you ask...

DestinationSofa · 20/04/2017 15:05

Your husband is really petty telling you not to meet up with her ! What has that got to do with anything.
I would ask her directly if you have done something to upset her cos txt or phone not calling to try and meet up again !

KC225 · 20/04/2017 15:12

Yesterday, I had a box delivered from England to Sweden 20 kilos cost me 23 quid via Parcel monkey. Box was collected from the sending address. Could have sent a 20 quid Easter Egg basket and the Christmas presents.

Could it have anything to do with your pregnancy. Did they want another one. Think you will all be out of synch now you will have a newborn.

I agree with the other who have said pick up the phone and ask if anything is wrong as you feel things are a little off kilter at the moment.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 20/04/2017 15:30

OP, you sound genuine and lovely, I don't wish to be unkind, but it sounds like that ship has sailed ...

Allthebestnamesareused · 20/04/2017 15:39

When I rad your post it sounded to me like your DH had said that he'd look at holidays that meant you would join them after Christmas so I wasn't surprised that they had booked theirs.

Maybe in their heads they thought the same so were then surprised/miffed when you didn't book to join them at the same place but just a few days later.

I suspect also they may have assumed that as there were "no presents" for their kids then that meant presents weren't happening anymore. Did you make it clear and have you made it clear since that the Christmas presents are waiting?

I suspect its all just a bit of bad communication. Ask if they are free next bank hols to visit?

UrsulaPandress · 20/04/2017 15:43

I can't get past you buying a rocking horse and having it delivered. Sounds like a bloody expensive present to me.

PuffinNose · 20/04/2017 15:52

First off, if your friendship is so dependent on presents that you seriously think it would crumble because you didn't send a Christmas gift then I would question whether it was a friendship anyway.
Secondly, that is a whole load of presents you're sending. On the one hand it's nice that you are thinking of them but it's very overwhelming. I'd struggle with a friend who even if it was well intentioned sent expensive halloween presents and valentines cards etc. Too much. Could they see it as overbearing? If thry sent it, then I'd feel obliged (rightly or wrongly) to send something back and it would just fet too much.
Thirdly, just send a text if you don't want to speak to her and ask. Jyst say something like "hi. I still have your kid's Christmas present here. I'd better get it to you before they get too old for it! I know I shouldn't habe bought it without knowing how I'd get it to you - lesson learned - bit I think they'll love it. Do you fancy meeting up and we can go for a coffee too? I just wanted to check everything is ok with you. You seem a bit off recently?". If she replies with "all ok. A bit busy to meet right now" then you should just suck up the courier cost to get the present to her (making it clear who it is from) and wait for her to contact you. If she doesn't or is stand offish when she does then you have your answer.

Enidblyton1 · 20/04/2017 15:57

This relationship sounds v similar to several long distance relationships I have. We send the odd present (bday and Christmas - but not Easter and Halloween!) and then meet up occasionally because we live far from each other. BUT there is little communication inbetween.

Therefore it's easy to jump to conclusions. Your friends might not be deliberately ignoring you - they might have stuff going on in their lives. It's only been a few months since you saw them. If you never call for a chat how would you know what is going on in their lives?
Just call them...
I might take my own advice now Wink

AliceKlar · 20/04/2017 16:10

I know you don't like confrontation (lots of people don't). So if the thought of calling is too nerve-wracking could you email her and just explain things as you have done on here. Ask her if there's a problem and if so, is there a solution to it and things sorted out?

I'd not want to lose a good friendship and just not respond. Any call or email needs to be clear though - not "We haven't seen each other for ages, anyone would think we've fallen out " etc.

I hope you can all find a new way of starting up the friendship again (maybe minus the anniversary, valentines gifts etc, which sound a bit OTT.)

AnotheBloodyChinHair · 20/04/2017 16:20

The whole gifting thing sounds incredibly suffocating to me.

How did you send the rocking horse?

I'm just miffed that you could send the rocking horse but not the dolls house? It would probably cost no more than a tenner with Collect Plus.

I think you both had different priorities in terms of your holidays and it got to a point where they no longer wanted to compromise. That's fair enough. I do think they should have told you though but I agree with PP that your husband's reaction was puerile.

daisychain01 · 20/04/2017 16:31

Reading your updates and the original issue re the holiday, I agree with greyponcho that, whatever your DH agreed or didn't agree about the holiday, it was mixed messages to do all the gifting when previously the theme was not having budget to spare as your friends. Either you have money or you don't, it seems confusing and inconsistent.

It may also have come across as overcompensating, by showering them and their DC with gifts.

I would find it too 'full-on' if it were me...

paulapantsdown · 20/04/2017 17:23

You buy these people more gifts than I buy my own husband and kids!

MatildaTheCat · 20/04/2017 17:40

I think they are scared of you. It's so intense and try hard all this competitive gifting. Email her and say you feel awful that you still have the Christmas presents and can you meet up to have a day out and give the gifts? See how she responds.

Then I suggest you ask her if she agrees it's become rather too much and you will scale back to a sensible budget birthday and Christmas gift for each child and that's it ?

It's nothing to do with wealth or means. It's almost scary to be so swamped with gifts and these are the sorts of items that parents want to purchase themselves. The other hampers is just beyond my experience and I find it weird...I suspect they do, too.

pictish · 20/04/2017 17:59

I agree...the gifting is so full on it's bordering on possessive. I'd be very uncomfortable with a friend doing this. I'd feel like they were trying to buy me or force a sense of obligation to them.

The rocking horse and the doll's house with ALL the accessories are big presents...the sort of presents that parents buy for their own beloved children. If you really think this is an appropriate and fairly inconsequential gift for someone else's kid, I dread to think the material stash your kids are sitting on!

The Halloween hamper because you felt bad you wouldn't see their kids to give them sweets...why did you feel bad? They're not your kids - why would you care if they've got sweets at Halloween?

The Easter hamper - that is shit scary. One modest egg for each as a token gesture if you really feel you must...otherwise NO!

"I send her kids little gifts all the time"
Why? Why do you do this?

Seriously...calm yourselves down to a frenzy and stop with the gift weirdness now.

dustarr73 · 20/04/2017 18:05

The Christmas holiday, shouldn't be a big surprise. The title is a giveaway. You didn't want to go away at Christmas, they did.So they booked it.Did you expect them to miss a great deal because you didn't want to go the same dates.

They didn't cool the friendship your dh did that when he told you not too meet her.Plus the 2 hampers you have sent,pls the countless gifts could have paid for the dollshouse to be sent by private jet.

fiorentina · 20/04/2017 18:16

I think got fed up with all the faffing around the holiday, wanted to be away for Christmas abroad and the fact they went ahead and booked should have made that clear. I'm sorry but I think you need to back off and perhaps find some friends where it not all about 'stuff' and about having fun together?

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 20/04/2017 18:21

I would take a step back and stop calling and pushing it - just to god yourself a bit of of headspace OP

Just Decide that you are not going to think and stress about it for a a while and focus on something nicer and other friends

It does sound like they are cooling it a bit and I don't think pushing it will achieve much .

It's very hurtful and it might be salvageable - but you need to take a step back and stop feeling so hurt by it all - as the more
Upset you feel the less it can be salvaged if that makes sense

Let them come to
You

stella23 · 20/04/2017 18:34

I think presents aside, there were some crossed wires re the holiday and I think your dh handled it badly by cancelling a meet up and now you are getting the cold shoulder

MrsMoastyToasty · 20/04/2017 18:35

I was wondering if they are not as well off as you believe- possibly overstretching themselves with the holiday - and are trying to cut back on things like presents without actually saying it out loud.

Allthewaves · 20/04/2017 18:41

I'd say they r narked that u made excuses and put them off after they had told u they had booked the holiday - comes across as very passive aggressive. Then there's not getting xmas presents to them. It's nearly may

jelliebelly · 20/04/2017 18:53

FFS just pick up the phone and ask what's going on - I'm exhausted just reading it all.

MuffinMaiden · 20/04/2017 19:44

Kind of sounds like your DH and hers have fallen out over something to me. Her DH is probably telling her not to bother just as your DH is to you, and she's listened to him but has no idea why so is being non-commital without being a bitch.

Or maybe they feel like you couldn't be bothered to come with them on holiday rather than realising they were not compromising?

Either way, you either cut them off or just ask what's going on.

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