Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To contact someone who made my life hell a decade ago

90 replies

takeiteasybuttakeit · 23/09/2017 09:30

I was very very good friends with someone in the past (more than ten years ago): we spent millenium new years eve together in a small group, I cooked the meal for her hen party, I was one of the first people she told when she was pregnant etc. We had a big circle of mutual friends including two of her sisters, both of whom I was close to. Her husband was always a bit 'off' with me, and then 10 years ago she came to me and said we could no longer be friends as she 'knew' what had happened between her dh and me. Turns out he had said that I had asked him to have sex with me ('do you fancy a shag' was the exact wording). This was so unlikely that when I told my dh he just laughed. I found it sort of funny but deeply upsetting that someone could just make up something about me, and it had pretty horrible repercussions (read on!).
I was so appalled and confused that my dh contacted him to talk it through and tell him he must have been mistaken (he cited a time and place that it happened which would have been impossible as I wasn't even in the country at the time). Anyway, the other man pretty nastily kept contacting my dh to insist it was true. His contact with my dh became pretty weird and my dh ended up changing his email address and blocking this person on his phone. I decided to let it go as my dh was getting really incensed about it and not sleeping and it felt like there was nothing much we could do.
Thankfully my dh knew there was no way it could have happened, although I hate to think what might have happened if he had believed it. Although it was clearly a pretty outrageous lie, the friend and her extended circle stopped being friends with us and that was that. I tried to talk it through with one of the sisters who just said that family loyalties had to come first, and the friend's BIL who I had been very close to for years (he is how I met them in the first place) told me that this guy was completely arrogant and may have told the lie to his dw in an argument that then got out of control.
Well the upshot was I lost a whole circle of friends due to the 'family loyalty' but I got over it eventually with time and am fine now. I never saw the couple again. BUT it eats away at me that this man could come up with such an outrageous lie and attempt to mess with my marriage in this way as well as ride roughshod over my friendships let alone my feelings. I really feel like writing to him or his wife and telling them that. It has arisen again as next September my ds is likely going to be going to the same school as their dcs and I am worried about running into them. AIBU to contact them or AIBU to be concerned about my ds going to that school to the extent that now I'm wondering about finding another school for him? It seems so unfair that this one person's mindless actions might continue to have such an impact on my life.

OP posts:
Tameagobairanois · 23/09/2017 10:35

yes takeiteasybuttakeit the friend I told, she and her then fiance were about to buy a house (although they hadn't actually bought one). I think she just thought this show is on the road and it was easier to cut me out and demonise me than to go back to the drawing board and start looking again......... Also, her fiance hated me. I was unapologetic about being single, iyswim, and he definitely thought that all single women were staying single so they could shag around. Hence he came on to me and then basically called me a slag. Confused

Wonders71 · 23/09/2017 10:38

Don't get in touch! If you see them walk tall and ignore them you know the truth!

takeiteasybuttakeit · 23/09/2017 10:38

Serialweightwatcher that is a terrifying scenario. As I said upthread my son has ASD and I'm really worried about him in secondary as he'll be moving from a very small primary where I've put in huge amount of time in the school to help his social skills and smooth his friendships along by me getting to know other parents more than I think I would have had to if he didn't have his particular issues. The school we intended him to go to would I think suit him from a lot of perspectives but I can't bear the idea that there might be hostility to him or us from this couple. Grrr. it is totally infuriating.

OP posts:
takeiteasybuttakeit · 23/09/2017 10:42

So - if you're still reading - I guess my AIBU is really: AIBU to send my ds who has ASD to a school where there may be a hostile atmosphere due to some nasty parents?!

OP posts:
takeiteasybuttakeit · 23/09/2017 10:45

Tameagobairanois very similar scenario then, in terms of the friend. Like I said, this one practically told me that if I was telling the truth I was wrecking her marriage and endangering her dcs' future. So I became the scapegoat and was ultimately disposable because if I stayed in the frame it would muddy things between them.

OP posts:
ProverbialOuthouse · 23/09/2017 10:47

When I was 18 I became friends with a 26 year old neighbour. Things were fine at first but all of a sudden she turned on me, came battering on my door threatening to "kick my cunt in" (classy!) and told all the neighbours that I abused and neglected my dog and child. Social services came around after a report that my child was in danger. She called me a "smelly cow" in front of all the neighbours and the rest of the street (council estate) turned against me too. My life was made absolute hell.

15 years later and I'm a much better place. Married, good career, high household income, 4 bed detached house in lovely area and 3 holidays abroad each year. When she knew me I was an unemployed single teen parent so a world away from what I became. I found her on Facebook last year and sent her a friend request - just out of morbid curiosity more than anything else. She's now in her 40s, single parent to 3 kids, unemployed on a council estate. Kids dad is in prison, her eldest son is constantly being arrested and she's still making friends and influencing people (read: falling out with everyone she meets) on her estate. She looked through my photos and sent me a message saying "I might be wrong but do I know you from X estate, around 15 years ago?". I replied "yes, that's me". She replied "oh, thought so but you seem so different ... "

I wanted to reply "I am, shame I can't say the same about you" but I kept my dignity and replied "thank you, I'll take it as a compliment".

Am I glad things turned out shit for her? Absolutely. Karma well and truely restorered - bitch :-)

Serialweightwatcher · 23/09/2017 10:47

I just think it's worth considering how it will all pan out, because they're obviously unpleasant, and from the communications between your DH and hers, he seems particularly unhinged by the sound of it ... he knows he was lying and he would have to keep that going by making anyone and everyone who'd listen believe you did what he says you did - very worrying for you - good luck

Nazdarovye · 23/09/2017 10:50

I might have misunderstood it but it sounds like you talked to everybody involved in this "scandal" except the man who accused you. Have you ever asked him why he said what he said? Did you ever have an honest, private conversation with him and ask him why he had to spread lies about you?
I wouldn't contact this couple at all. What would you tell them? Ignore them completely, after all they cut you out of their life. You'll never be friends again and any communication with them would be awkward. Avoid them like the plague.

Mummyoflittledragon · 23/09/2017 10:52

Is there another relatively local school, which is well equipped for people with ASD? As he's diagnosed, he will get priority.

shooeghMcFee · 23/09/2017 10:56

I agree with the others who say ignore her. If you see her just act like you don't recognise her. This is crazy but I promise something similar happened to me many years ago too. My then friends boyfriend lied to her and said I had made a pass at him (I hadn't!).

I think that some people are so jealous of any relationship their partner has that they try to isolate them away from friends/family.

Your ex-friend made her choices many years ago and poor fool her.

takeiteasybuttakeit · 23/09/2017 11:01

Nazdarovye I might have misunderstood it but it sounds like you talked to everybody involved in this "scandal" except the man who accused you. Have you ever asked him why he said what he said? Did you ever have an honest, private conversation with him and ask him why he had to spread lies about you?

Yes, I did. I asked him if he really thought I said that, is there a chance he misheard, and if there was a chance he made a mistake, could he please say so as it would resolve everything. He had had some psychotic episodes when young, so I told his wife the story about a man accusing my Dad of coming on to his wife who was later diagnosed with a mental illness. The man in my scenario then wrote us an email saying that my castigating doubt on his mental well-being just demonstrated my guilt 'to those of us on this side of the fence' and that my dh was 'a good man' to whom he wished no ill, but that I had sadly shown my true colours. Nice!

OP posts:
Tameagobairanois · 23/09/2017 11:03

Takeit, from what you've said, I think this woman will be far more awkward and embarrassed to meet you than you will be to meet her. You're over the pain, but awkwardness and embarrassment borne out of being a shit never unwrinkles in the same way that pain and upset does, imo, so i think the chances are that this woman will crash in to a doorway to avoid you before she'd walk right up to you and say hello.

I'd send your son to that school if you think it's the best school for him, at secondary school there isn't too much school gate stuff.

If anybody knows you were friends, cheerfully announce ''our paths haven't crossed for over a decade though!'' that way everybody knows that all gossip is at least ten years out of date.

takeiteasybuttakeit · 23/09/2017 11:06

Maybe I should write to the wife and say I've been so concerned about her all these years since her dh made up that crazy story and effectively stopped our friendship. Now that my dc will be in the same school as hers, I want her to know that, speaking from a place of friendship, if she ever needs to escape from him, I'm here for her as I know only too well how dangerous he is. My dc is looking forward to starting school there, and I look forward to the other parents welcoming us and him.

OP posts:
EBearhug · 23/09/2017 11:10

AIBU to send my ds who has ASD to a school where there may be a hostile atmosphere due to some nasty parents?!

If it's the school you think will be best for him, go ahead. They may be a problem, but it's not at all definite; you may end up having to deal with other difficult parents you haven't even met yet. Or it may be really great for your son. You just can't know, but if it's a good school, they should be able to work through things with you, whatever challenges you have ahead.

KeepServingTheDrinks · 23/09/2017 11:13

takeiteasybuttakeit
Don't suppose there's any revenge I can take is there? Yes, as PPs have said it's living well and not showing any hurt. Revenge is a dish best served cold!

RE your son's school. I don't have a child with SN, but I have a DD at secondary school (yr 11) and I work in primary schools and part of my role is supporting the transition to secondary for the Yr 6s. So, fwiw, my opinion is that you should base your decision for your child's school entirely on what will suit him best.

Secondaries are VERY different to primary - there isn't that whole playground culture for a start. Parents are just in and around school as much.
As a parent, I might go to school on 4 occasions over the year (max). [I do go more, but that's in my work role when I'm supporting other parents] Typically you get one parents evening, and there'll be 2 or 3 events (like a winter fayre or something) and maybe a couple of performances if your child does music or drama.
As the parent of an SEN child, you might be in school more for meetings, but you won't see other parents and they won't see you.

Your child is likely to make friends and you'll rarely (if ever) meet their parents.

So EVEN if this 'gossip' follows into secondary, most parents won't be aware of it and if school gets to hear about it, they won't care a button.

Parents evenings are really hectic, so you don't get much opportunity to talk to other parents when you're there.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry to much about contact with this other family, and just concentrate on what's going to be best for your child. And this is what I mean about taking revenge as well, because if you end up choosing a school you think will meet his needs less adequately, then they've "won", haven't they. and you'll hate yourself if he doesn't thrive in the other school when he could have gone to this one.

KeepServingTheDrinks · 23/09/2017 11:18

Maybe I should write to the wife and say I've been so concerned about her all these years since her dh made up that crazy story and effectively stopped our friendship. Now that my dc will be in the same school as hers, I want her to know that, speaking from a place of friendship, if she ever needs to escape from him, I'm here for her as I know only too well how dangerous he is. My dc is looking forward to starting school there, and I look forward to the other parents welcoming us and him.

I really wouldn't do this. It could backfire on you (what if she shows him the letter and he [or worse - she] accuses you of trying to split up a happy relationship?). If she does need support and an escape, then let the friendship re-ignite naturally over time and then be of support to her if she wants it. But you've making an assumption to think this may be the case.

kateandme · 23/09/2017 11:20

id try not to bring it up.what if this got their dc to act on behalf of parents side and though he wouldn't have already then bully your own dc.whereas if its left nothing may come of it.
they might not want to remember it.they probably remember something that long ago very differently so might blank you or want to completely swish over it.and though again this isa bit of a hit for your hurting its might be better than if they did worse stuff and cruel actions due to you bringing up these times.they might seek to defend or spread something else or worse. at least if they are blasay about it then you can be the bigger person too.
they have hrut you once ont let them do it again.nor impact the dcs.
also remember their dc and urs are innocent in all of this.dont make them(which they will be) be brought into something if it kicks off.
work out prhaps a plan if it does come up.how you will help dc.
work out little mantras in ur head if you see them.go to your happy place."you screwed me once It aint happening again"
your happy no.
you have other moments in your past that has hurt you. do you bring them up to hurt all over again?so don't let this.all that changed is the resurfacing of a few faces,meanigless faces to the good life you hae now.
you have gotten through this.dont be drawn back.they are meaningless to the amazing support of your dh an the future yo uwant you all to live in.
might be right tha tthey could get away with seemingly acting as idiots.but people never do.in order for someont to do hurt inside them has to have some kind of dark matter.ie there worse for it in the end.
xx

JonSnowsWife · 23/09/2017 11:21

Don't suppose there's any revenge I can take is there?

As someone once said to me. "The best revenge is to live life well".

Summerswallow · 23/09/2017 11:25

Do not write to them! Everyone on this thread has told you this- why are you still saying you want to write?!

All you are doing by writing is poking the hornets nest again. Even if the wife now knows her husband is a shit and you were right, she won't want reminding of it. People are irrational. They all chose-not you! Don't cause a reactivation of all the feud just before your child starts secondary school.

Find some other way to release your anger/annoyance- therapy, writing a letter and ripping it up, just punching a pillow with his face imagined on it, but please don't stir it all up again, it doesn't sound like your son is well positioned to deal with any fall out- better that they don't actually connect you all for a while while hopefully he establishes friendships.

Viviennemary · 23/09/2017 11:25

Have nothing to do with these two troublemakers. Pretend you don't remember who they are and walk away.

Summerswallow · 23/09/2017 11:26

Also- secondary doesn't necessarily have a big culture of parental involvement, unless you want to join the PTA. I don't go into my children's school almost at all- except for parents evening, so it's unlikely you will see them often.

kateandme · 23/09/2017 11:29

without all this would you think this is the best shool? if so take them out of the equation still because it might never happen.
and like with all SN there is likely to be more you come up again besides them simply by the day to day nature of it.so concentrate onwaht you can do for him now.
if for some horrid reason it does come up and become unbarable.then decide.then work with school or leave.
but right now if you've looked into this being the best school.it might be great.
plus there are lots of people mingling together.many will beelive gossip many many wont.dont focus on the ones that do.surround yourself with the good life and friends you have now.
don't let your dc pick up on any of these worries.not knowing the situ right now he will just see you being worried every time school comes up.and will sense it.

takeiteasybuttakeit · 23/09/2017 11:31

KeepServingTheDrinks thanks for sharing your experience and insights. Yes, I do think it would be a good school for my ds, not sure about the 'best' as I imagine that depends on how puberty affects him etc., I do see that parents are less involved in secondary but the ex-friend seems very involved in the PA and so on and has an older child there so I'd be going into her world to some degree.
No, I won't write to her, and I do understand the thing about a life lived well but there is no moving on from the fact that my memories of the early years with my first baby and my pregnancy are a bit tinged as those friends were such a part of it, and that we (my family) went through a pretty shitty time due to the nasty actions of that individual. It made me realise that the schtick about friends being like family you choose is (thankfully in a way) not always true. But thanks all, I'm now re-appreciating my lovely dh.

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 23/09/2017 11:35

Definitely do not write to her please. It will be bad for your mental health. Nothing good can come of it. If she is still under his control, he will use it against you and you and your ds will suddenly be in the foreground when with any luck, you should just be a faded memory of their past. If she wishes to escape, she has family, such as the sil you mentioned to help her. This is not your family as they made you painfully aware. This is not your fight.

takeiteasybuttakeit · 23/09/2017 11:43

Mummyoflittledragon yes, thanks. I'll just have to go back to thinking I was collateral damage in their melodrama and be grateful I'm not mixed up with anything to do with that man and thankful for my life. I guess I'll just have to be super formally polite every time I bump into them and then go for a big walk/swim/shower to get over it.

OP posts: