To feel 'dumped' by friend?

[PolaDeVeboise]

Friend split up with husband around 3 months ago and has since started a long distance relationship and she goes to see this guy every other weekend when she doesn't have the kids.

For the last 2 years or so, our group of 3 friends have periodically gone out for a late lunch on a Saturday and had a good old catch up and a few ahem sherries, usually till late evening. However, when trying to arrange the next one in January (busy people), she has informed us that she can no longer do Saturdays due as "she sees DP one weekend and has kids the other". I think this reeks of 'dumping pals now she has a new man', however, am I being too precious and 'un-sisterly'?

Hit me with it.....

YANBU, she is NBU, find another way of seeing her. You can't fall out over this.

Saturday is difficult as right in middle of weekend... if she's travelling long distance to see him/him to her, then it impacts on the whole weekend... could you suggest thursday/Sunday evening occasionally instead if a better chance she might make it?

She's prioritising her life. Her new partner and DC are top of her list.

I think it wouldn't hurt you to change the pattern, sounds like she'd still love to meet up but it's going to be hard with her going away a lot- although if I were her I'd take one weekend every couple of months to catch up with friends. Why not do a week night once every six months to ring the changes?

I would make time for my friends, not because I 'need' them in some type of co-dependent way, but because I have a fantastic time with them as well and many of my friendships are long-term. Also, as I've got older I see I can't get everything from one person, not a husband, not a friend, not children either and so finding a way to have all of those things seems more sensible than cutting any out. If you are good friends, you should be able to find a way.

I hope for her sake your friend doesn't end up sheepishly joining you in January following the stressful post-Christmas period break up.
In any case I would have hoped that she could arrange for that weekend that her partner comes down to stay at hers instead of she to his and she spends just a few hours of it away from him to see the friends she hasn't seen in 6mths+.
I don't think you ABU x