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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is she taking the piss?

71 replies

DankAShan · 15/02/2018 21:18

I've befriended a mum at school who is going through a very rough time. She seems really nice and I've had her DS round for tea on a couple of occasions and picked him up from school to help her out - not a problem.

When her DS was at my house a couple of weeks ago he had an accident so I changed him into my DS's clothes and gave the mum his dirty clothes. A week later I receive my DS clothes bag in a carrier bag - unwashed and skid marks in the pants.

She then asked if she could borrow a school uniform from me as she had left her DS uniform at home and was staying with her mum that night. 5 days passed and I hadn't received it back, when I asked her about it she said she didn't understand what the rush was as "most people have more than one set of uniform"

The last incident was, I let her borrow something of mine and specifically asked for it back on a certain day as I needed it. When she gave it back (albeit on time) it was missing pieces. When I asked her about it she said she doesn't know what I'm talking about as all the pieces were there when she gave it me back.

She's a nice woman and we get on well. She's going through a tough time but my DH thinks she's taking the piss abit and now I'm starting to agree with him. AIBU?

OP posts:
diddl · 15/02/2018 22:04

" A week later I receive my DS clothes bag in a carrier bag - unwashed and skid marks in the pants. "

And yet you carried on lending stuff after that??

If she had had to return the stuff in that state I would have thought that she would have been very apologetic & explained why.

DropItLikeASquat · 15/02/2018 22:13

what is a CF?

Funnyface1 · 15/02/2018 22:16

CF= cheeky fucker and yes, she is one.

UpstartCrow · 15/02/2018 22:17

DropItLikeASquat CF is a cheeky fucker.

Skittlesandbeer · 15/02/2018 22:17

I’m easily irritated too, and I love that you’re checking with MN! I should do that more often myself.

One thing that has helped me with ‘school mum’ situations like this (and boy have I had more than my fair share) is to keep things fairly ‘bright n breezy’ from start to finish. That is, be kind and helpful, but not properly befriend them or become their best/main support.

It’s so easy to fall into, cos you have so much in common, you immediately empathise with the whole ‘life with kids’ thing, or the fun low-level bitching about teachers or hubby. You realise you see so much more of them (twice a day!) than your real life friends, and it just feels SO GOOD to fast track friendship with them.

Then you discover that (no harm, no foul), you actually have very little in common with them. That their values or behaviours are nothing like yours. That if you’d met them as work colleagues or at the pub, you would not have given them a VIP pass to your life.

Now you’re stuck finding ways to down-grade the level of intimacy without hurt feelings. You feel your heart drop a little bit every time they approach you. Twice a day, for years. That is tricky, awkward and depressing (for everyone).

Of course some people find life-long besties in the school pickup queue. But I tend to treat that queue as a cruiseship rather than a lifeboat, if you see what I mean.

Because of my middle-aged impatience, I don’t mind being fairly clear these days when lines get crossed. This week, instead of wringing my hands over a response to a school mum (and historical cf), I just replied ‘I’ve thought about it, and I just think our values are too different as families for that arrangement to work.’ I said it with a real smile, full eye contact. I really meant it. Said it, then changed the subject to a lighter topic.

I recommend doing this when she next asks for something unreasonable, before you (and DH) build up a head of steamy resentment. Clear boundaries help everyone, and proper dramatic fall-outs at schools are to be avoided if at all possible!

dustarr73 · 15/02/2018 22:21

I bet when you stop lending,shes going to go puff.YOU WONT SEE HER FOR DUST.

Elle8989 · 15/02/2018 22:21

I'm pissed off for you op. Who does that!

Thistlebelle · 15/02/2018 22:23

Whatever the reasons for her behaviour stop lending her stuff.

Penfold007 · 15/02/2018 22:25

NONO NO!! She isn't a nice woman. Yes she is taking the piss

Pumpkintopf · 15/02/2018 22:28

Agree with pp, I'd stop lending stuff and distance myself.

MrsZippyLake · 15/02/2018 22:28

Total piss-taker. Steer well clear!!

LemonShark · 15/02/2018 22:29

She is not a nice woman.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 15/02/2018 22:30

She might be going through a rough time, but that doesn't make her a nice person who you should try to help anymore. You've been kind and helped, now bow out - she doesn't appreciate it.

Lashalicious · 15/02/2018 22:30

She is taking advantage of you, Op, and she expects you to like it.

Drop her like a hot potato. Also, when she suggested to your dh that he paint her place....major red flag. She is a user and a manipulator. Nip this in the bud or you’ll find yourself sorry that you ever gave her the time of day.

RavenclawRealist · 15/02/2018 22:43

I disagree with the statement ‘she’s a nice women’, she might be friendly and fun a great laugh but she doesn’t sound nice!

Yes there are lots of valid reasons she may have borrowed thing. I can even buy the reasons she has been slow handing things back. But nothing excuses the attitude in my opinion. Being snarky when you asked after the uniform and unapologetic about losing things doesn’t sound like someone you want to cultivate a close friendship with!

Set your boundaries now, only lend what you are willing to never see again and be very careful about ‘favours’ if it suits you and you want to help that’s fine but I don’t think this will ever be a 2way friendship! Personally I move her to the group of people you say hi to in the playground and only speak to if arranging play dates for the kids!

Koala72 · 15/02/2018 22:49

He stopped making excuses for her when she came to collect her DS one night and asked if my DH who works long shifts and only had the weekend with us - to help her paint her new place.

Taking the piss.

AntiHop · 15/02/2018 22:53

halfwitpicker

Please tell me you've posted about your neighbour having sex in your pyjamas before. I have definitely read this before, so if you didn't post it that means there's two people like that in the world.

Nanny0gg · 15/02/2018 22:57

Why would you think she's nice?

She's revolting to send the dirty clothes back, she's probably not going to give back the uniform and she's ruined something you own.

She's awful and she won't stop unless you stop her.

Jux · 15/02/2018 23:12

She's not a nice person. Just because she's going through a rough time doesn't excuse her borrowing things, not returning them, complaining when asked to return them, returning them dirty or with bits missing (did you get the missingmpieces?).

Let me tell you, I had a friend whose dh had a brain haemorrhage. He was in hospital 2hrs away. She had not worked since she was17 as he earnt a damn good wage and they wanted her home for the children (primary age then, one with sen). I lent her stuff from time to time, children's books, toys, clothes etc.

Everything always came back immaculate and quickly, except where I said she could keep it indefinitely. Even the stuff I gave her she would ask - after the occasion foxr which it was borrowed - if I meant it, or did I want it back.

Don't 'lend' her anything more, unless you don't want to see it again.

Coyoacan · 16/02/2018 04:00

I think I'm getting too cynical with old age, but it seems that some people advertise the hard times they are going through as a way of life.

ovenchips · 16/02/2018 06:00

Taking ze piss!

scrappysquirrel · 16/02/2018 10:01

She's a piss taker, that's for sure. Washing machine or not, how does she wash her own clothes? Christ she could have washed them by hand in the sink!

I'd never lend anything to her again and flat out tell her why, if she was cheeky enough to ask why I wouldn't.

youarenotkiddingme · 16/02/2018 10:08

Totally agree with other posters.

"Sorry I can't lend x y and z to you"

Then wait and see if she's a good friend or a CF user friend.

Bracknellite · 21/10/2018 14:54

Never lend what you cannot afford to lose
Wish I’d heard this twenty years ago. Best- advice- ever

LeftRightCentre · 21/10/2018 14:58

FFS! She's a pisstaker. No more lending her anything. If she asks to borrow something you just say, 'No can do.'