To leave NCT WhatsApp group

[Happyobit]

I know this is not really that big a deal but I still feel awkward about it.

I attended NCT antenatal classes two years ago with six other couples. I was actually single which was the main reason I forced myself to go even though I didn’t really want to, not being much of a ‘group’ person. But I felt like it was the done thing to do I guess and I didn’t want the fact I was single to mean I didn’t do things ‘normal’ pregnant women do.

I actually regret going because it was quite awkward at the time for me and the others as well I think, as well as the group leader, when it came to talking about partners and their roles etc. I don’t think they really knew what to say to me which is completely understandable.

Anyway I went along with it and the obligatory meet ups after the babies were born etc, they’re all really nice people but not really anyone I could see myself being close friends with (I have a close group of friends as it is and am not lacking in social life or support)

So two years on and I’ve stopped attending meet ups for over a year and don’t contribute to the WhatsApp group. I really want to leave but it seems really rude to just leave the group, and equally rude to announce I’m leaving before I do so. So do I just stay and remain silent and put up with the irritating thousands of message notifications? I know I can turn the sound off but they still show up as red numbers.

Yeah just leave. There's a woman in our NCT WhatsApp group who is almost certainly having the same dilemma. No one has seen or heard from her in over a year.

If you don't want to actually leave or would find that awkward, you can mute the conversation if you like - not just the sound, but the actual conversation so that you don't get notifications. Just swipe right on the convo you want to mute, then click more, then mute, then there are different lengths of time.

If you're never going to see them again and don't want to then just do it, don't worry who you're offending, you don't need to explain yourself to anyone. Alternatively, you can mute notifications on groups for up to a year.

Pun I have muted it but I still get the red numbers but I can’t see how else to do it? If I never got notified either by sound or the red numbers then that would be ideal

I just deleted it and left!

Go into your app settings and disable the app badges.

Just delete it, they won't really care op

I stopped meeting up with mine after about 10 months and left the WhatsApp gp a while later. I just had nothing in common with them at all and didn't enjoy their company or conversation any more than they enjoyed mine.

Honestly just leave the group they haven’t seen you in a year I doubt they will care tbh

If you don’t want to just leave could say ‘hi all, I’m coming off WhatsApp from now on. All the best xxxx’. Then exit before anyone replies.

Or just leave.

You can mute chats on WhatsApp so you don't get the notification or badges.

I think the response from jammy is good.

Honestly though if you haven't seen them for a year I kind of think it's more awkward to stay in the group than leave!

They will know you are not that interested just leave it why would it be awkward when you stopped going to the meetups a year ago

Just leave. You'll feel better once you do.

You'll probably bump into them locally - so I would do as suggested above about putting a note on there saying bye to the whatsapp group nicely. Then don't be awkward when you see them at softplay etc etc.

Groups come and go. That is normal!

Just leave. They'll probably not even notice.

I left the primary school one. It was great, they were a nasty lot. Excluding me etc.

I would go with Jammy response. Maybe with a hope everyone is well, All the best.

If you see them again it will be easier if you have acknowledged you are alive and well, and wish them the same.

I don't have whats app I am for to lazy and antisocial for that group malarky

There was someone in my NCT Group who stayed in the whatsapp group for a year but never said anything nor attended meet ups and then finally left. We just wondered how she must've have found the 10,000+ messages incredibly annoying.

Wish them well and delete! I did this for another group and felt better after! I kept thinking I would miss out on something or miss some news, but actually I don't care now I don't have the beeping reminders!

Have you sent any messages in the past year? Has anyone specifically mentioned you? If not, just leave - tbh they probably want to delete you but don't want to be seen as being rude so haven't.

Oh just leave, I wouldn’t make a big deal announcing anything.

Wow, I have just been thinking about this exact thing myself. My NCT group is long standing, our 'babies' are at school now. They were a great bunch to share early motherhood with but we're spaced out geographically and most of the children attend different schools now. We meet for dinner every now and then but the effort that goes into making the arrangements now feels like too much - lots of debate about where to go that suits the geographical spread that sometimes turns 'huffy'. Meeting up with other groups of friends takes nowhere near the amount of time and effort as it does with this lot. I'm at the point now where i want to withdraw but it feels like such a big deal to make an announcement about it yet rude just to leave the group. I think you should just send a message to wish everyone the best and then exit before you start getting any replies. Slightly more complicated for me as my child goes to school with one of the alpha mums in the NCT group so I have to see her every day on the school run...

Just leave. We had this with a woman in our group of six. She hasn't engaged in the Whatsapp chat or met up with us for about 2.5 years, but can see all of our conversations which makes me feel a bit weird. We contemplated setting up a new group, but never got around to it.

In fact, is that you L? We're sorry you didn't want to carry on seeing us, but hope you and R are doing well!