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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

She came to my door stop and started screaming at me!!

302 replies

PupsAndKittens · 11/02/2019 23:05

So for some (not particularly relevant) background, I am 19 and also have ASD ( I identify as HF. I know that some people don’t believe in HF, but that’s how I chose to identify myself as I feel that is what best represents me. )

I was fortunate enough to have a job trial on Sunday. I have been unemployed for six months now ( last job was great but unfortunately was a summer temp Sad).

I do not currently drive, so I politely asked DBF if she would take me. She kindly said yes. I asked because trains are doable but awkward on a Sunday so was just wondering if she could help me out. (BTW Job is roughly 35 minutes in the car, and usually on weekdays and Saturdays, 30 minutes on train – no changes )

The day before the trial, I went out for lunch with DBF and her DM. DM tells me that she is not happy with her DD taking me to this interview/trial, and that she wished that DD had not agreed to take me in the first place. On the drive home from lunch, DBF tells me that she is not sure if she will be able to take me now as she might be “busy” ( I asked her to define “busy“, and she replied with “stuff“). Anyway she said would let me know in the morning.

The next morning I got up, and messaged DBF to see if you could still take me. This was about 7 o’clock in the morning (I do understand that this is very early and was not expecting an answer straight away). However when I looked back at 8:30: no answer. I appreciate that 8:30 is still fairly early, but she knew that if I was to get the train I would need to leave in about 15 minutes. I decided to ring her DM and asked if DBF could still take me. She said she would ask and get back to me. About five minutes later I got a text through from DBF saying she would take me followed by a quick call from DBFs M, confirming the text as well as wishing me good luck (I thought this was very sweet and said thank you).

DBF picks me up and drives me to the interview. I said that I will pay her some petrol money, in which she said don’t worry about it at the moment. I then went and had my job interview/trial. While I thought that it went well, unfortunately I have reason to believe that on this occasion I have been unfortunate, as I feel there are too many factors going against me on this occasion. However I was pleased with how I performed in the trial and thought the people that I was working with where charming.

After the trial I rang DBF to see where she wanted to meet. There were a few shops I need to go round but due to the probable outcome of the trial, I felt very down and just really wanted to go home. One of the shops we did go in was Poundland as I desperately needed some new earplugs, as I didn’t have any as they were all broken My friend wanted to buy a car charger but was 20p short as her phone had died, which is what she used to buy things. So I offered that I would pay. she refused, but I insisted. After a few more shops we decided to Head home. Due to me not eating I asked if we could go for the MackieD drive-through. I ended up having to change my order, as the burger I wanted was 6 pounds on its own and I refused to pay that. There was then some issues with the drive-through as basically they forgot my order! So a bit anoyed, went in and had to pick it up. So a McDonald’s which should’ve taken one minute, ended up taking about seven minutes!

On the journey back we listen to music though a Bluetooth speaker. I do appreciate that I might of been slightly self-indulgent with being disappointed that I didn’t think I got it. But DBF didn’t seem to say anything. Near the end of the journey I deliberately chose the song “Days” by Kirsty MacColl to show my gratitude for all she did for me that day. When she dropped me off she seems absolutely fine and normal.

I have been home for about 20 minutes, when I had DBFs car pull up outside. I sensibly thought that I had forgotten something or picked somethings up In error: WRONG!! I answer the door to find her DM screaming that I am a ungrateful piece of st! And that I was a nightmare all day, as I was unsociable as I had my headphones in all day (er going back to poundland). When I try to defend myself and say I literally have done none of these things, she called me a liar. She went on to say how she needed her DDs help and that I just abused her! Transpires that she was angry because I didn’t give petrol money even though she asked me not to! All the things she said about me were completely fabricated and not true at all!

This really upset me so much: I actually ended up crying myself to sleep. Which is rare!

I had to leave college early today, as I was just so down I couldn’t concentrate on anything. This is where things get really strange! As I was walking back from the train station, guess who I hear: DBF caling my nick-name! I tell her that we need to talk, but she tells me she can’t as she will miss her train (she had 10 minutes!). I say to her that I didn’t appreciate her DM screaming at my front door. She said I know it was out of order and have told her off. I then tried to give her the money, but she literally just ran off like The Bloody White Rabbit, saying she was late. Unbelievable!

Not so much a AIBU, but more of a WWYD? DBF is like a sister to me and I really don’t want to ruin our friendship over this. But I would like some advice on how to go forward. Thank you

OP posts:
zzzzz · 11/02/2019 23:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SweatyUnderboob · 11/02/2019 23:30

Sounds like the DBF has issues saying no, which her mother is probably aware of. That is not OP’s fault, and having ASD she probably missed this nuance.

Leave it to cool for a bit and talk openly and honestly to your friend. Seems like a misunderstanding you should be able to resolve.

sandyposy · 11/02/2019 23:30

I think this situation might be partly due to you missing unsaid ‘cues’ and acting on what people say when they don’t mean it (ie, don’t give petrol money - you should have insisted); and not backing off when your friend said she might be busy, even though she didn’t explicitly say she would not be available. My sons are both high functioning autistic people and I see lots of similar behaviour from them; unfortunately people can be very unforgiving even when they do know certain behaviours might be related to autistic difficulties with social communication. Can you perhaps ask your friend to talk to her mum about autism? As presumably your friend is aware and accepts that you may not deal with some situations as a ‘neurotypical’ person might?

Nickpan · 11/02/2019 23:31

sounds like DBF got home afterwards and had a whinge to her mum. Mum got all defensive and had a go at you. Possibly because whatever you have going on, you may be a bit self-centered, and although your DBF doesn't moan at you when you don't pick up on hints, she vents at her mum.

JuniperBeer · 11/02/2019 23:32

Sorry but what is DBF?

Nickpan · 11/02/2019 23:32

And look how much you wrote in the OP!

whilethechiefputsshineonleith · 11/02/2019 23:32

what does HF mean?

SweatyUnderboob · 11/02/2019 23:33

No wonder the best friend has boundary issues with such a controlling mother.

Nickpan · 11/02/2019 23:34

darling best friend
high functioning

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 11/02/2019 23:35

Can people asking what HF stands for just read the whole thread Hmm

whilethechiefputsshineonleith · 11/02/2019 23:36

read full thread still none the wiser to what HF meansConfused

Gingerkittykat · 11/02/2019 23:37

I think HF means high functioning.

Thankfuckitsfriday1 · 11/02/2019 23:37

HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM

zzzzz · 11/02/2019 23:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lovewineandchocs · 11/02/2019 23:39

I agree with thankfuckitsfriday1 about having a chat with your friend. Her mum clearly has her own issues, it sounds like she wanted your DBF to help her that day, but to tell you she wasn’t happy about her helping you was very rude. Also, your friend said she “might” be busy, didn’t specify. She needs to learn to say no outright if she can’t/doesn’t want to do something. She did say yes when you asked her-until her mother got involved. Perhaps she had been complaining to her mother about helping you, or perhaps she was quite happy to help you but her mother wasn’t happy as she wanted her to do something for her. Either way, the mother had no right to turn up at your door screaming and should not have got involved at all-your friend is a grown-up. She has caused a lot of this (although she can’t help her batshit DM) by not being assertive and saying no, complaining to her DM about how you were/what she had to do for you all day, and then scurrying away as if she had nothing to do with it and it was entirely her DMs fault. A chat is needed, and don’t engage further with the DM, tell her it’s between you and her (adult) DD.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 11/02/2019 23:40

I assumed DBF stood for dearest best friend.

Margot33 · 11/02/2019 23:40

I think you should stop asking your friend for lifts. She's obviously not happy about it because she's been discussing it with her mum. I think she finds it hard to say no to you. Take her out for lunch if she won't accept the petrol money.

ilovepixie · 11/02/2019 23:42

What's HF?

gamerchick · 11/02/2019 23:42

read full thread still none the wiser to what HF meansconfused

Even though its been said multiple times? Hmm

gamerchick · 11/02/2019 23:44

I can't quite fathom whether people are being deliberately obtuse or just looking for a reason to stick the boot in Hmm

WanderingDaffodil · 11/02/2019 23:45

Oh sweetheart, this makes me cry. You and your best friend sound lovely. Your friend understands you need some support to have the same chances as others.

Your friend's mother clearly does not understand either autism or friendship.

I'm sorry you have to put up with this shit. She's the problem, not you. Sadly I can't tell you that it won't happen again.

BUT despite the 'facts', you can't tell your friend her mother is a total cunt, even though she clearly is.

You aren't abusing her and she doesn't think you are. Her mother is a nasty narrow minded git.

Sparklesocks · 11/02/2019 23:45

HF has been defined several times throughout the thread, it’s only two pages long so not like you need to look hard!

OP it sounds like your friend has difficulty being direct and having awkward conversations as detailed by her running off when you saw her again. It might be she expressed to her DM that she felt a bit taken advantage of but hasn’t been able to have that chat with you herself. Driving you to and from the interview was really generous but going round the shops/McDonald’s might have been a bit too much - it sounds like it was a big chunk of her Sunday.

Itssosunny · 11/02/2019 23:46

I think you should stop asking your friend for lifts. She's obviously not happy about it because she's been discussing it with her mum. I think she finds it hard to say no to you. Take her out for lunch if she won't accept the petrol money.

Totally agree with the post above. Just leave the money in an envelope and a thank you card. Don't write too much. One sentence would be enough.

PupsAndKittens · 11/02/2019 23:48

@dustyfan I don’t take advantage of people! I politely asked her. Last week, DM FORCED me to walk the dog (I only popped round to to pick up a hat I had accidentally left). I have just come back from a long day at college and I politely said I was tired ( I also personally struggle with dog walking as it stress me out!) I was then called a selfish bitch!

@HoneysuckJasmine that’s what my parents think! They also thought that she saw it as easy cash, As she is completely bankrupt and is forever begging people for money! (I don’t personally believe that myself tho)

@Garethsouthgatesmrs first of all, she needed to go into some shops as well as me: so while I was in the shops I needed to go to, she went to the shop she needed to go to. Secondly, we alternated song choices, so she got to choose as much music as I did! And it deafly wouldn’t of been loud as it’s a sensory issue to my ASD! I literally said thank you about 10 times throughout the day. Also I thought the song was a nice gesture as the lyrics really sum me and DBF up so well. And it was ear plugs I bought, but I did not ware them at all. Trust me I did appreciate
it

@yourfeetstink HF stands for High Functioning

@deadliftgirl you should’ve seen the post before I edited it 😂. I appreciate that maybe I should’ve just accepted that she couldn’t take me on this occasion.

@Kintain we go through good stages and bad stages, for example she sometimes really really good to me and helps me through the tough times I have, however she wants screamed at me because my socks were slightly dirty (I was 17) and she told me I was a disgusting human being.

@Holidayshoping yes, in hindsight I should’ve got the train. But I was very considerate throughout the day and let DBF do whatever she wanted to after the trial.

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 11/02/2019 23:50

I don't know about the OP, but by now I want to jump up and down screaming "HF = high functioning autism, how fucking many times does it have to be clarified before people stop asking!!"

Though, that may be useful. What OP communicated seemed completely clear to them, and to me. What the DearBestFriend was communicating (didn't want to give a lift) may have seemed totally clear to them, and us, but not to the OP. Because different people communicate different things in different ways.

OP: when your friend gave excuses, it meant she didn't really want to do it. Then when she got the last minute call, she probably thought it was too late to back out. But most people by that point would have got the train. Then there was a lot of hanging around, and doing what you wanted to do. I agree with the prior poster who says she then went home and moaned a bit to her mum. Her mum should not have yelled at you. But if she doesn't understand ASD, she will have thought that you were just taking the piss (or in MN language, that you were being a Cheeky Fucker)

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