Active discussions

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

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Suddenly realise I don't actually like my friend

31 replies

carnuntum · 08/04/2019 22:48

Have known this person for several years and were once very close, and I was going to have her move in with me for a while.

However, little things have turned me against her, and now I've realised I don't really like her.

She's very selfish and only does things when she wants them

She takes towels from hotel rooms as "you are paying for them"
Almost every take away she has she will complain to try and get some money back
Lives off of her parents money
Has a sense of "humour" that is not funny, and increasingly islamaphobic/racist.

Do other people somehow have bad judgement of people too?

OP posts:
SnuggyBuggy · 09/04/2019 06:57

Sometimes things like this sort of creep up on you so I don't think it's always bad judgement. I think I'd distance myself.

JenniferJareau · 09/04/2019 07:00

People change over time and it can take time to fully see that.

I had this with someone who I thought was my best friend. One day I just saw that we hadn't been 'best friends' for a long time and I didn't like the person she had turned into.

TakenForSlanted · 09/04/2019 07:08

Let it fizzle out.

It happens to all of us. I thought I had a best friends for the longest time, until one day I realised that what I actually had was a lentil-weaver/yummy mummy hybrid with a very malicious streak in my life. At some point, this woman I used to love to bits turned into a superior, condescending individual with a horrible penchant for going after other women whose life choices didn't quite reflect hers, in particular. Haven't seen her since her wedding to her eco-warrior vegan hitting-on-his-wife's-friends equally superior husband.

Cobblersandhogwash · 09/04/2019 07:09

It's weird how this kind of realisation suddenly dawns. It's actually kind of a relief.

I was ghosted by a friend a few years ago. I was so upset for a few months about this.

I bumped into her a couple of weeks ago by chance. We were causally chatting.

She talked a lot about other people's wealth. Their houses. Their holidays.

I realised she is the kind of person who is dazzled and slightly obsessed by that sort of thing. And realised that by not being fabulously wealthy, I was of zero interest to her. Grin

I felt nothing but relief when the conversation ended and I had to be on my way.

Springwalk · 09/04/2019 07:10

Friendships don't always last forever, if you don't want to invest anymore then don't, but do distance yourself gently and kindly.

Monty27 · 09/04/2019 07:12

Of course yanbu. I wouldn't enjoy being with her at all.

SpamChaudFroid · 09/04/2019 07:22

I know what you mean OP. I have a friend who lost their job about a year ago and borrowed a substantial amount of money from me to get them out of a hole. They still don't have a job and have tried to borrow large sums from me since. Their partner is currently paying all of their mortgage (not on the deeds) and has sold their own house, leaving them financially vulnerable. Their partner has asked for a large loan off me, (before their house sale) which I said no to.

They also make extremely racist and misogynist comments, and along with being a cocklodger of sorts is kind of making me wonder why we still have a friendship. I'm not much of a people person and much prefer the company of my animals these days.

blackcat86 · 09/04/2019 07:24

It's a strange but totally ok thing when this happens. Its like the fog lifts and you really start to see the person. Stop making an effort and you'll probably find it woll fizzle. I had a very good friend (big part of our wedding level) who had an early miscarriage a few years ago. Everyone went out of their way to support her, ignored her awful comments about pregnant women we saw, ignored her comparing herself to someone else who had a late term still born. Just tried to support. When I then got pregnant I tried to hide it, not upset her, not speak about. When DD nearly died post birth she was no where to be seen despite being pregnant again. The only time I've actually heard from her was when she wanted some left over medication I had. I realised that it's all been about her and she doesn't actually care about me or the friendship. It's not reciprocal. I've left it fizzle and have heard nothing from her

FaithInfinity · 09/04/2019 08:00

I had a best friend who I walked away from. Over time she had changed and suddenly I found that we didn’t really have anything to talk about, I didn’t like some of the things she did and the crunch came when she was totally unsupportive when my Mum died. I dropped her soon after that.

I think it’s wise to walk away from this person in your circumstances. She doesn’t sound like a very nice person! (And she’s wrong about the towels. Also consider how many other people have used them, why would you take them home?! I knew people who got billed for taking hotel towels home).

Jebuschristchocolatebar · 09/04/2019 08:05

I get this, I am friends with someone from work, we been friends for years but she is stingy, obsessed with money and complaining and getting one over on everyone. She also has started non stop moaning about people getting welfare, scrounges foreigners- the usual shite people spout. She has loads of money and is in a really well paid job. I have come to hate her. I can’t hang out with her anymore which is working out grand because she is too stingy to go out for a coffee or lunch so she is making it easy for us all

pictish · 09/04/2019 08:06

Yeah...I have recently decided to let a friend drift as well. She gets on my nerves if the truth be told...and it really is that simple. She’s a kind, generous person but I just don’t enjoy her company that much. Her interests don’t interest me.
She is given to providing long-winded stories about the funniness/cuteness of her daughter, during which I tend to drift away as she is really describing the same childish stuff that all our kids do but we refrain from discussing as it’s boring as shit. Then she’ll suddenly erupt in peals of quite manic laughter over something impossibly hilarious her daughter did or said which not only makes me jump but is very awkward as I have usually switched off by this point and have no idea what I’m supposed to be laughing at.
I just find it hard going you know? Life is short...she has lots of other friends.

TheMaddHugger · 09/04/2019 08:06

at least you made this relisation now, not after she moved in

Ellenborough · 09/04/2019 08:08

I know someone who did this with the person that was supposed to be her best friend for 10 years. There was a slow breakdown in the relationship as fundamental differences in them became more and more obvious and it was clear they were not a healthy pairing. One was a bit needy, the other a bit of an Alpha female bully. The needy one had an epiphany and turned like the proverbial worm.

The Alpha bully was confused and devastated. Felt quite betrayed that her whipping boy had suddenly grown a backbone and removed herself permanently from the friendship.

They are speaking again now after a 3 year hiatus and have a polite superficial friendship, mostly over FB and have met for coffee once or twice but it will never go back to how it was. I think they've both learnt a bit about themselves from it.

Provincialbelle · 09/04/2019 08:10

To be honest it’s easier when you just realise you have nothing in common. I had a friend of 18 years standing who without warning committed a massive breach of trust. I can’t tell you how much that hurt

Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis · 09/04/2019 08:12

Hmm Ellenborough that sounds awful and exhausting.

Ilikeslippers · 09/04/2019 08:13

Me! I have realised that I have a ridiculous tendency to make excuses for people's shitty behaviour - as if these repeated behaviours are aberrations rather than just how they really are. 'Oh they are so damaged, that is why they are like that' I told myself, 'Oh I am not perfect either' I told myself. It led me to stay with an abusive husband and a manipulative controlling 'best' friend and other such friends. I've attracted them because I tolerated and even enabled them. I finally, belatedly, saw the light and have ditched all these friends (3 of them), and have nice normal friends instead now

Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis · 09/04/2019 08:13

Sorry not Hmm!!!! I meant Shock

Genuinely shocked at how horrid that must have been for everyone.

Bouncebacker · 09/04/2019 08:19

YANBU- it does happen, I had two friends that I met in a workplace, when I was made redundant but they weren’t, we kept the friendship going but after a few years I realised that we only talked about their work which I wasn’t that interested in anymore - and I had a realisation - after the 5th of 6th time of waiting in a queue at a ‘no reservations’ type restaurant that they always turned up 45 mins late when I had done most of the the waiting - they were using me to get a table! The friendship just didn’t extended beyond the work place that we shared and it was silly to try. It was much healthier for me to let it go than try to nurture the friendship. You will feel better when you don’t see her anymore

SunshineCake · 09/04/2019 08:27

@Provincialbelle - I've had something similar. I've known someone for over 30 years though we lost touch for a few years. Rationally I know she's done nothing really wrong but what she has done has really hurt me and she clearly hasn't thought about the effect on me. I rather pettily ignored her birthday (she'd already missed mine, as per) but tbh it was more about protecting myself by not having contact for a while maybe forever

Ellenborough · 09/04/2019 08:27

LOL I wondered what the Hmm was for! Yes, mainly exhausting for me, being stuck between the pair of them.

Provincialbelle · 09/04/2019 08:32

Hi Sunshinecake I’ve moved on (with some residual hurt) but have to say looking back things were more one sided than perhaps I realised at the time. She must have been to my house countless times yet return invites were a fraction of that number and she wasn’t the first to buy a coffee (but always the first to accept). It wasn’t totally one way but I console myself with small things like that and say I’m better off without her

Fossilised · 09/04/2019 08:41

So much bad judgement...

3 friends from school, one constantly scrounged money from me. One was just a drama queen (despite us having lots in common, but the outbursts she had just made it not worth it). One I had zero in common with and turned out to be a bit narcissistic (like no 2 friend).

Two friends from college, one narcissist. One she lacked understanding and empathy.

Around six from work? One I ghosted because she was my boss and practically stalked me and gossiped about me to all and sundry. Friend two will not talk to me now he has a wife?. Friend three does not talk to me because he is in another country with a new partner, but when he comes over he does meet up with me, I miss him. Four never forgave me I don't think for ghosting work friend number one. Five I was really close with, but as soon as she changed job and I moved to a place 45 min away, she was always friendly when I contacted her, went round to her new place, but it was always me chasing the friendship. I stopped she just didn't bother.

One from open uni, she gushes when I see her, but she never contacts me.

Any number of school mum friends. We left the school to HE, it shone a light on the bigoted narrow minded friends who have never got over it. In the process of dumping one friend now. Another we were so close but she has reacted in such a snide way to it all and her partner just makes my skin crawl. Another dumped me the day she found out we were leaving, but is still friendly when I see her (two faced, I heard what she said about me to other school mums). One never bothers, so I have just given up trying. At least two friends wanted me for a) free childcare (as they WORKED) b) I'm fat and frumpy and it became obvious I was their ugly friend. Once I realised, they were out...

I sound like I have issues :D abusive childhood has led me to people who treat me a certain way...I am now very cautious who I become friends with. I used to be really chatty and open and friendly to everyone, however I have found that is the first way to be attractive to abusive types. Through all this I have ended up with friends, just friends who treat me well, about 6 good friends? I have remained friends with some of the others, but distant friendships. I just got tired of being treated like free childcare/ugly one/someone that can be picked up and dropped off/people not reciprocating...so why pretend to be a friend then? Oh god yes, and also a whole load of people I have helped escape their exes...they become my friend, then I only hear from them when the situation kicks off again, despite me telling them I am too traumatised by my own break up to talk about things as it gives me flashbacks.

Actually as I'm typing I'm remembering more people I was friends with :X the chatty and friendly thing gets me friends, but not very good quality friendships...

I have got to the stage I am very sceptical about anyone new I meet. I need to know them at least a few years before I can trust them now. Those who make it that far are generally worth being friends with.

thecatsthecats · 09/04/2019 09:20

My FIL has a few of those traits. Incredibly mean with money in a very 'what's yours is mine, and what's mine is mine also'. He's very snotty about what other people have or haven't got, do or don't do (he called me 'boring' for switching off the music at my own wedding and confiscating the cables because he couldn't be trusted - we'd had a great party, free bar, everyone was nicely drunk and there was no objection to carrying on the party, just no wish to rob all the other guests of sleep in doing so.

My husband is very different to him, but just occasionally a learned habit from him will kick in. My MIL is lovely and generous, and when he's at his worst I think he's bloody lucky to have her!

Pinkarsedfly · 09/04/2019 09:29

I walked away from my best friend of over thirty years, after I received texts filled with venom and jealousy because she had seen me being friendly on Facebook with someone else.

At the time I was going through a divorce while teaching full-time in a school I hated (about to be signed off with stress) and I just couldn’t wrap my head around an almost 40-year-old causing drama over Facebook posts.

I said as much and received a load of invective about what an awful friend I was, how I didn’t make enough effort to see her, etc etc - despite the fact she’s never worked, and has only ever visited my home once.

That Christmas she sent no cards, no gifts for my kids, etc - which we’d always done.

That was it for me. She’s since tried to reach out, but I can’t be bothered. Weirdly, I still have dreams about her - we were so close growing up, she was like a sister. But I can’t let any more drama into my life. I’ve had enough.

JaneTheTerrible · 09/04/2019 09:37

Happens to all of us. I've made friends with a lot of people and once you take the next step and get to know them a bit better, it's kind of a disappointment.

One of my very best friends completely changed character when she met a man Sad.