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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to feel insulted by my friend?

94 replies

WhatAWomble · 20/04/2019 04:51

Genuinely not sure if IABU.
Backstory is i've been friends with this woman since our kids were babies - so about 7 years. Met at a baby group and had a friend in common. Friend had PND, which I suggested at the time only to be sharply told I was 'catastrophising' by her. Didn't mention it again but was supportive in whichever way I could be. She has recently admitted she probably did have it. We've both had various struggles and become single mum's since then; her ex is around and she has family in the same town. My ex isn't and my sole family member lives miles away, so less support.

Recently we got together and I had said I was feeling emotionally delicate (mainly issues with money, low confidence, no job prospects and lack of direction). We met up, I made dinner and found things for kids to do. We had some wine and got chatting. She managed to say in the conversation that I always think of the worst option and go with it. I was a bit hurt tbh as it's not as if I am not trying and the reason I felt delicate was because it has been hard, not that I haven't even tried because it would be hard. However I brushed over it and acted fine because I do sometimes spiral with anxiety and thought she could have a point and tried to take it as advice/constructive criticism.

Anyway this last week she has been low and was messaging me that all she can think to do is drink. There was an issue with a man turning her down and stress in her workplace. I invited her over for dinner.

I cooked what I could in advance. She turned up 45mins late and barely apologised. She bought her kid, who she had said would be with her mum. I like him, but my daughter struggles a bit as they get on but have few shared interests. So that was kick No. 1. actually adding the late 1&2.

We sit in the sun and she has some of the wine I bought. She immediately asks how much I spent on it and calls me a 'cheapskate'. We are both single parents and my income is low as she well knows. I brush it off at the time but now see that as kick No.3.

We talk about her issues and try to put the world to rights. I go in and finish off the cooking, despite her saying they ate before they got here - kick No. 4 as I messaged her at 10am asking if what I was going to cook was OK. Had already left it half an hour past our usual dinner time as her son had said he wasn't hungry. It seems they were late because they ate en route in town Hmm.

I serve up and she immediately says "it's cold!" and insists on microwaving it. Had done rice for kids in advance but cauliflower rice for us as she is very concerned about her weight. Doing both meant the rice wasn't steaming but the chicken was... so of course I say "Oh no! Yes do microwave it, sorry!" - kids are tucking in regardless and it's fine for me. Maybe I'm just taking umbridge in hindsight but that was rude I thought, so K5.

She sits to eat and pushes it around her plate a bit. Suggests cauliflower rice isn't as nice as she had thought it might be. Leaves half of her chicken - K6. Kids polish it all off as do I.

We go back outside into the evening sun and do egg hunt for kids that I bought chocolates and eggs for. I bring out a choc egg from Aldi I got for myself for us to have while kids eat theirs. It was pretty grim tbh and I said "Ugh, sorry for the horrid chocolate, Aldi is usually pretty good but I can't eat it!" she then went on about how the kids had M&S mini wrapped eggs and I tried to feed her the rubbish Aldi chocolate! I had explained it was actually my egg for Easter, which I don't even usually do, but I wanted to share it with her... felt that was a bit rude too so K6.

We then talked about holidays we'd like to do with the kids and a mutual friend who lives abroad. Got the distinct impression she didn't want to make plans with us and she kept saying "we won't be as organised as you usually are you know, no advance planning or anything". Then tried to railroad me into going on holiday with her and her ex instead! I have spent 7 years listening to how horrid this man is and why she would want to go away with him is strange to me. I manage to wriggle out of it as I fear she merely wants me to bear witness to his odd parenting or to share the 'load'.
She then talks about her dream holiday - not likely to happen in next 5 years and v. expensive. I mentioned that the area is volitile atm and I personally would be a bit scared to go there. She immediately snapped at me "thanks for completely shutting down any hope I had for my ideal holiday situation with you incessant worst case scenario attitude. FGS!"
I was Shock as it was pretty forceful and went quiet for a few seconds tried to explain I wasn't trying to be negative but she repeated the same over me. Kick 7. I changed the subject and we moved on.

She goes on to say I am basically ruled by my daughter and whatever she says goes. I am not a "shouty" parent like she is. I am very calm and only shout when I really need to. DD and I have a good relationship but recently she is being more defiant and I had confident it is challenging at times. This felt like she was using it against me and I said actually I do tell her off and cited something just this morning - she smirked at me and insisted that was "nothing" (K7). About 10 mins after this she declares her taxi is outside and they rush off! She hadn't event told me she had booked a taxi (thought she was being rude looking at her phone tbh!).

So, AIBU to feel that it was a bit of a shitshow, despite my efforts, and my friend has been U?

OP posts:
MsChicken · 20/04/2019 10:36

I think the dynamic is completely off and it can be difficult to turn that around, it's far too easy to just keep repeating the situation. The more one person is rude or unkind, the more the more the other person tries to be nice. It becomes a list of negative moments because that's how you try and assess if the situation is getting better or worse, not because you're being petty in any way. I think she's lashing out at you too, you're the easiest target by just being there, it's not very emotionally mature. I'd put some distance between you and try not to think about it. Let her do the thinking.

WatershedMoment · 20/04/2019 10:45

She sounds like a tactless, bitchy, bullying person. It sounds like someone you have to tolerate at work rather than a friend. I wouldnt waste my time and effort on her, she doesnt deserve it. Find a nice friend who appreciates how nice you are. Until then id rather spend the night on my own!

RSAcre · 20/04/2019 10:54

So I am being over sensitive? Or am I just rightly thinking she was rude?

No, you're not over-sensitive. Anybody would feel wounded by this 'friend's' constant digs & kicks. I don't think that's where the problem is.

The people who have raised the 'over-sensitive' remarks upthread have maybe commented so, not because they wouldn't be hurt or annoyed by similar comments - but because they would handle it differently.

You sound like a welcoming & thoughtful friend. Unfortunately your friend has now demonstrated time & again that she is not. You can't help FEELING sensitive when she digs at you - but you CAN help how you respond to it.

When she insults you with namecalling or lateness again (& it sounds like she will) - brace yourself & call her out on it. Something like "did you mean to be so rude or are you just being thoughtless?"
You need to establish boundaries & keep pointing out where they are.
Otherwise this 'friend' is going to keep walking all over you & undermining your self-esteem.

Changing ourselves isn't easy. But for your own - & your daughter's sake, who needs you as a role model - by all means keep hold of your sensitive & kind nature. But not at the expense of calling out frenemies when they kick - get those boundaries in place & defend them!
This may help - www.amazon.co.uk/Woman-Your-Own-Right-Assertiveness/dp/0704334208?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

ReturnofSaturn · 20/04/2019 11:12

Yes of course she was rude but to be honest OP you sound just as irritating for letting her get away with it so many times.

Just don't get these posts from OP's who wants everyone to come on and agree how rude the friend was. YOU let it happen. For gods sake you could have just thrown her out earlier. No sympathy for OP's like this tbh.

Sockworkshop · 20/04/2019 11:26

The OP has asked for help with this for a reason Return
Why are you blaming ?Hmm
The friend was hideously rude !

colditz · 20/04/2019 11:40

She's a dickhead, in the bin with her

CallMeRachel · 20/04/2019 12:14

It sounds to me as if she has been harbouring resentment towards you for a while and was dreading coming to yours.

The minute you said anything to give her a reality check (India) it triggered her negative feelings about you and she lashed out with her tongue.

For me, the nail in the coffin was her rudeness in texting a taxi to come and collect her without even telling you she was going!! That is rude!!!

I don't think you're going to be hearing from her again. It sounds as if the dynamic has turned sour.

She was a dick.

AyoadesChinDimple · 20/04/2019 13:44

You haven't been oversensitive and she sounds very rude.

KittyInTheCradle · 20/04/2019 14:40

Can only assume some people commenting here are pretty rude to their friends?

She was very rude and having a low mood is no excuse to take that out on others.

KittyInTheCradle · 20/04/2019 14:43

You went out of your way to do nice things for her and she responds by putting you down. It's a shame some people can't feel big enough without making others feel small.

MidnightBlue00 · 20/04/2019 15:20

I'd tell her to do one op.At the very least distance yourself or be a little more frank with her.If you don't like something say so,if you think something she says is rude tell her.
She sounds awful tbh .Friends should support each other,not be so bleedin' rude & not talk to you like that.
With friends like that who needs enemies,good grief

PrincessDanae · 20/04/2019 15:34

You're questioning if you were being too sensitive. But, whenever you said something she didn't wholeheartedly agree with she viciously shut you down. So.... who's the 'sensitive ' one?,

Sounds more to me like someone who can dish it out but can't take it. Not someone I'd choose to be friends with.

WatershedMoment · 20/04/2019 18:52

*Yes of course she was rude but to be honest OP you sound just as irritating for letting her get away with it so many times.

Just don't get these posts from OP's who wants everyone to come on and agree how rude the friend was. YOU let it happen. For gods sake you could have just thrown her out earlier. No sympathy for OP's like this tbh.*

Sounds like you and the OP's friend would get on great. You could mean girl away to your heart's content Hmm.

WhatAWomble · 20/04/2019 21:26

Thank you all!
I met up with another friend today, the one who said she had noticed she gets away with saying things to me. She thinks that the bluntness is just her way and has previously found her quite hard natured because of it but she does also like the fact she says what she thinks. On balance she said she probably would hate to think she has upset me and thinks that she is also low and, as ppl on here have said, we need a break as we are both not up to cheering each other up. She did say the comments about my parenting were below the belt and agreed if it was meant to help in some way she wasn't being very constructive and she would have been offended too. Funnily enough she also said she has a friend who likes to constantly suggest changes and things to "improve" her, so she knows how wearing it can be and she avoids her. I think a lot of people have one of these judging from the thread. Seems to be about controlling when you choose to see them and making it sparodic.

Oh and it turns out that her DS left his scooter in my porch, so I have to return it this week as she has placement from Tues and won't be able to get to me. I'll drop and run for now and get some space from her.

Very tired today so an early night here. Thanks again for all of the advice and suggestions.

OP posts:
BadLad · 21/04/2019 00:39

So I am being over sensitive? Or am I just rightly thinking she was rude?

Who cares? You owe nay fucker your friendship. If she's pissing you off, and she would certainly be pissing me off, then fuck her the hell off. It's doesn't matter who is being unreasonable / bitchy / cf / sensitive. If your friendships ate getting on your tits, there's no obligation to continue them.

Cherrysoup · 21/04/2019 00:53

It's the purple wrapped one with chocs inside - grim!

Aw, shit! I bought those for two friends hoping it would be amazing! I wanted them to have something really nice. Fuck!

OP, your ‘friend’ is a frenemy. She doesn’t really like you. Dump her.

Rockmysocks · 21/04/2019 05:39

Your wine wasn't good enough. Your chocolate wasn't good enough. Your parenting wasn't good enough. The dinner (her second that day) wasn't good enough. She was RUDE!
Then not telling you she had called a taxi and then announcing the taxi was there and she was off?! Who the fuck does that?

Never invite her round again, she didn't appreciate a single thing you did for her. Why do you have to return the scooter? She's the one who left in a hurry because the taxi was there. She isn't on placement forever.

Tell her you'll keep the scooter safe until she can come and collect it.

She doesn't deserve any favours. She sounds like a right bitch.

wigglesniggles · 21/04/2019 05:56

I realise there are four pages of replies but I've invested in reading the OP...God ok, I got half way through and thought was she drunk. She shows a real lack of appreciation (putting it nicely). I would put her in the fair weather friend category.

WhatAWomble · 21/04/2019 06:47

@Cherry - oh no! It did look like it was going to be amazing Sad
@Rock I think I'd rather make sure she doesn't turn up and stay for longer than she needs to. If I drop it over I can dump and run on my way somewhere else.

OP posts:
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