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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be unsettled by this - new friendships

140 replies

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 07:31

I might be being totally unreasonable in which case some advise on how to get on with it would be good if I am being.

So DD born last year did NCT, had high hopes but it was a mix of odd people, people not on my wave length and some bitches!! The whole group messaging and Facebook thing left me exhausted and anxious and frankly took the shine off what should have been a wonderous time. This is apart from one lady who was blinking great, similar tastes and outlooks, and we naturally gravitated towards each other and saw each other frequently - all lovely. Now whilst we have lots of shared interests she is one of these people who having a baby has changed significantly (I mean I know it changes everyone but there are degrees) and outside of her DC she isn’t up for doing much none baby socialising - wine, shopping, cinema etc. In fact she has stopped drinking since having DC. And is also very very frugal ( this can be quite annoying at times as doesn’t have to be DP is not sense it’s her upbringing) That’s all fine though as she has other lovely qualities. However I still really like and need to do all those things a baby hasn’t changed me as much I would say!

Anyway early this year I met another group of Mums through a baby signing class in the village!! Absolutely lovely, we all get on like a house on fab and I feel like it’s turning into such a nice group. We’re all at a similar place in life have v similar tastes/interests and outlooks and enjoy or want to enjoy a friendship that doesn’t revolve around our babies and have had several nights out already with lots of great banter. This has been like a breath of fresh air to me. Most of my older close friends are dispersed across the country and now have their own circles where they are and although I moved back to my home city a few years ago and have made friends via certain connections they’ve not been easy friendships and there’s been a bit of what I call teenage bs, being invited sometimes and not others, jealousy etc. You get on don’t you but I have found the lack of a good circle hard. Anyway this group has been such a tonic and always come away from meet ups feeling fab!!! And it feels like such a lovely dynamic. Whereas I really like this other friend sometimes all we talk about is her baby’s routine and I come away yearning for a bit more adult chat and feeling flat.

Sorry that was a long scene set. FF to now, had my DD’s Naming Day party, invited friend from initial NCT group and the baby signing group. Somehow my NCT friend has given the impression that she’s a bit of a Billy no mates. Not the case she’s lived and worked here all her life and has lots of friends and networks and even though we saw each other regularly she was often off with other groups or friends that were also on mat leave or worked PT - no invite extended to me. Which I never expected it to be. My friends from the new group have now suggested I invite her to things - a BBQ one is hosting and a play day lunch. I didn’t think she’d accept but she has and it’s really unsettled me. I might be being a d*ck but I’m worried that it will change the dynamic and that I’ll be pushed off to the peripheral with her and will have to almost baby sit. Whilst she is lovely she is not as upbeat and outgoing as those in this group and doesn’t have a yearning to have a life outside of her baby, her partner never attends events - bit of a lads lad and things like the BBQ I want to be able to take my DH and go to as a family (partners have been invited to the BBQ too). I’m worried that will change and spoil things before it properly got started when I might finally have found a friendship group that makes you feel like they should. I also don’t want them to feel sorry for her, I.e struggling Mum with not many friends - this isn’t the case at all. She even sees a couple of the others from the NCT group as well occasionally whereas I don’t see any of them. Am I being a cow? What do I do??

OP posts:
Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 07:35

I should add that my friend has accepted these invites with relish.

OP posts:
Whatafackinliberty · 17/08/2019 07:42

You sound like a total cow tbh. Why are you.mates with someone you find so boring?

Itsreallymehonest · 17/08/2019 07:44

Perhaps they just like her. Try not to over analyse too much. Are you worried that you are obligated to "look after her" whilst she is in your new group?

herculepoirot2 · 17/08/2019 07:46

You are being a cow, yes.

herculepoirot2 · 17/08/2019 07:47

I should add that my friend has accepted these invites with relish.

Is there some reason that she shouldn’t?

Bodicea · 17/08/2019 07:48

I don get it. You like her. You like your new friends. She likes them. She is happy to get to know them. Just let it happen naturally. You don’t have to babysit her. It’s a nice thing to do. You don’t have to keep these new friends to yourself.

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 07:50

Maybe I am being @Whatafackinliberty but good friendship groups are hard to come by and I don’t want to give up on a potential good one. Actually never realised until this week but yes if we’re being blunt I suppose I do find her quite boring now the baby bubble is lifting. Doesn’t stop her being a nice genuine person though but I do need more than baby talk.

OP posts:
Whatafackinliberty · 17/08/2019 07:50

So surely seeing her in a larger group of people is the ideal solution?

GreenTulips · 17/08/2019 07:51

I can see where you are coming from. It’s like inviting a partner to an all girls lunch. It’s awkward.

I wouldn’t worry about the BBQ if family are invited, her DP and keep her company or she can mingle.

In future just accept or decline invites, the person organising should extend invitations not you.

I get she’s hard work. Just be polite.

PurpleFlower1983 · 17/08/2019 07:54

Maybe she will find someone she gets on better with than you in this new group, they’ve done a nice thing.

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 07:54

@Itsreallymehonest yes, I’m now thinking ooh should I take DH today as she won’t be with her partner, and yes I feel Iimd I’ll have to babysit and and it won’t be as easy and natural as it usually is, then I keep thinking bloody hell I shouldn’t be fretting about this. I feel like something easy has turned into something difficult. Well she’s nice why wouldn’t they but no from what they’ve intimated it’s definitely more of an obligation/feeling sorry for her.

OP posts:
Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 07:57

@GreenTulips that’s the thing there’s no way her DP would come, she hasn’t even asked him as she knows what the answer will be.

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 17/08/2019 07:59

Then you invite your DP, she’s a grown woman she’ll have her child with her.
You don’t have to be responsible for her other than have a quick chat and fetch her a drink. Flirt with your friends and give her some space.

BitOftheSea · 17/08/2019 07:59

You sound quite unkind and teenage bitchy yourself. Your new friends have invited her because they’re nice people, they’ll either all get on or they won’t. And what can you do about it anyway? Say ‘stop inviting my other friend, I find her boring?’ If they’re nice people that’s not going to impress them.

Ncprivacy · 17/08/2019 08:01

You sound like a cow tbh. You want to keep her in her place instead of letting her make new friends? She doesn't belong to you, you are not responsible for her so I'm sure you can invite your DP to the BBQ if you want Hmm

Turniptracker · 17/08/2019 08:03

Just wanted to drop by and say I get it. People probably think I'm a cow too. I don't like mixing friends at all as I find dynamics are different with all groups and I don't want to upset those dynamics. I don't have any suggestions except to force yourself NOT to babysit. Either she fits in and gets along with everyone or she will stop coming

NoSauce · 17/08/2019 08:03

I think it would be kind to invite her personally, she was good enough for you before your new mates.

And use paragraphs please. So much waffle and so hard to read.

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 17/08/2019 08:04

Don't babysit her - let her get on with it she's a grown woman who accepted an invitation it's not your job to nanny her.

I can understand your discomfort though but as someone else said just allow these friendships to develop organically. Yours and hers, yours with the wider group and hers with the wider group. If she's as boring as you say the others might tire of her eventually anyway.
Just go along with your DH and be bright and friendly and fun.

BeardedMum · 17/08/2019 08:09

Your friend from NCT have other friends and things going on. She doesn’t want to adult-socialise with you and has never invited you into her groups. Now you have your own group, you don’t like that it is also her group and perhaps feel she will take over the friendship. I don’t think she is the boring one, but that you are insecure worrying that you are really the boring one. I think you should relax and it might work out fine.

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 08:10

Of course I have passed on the invite @NoSauce I’m not a complete bitch!!

OP posts:
7yo7yo · 17/08/2019 08:14

I’m a bitch and wouldn’t have invited her.
I would also take my partner and NOT babysit her child.
Not because I like/dislike her but because I don’t want to change the dynamics of a friendship group that I like.

HangryPants · 17/08/2019 08:14

OP you really don't come across well in your first post Sad. It's quite overwhelming.

MollyButton · 17/08/2019 08:15

I think it might help you to do a bit of introspection about past friendships especially those when growing up. Did you find yourself pushed out of groups? Did you have friends who were far more popular? Or did you have to be the popular one?
Maybe even read Queen Bees and Wannabes.
In your new group of friends who are you friendly with? Are you still trying to break into the group, and feel like an outsider. Do you ever see any of them on a 1 to 1 basis?

Remember friendships change and can be quite fluid. And especially when you have children you will be meeting new people at Nursery and then School, and friendships will change.

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 08:15

@BeardedMum I am definitely not the boring one! I am very much secure in knowing that fact.

She doesn’t do any adult socialising, that’s the thing, it’s not that she doesn’t want to with me, she just isn’t interested in it full stop, Can’t let anyone else put DC to bed, complicated routines etc. And that’s fine but I don’t want to be held back by that. She does other things but it’s always Mum/Kids stuff during the week.

OP posts:
HeffaLump1 · 17/08/2019 08:15

You didn't originate the invite so it's not up to you to make sure she is ok, beyond the usual things a friend would do. It's up to the host