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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:
Juells · 17/08/2019 08:16

"frugal"

Confused
TregunaMekoides · 17/08/2019 08:19

It's interesting that you cite one of the reasons you were glad to move away from your old friends was all the teenage bs and jealousy, and yet here you are causing just that with this new group!
Honestly, just get over yourself and invite her. The group obviously like her or they wouldn't have bothered. If she goes and makes friends with the others then she will become less and less your "responsibility". And maybe they will draw out the best in her. If she's "frugal" she probably won't come to everything they do. You don't own this group, they can be friends with who they want. But if you act sour faced about it all they might start questioning their friendships with you. So slap on a smile and get on with it.

flamingjune123 · 17/08/2019 08:19

It sounds as if you're worried that your baby signing friends will find NCT friend good fun and you may be pushed out
I do sympathise but it may help to just take a deep breath, go to the bbq and realise that you have no responsibility for her, she's an adult. Be yourself h with or without your partner) and let what will be just happen.

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 08:20

Also @BeardedMum no it’s not that I feel she will take over, she isn’t that sort of person at all. More that it will upset the dynamics is the best I can do to put the feelings in writing. For instance the last time we all went out we barely spoke about our babies and routines we were chatting about so many other things, it’s so refreshing. With this other friend I have begun to notice babies - specifically her baby is all we talk about, and it’s quite draining.

OP posts:
Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 08:23

@Juells pretty f’ing tight then to put it bluntly. I was trying to be polite!

OP posts:
HangryPants · 17/08/2019 08:23

She doesn’t do any adult socialising

How do you know? You said in your first post, "she has lots of friends and networks and even though we saw each other regularly she was often off with other groups or friends".

1arlingtonroad · 17/08/2019 08:23

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.
You don’t sound as though you like her very much.
You find your new friends more exciting etc. Do her a favour and ditch her, she needs better friends than you .

boomboom1234 · 17/08/2019 08:24

Ok I can understand how you feel and I think it's important you act today how you want it to be in the future. It's in your hands if you act like a babysitter or not. Stop overthinking.

Take your husband as that's what you want to do and talk to everyone exactly how you would do normally, chat with her but move on as you would etc and don't feel any obligation. Just be kind.

She doesn't want to do any of the night out stuff anyway so I don't think it will be as big a deal As you think it will.

Let them Mack up there one minds. And don't bitch about her to them. If they like her they like her. If they find her a bore I'm sure it will come out in due course.

Just be yourself and don't let it bring you down before it's even an issue. Good luck!

WhoReallyCares · 17/08/2019 08:25

I get it OP. I'm a HUGE fan of keeping certain friendships separate, I would hate this too and find it very suffocating. You're not being a cow x

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 08:26

@HangryPants because she spends a lot of time telling how she’s been invited to things but they aren’t going as she just can’t leave DC, doesn’t want to feel like a party proper for not drinking etc.

OP posts:
LL83 · 17/08/2019 08:27

If her dh is a bit of a lad who doesn't come to family things then I suspect that is why she doesn't leave baby with him often, either not worth the hassle or she worries he won't do a good job.

Your friends liked her and invited her, that's fine (nice even). Stop overthinking how it impacts you it really doesn't.

If her dh doesn't come yours still can. She is obviously capable of chatting to people. And as for dynamic changing if she is not able/willing to leave baby she is not going to come to child free socialising. Also seeing her in a group is probably a good balance if you find her boring.

HangryPants · 17/08/2019 08:29

But you said, "she has lots of friends and networks and even though we saw each other regularly she was often off with other groups or friends".

That sounds to me like she does socialising absolutely fine, on her terms.

Why can't you just look forward to this bbq with you doing it your way and her doing it her way?

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 08:30

@boomboom1234 oh no I would never ever bitch about her to them. Or to anyone else IRL whose paths she might cross I have close friends I could have spoken to about this, but it feels so personal and I felt like that would be being bitchy, which is why I came on here for some independent views.

OP posts:
FrogLion · 17/08/2019 08:32

What *boomboom said.
Take your DP, see how you get on today. Let the singing group make up their own minds. I would keep friends separate, as I agree with OP the friend dynamics are different.
Try enjoy the day, and re assess later.

popehilarious · 17/08/2019 08:35

How old are your babies? For some people it is actually quite hard to leave them in the evening, if they won't settle for anyone else or if you're breastfeeding etc. If she feels like a party pooper for not drinking someone's obviously made her feel that way...

MarigoldGlove · 17/08/2019 08:39

I had a similar situation once and I completely understand where you are coming from.

You just need to be really conscious of not feeling responsible for her in the new group. Don’t be the one who is asking her to things any more than you would to any of the other people.

user1493413286 · 17/08/2019 08:39

I don’t entirely understand what you’re worried about. If she fits into the group then great and if not won’t she naturally drop out/not come to things. I don’t see why her coming stops your DP coming to things especially if you’re doing things like shopping and drinks that she doesn’t want to do.
I kind of get that you’re worried about “babysitting” her but that can be avoided by immersing yourself into the group and avoiding always ending up in one on one conversations. Just because the group met her through you doesn’t make her your responsibility.
You’ve made lots of assumptions about her but it sounds like she’s still looking for a group she feels comfortable in; yours may not be it but surely based on your experiences you’d want to give her the chance rather than the clique approach of not letting her join in.

Swellerellamoo · 17/08/2019 08:40

Fucking hell I get that having a friendship group is important to you but with all this chat about 'same outlook' 'same values' and 'great dynamics' not wanting to be 'pushed out' it sounds like you are wanting to develop and maintain an exclusive clique.

While the advantages of being part of a clique are obvious, don't forget how quickly you can be pushed out yourself if you piss enough people off.

ittakes2 · 17/08/2019 08:40

It all sounds a bit complicated. Are you sure you have not lost your perspective? Been so used to the high school bitchiness you described you are over thinking things yourself?

toadabode · 17/08/2019 08:40

You sound VERY intense and like a bit of a cow

Holidaysmoliday · 17/08/2019 08:41

You sound exhausting and controlling

So proof of yourself for the wine and the baby free banter

Let your old friend so her own thing. Tbh she’d be much better without you as you clearly only tolerate her and her boring behaviour.

Lots and lots of mums are overwhelmed with the baby in the first few or more years and choose not to drink and to prioritise putting the baby to bed etc.

You want to be a party girl and have found your crew and don’t want this old boring friend who has sever her purpose to encroach on that

Tell you what- let her go today, blank her totally and see how that leaves you. You can solve it all in one day.

PookieDo · 17/08/2019 08:42

Ok from the sounds of things this woman has a dreadful DP and perhaps feels lonely and anxious that she has no one to enjoy her baby with, because her DP isn’t. This is why she talks about her baby with you so much I guess. I feel a bit sorry for her. Doesn’t sound like her home life is too great and she’s thrown herself into being a mum

I don’t think you should babysit her, just go to the event with DH and enjoy yourself. Let her mingle

If she starts to bore everyone else they will stop inviting her. Just carry on as normal and don’t take responsibility for her

ElizaDee · 17/08/2019 08:42

Just don't pass on their invitations in the future and tell them that she couldn't come. They'll soon stop inviting her.

EssentialHummus · 17/08/2019 08:43

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

I agree with this. I'm at a similar stage to you/maybe a bit further along, and have a bit of a routine with who we meet up with when, who's likely to want a night out etc. It's fine not to invite everyone to everything, but it's also fine when friend C likes the sound of friend A and asks you to extend an invite. Nothing may come of it, or maybe C genuinely likes A and they'll hit it off. "The dynamic" is not some sacrosanct thing - circumstances change, friendship groups can be fluid (esp relatively new ones). But no, you don't have to be off babysitting her - not your job.

Holidaysmoliday · 17/08/2019 08:44

Yes we all recognise you as a ‘queen bee’- controlling and fluffing up the group to your own agenda- desperate to show it is more fun and out there than anyone else’s boring old group.
You don’t want anyone in it who doesn’t match that vibe and will freeze them out and make it clear they aren’t welcome.

We see you OP.
Ugh. School behaviour and something most of us are thrilled we left behind when we matured.

You really do sound awful OP.

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