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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:
WhyBirdStop · 17/08/2019 08:51

This is why when people say have you made any ', mum friends' I say no (with relish). You need more in your life. You're the one creating teenage bullshit. Aren't you and all your drinking mummy friends who never really about your children just super 🙄

WhyBirdStop · 17/08/2019 08:52

*talk

Beautiful3 · 17/08/2019 08:52

You worked hard to get friends so why should you help her out?! That's the attitude coming across. She's a grown woman, of course she doesnt need baby sitting! Go with your family as planned and acknowledge her when she gets there. Mingle and chat with who ever you like. When you leave spend 10 minutes chatting with her before you go home. It's not difficult to include everyone.

NoSauce · 17/08/2019 08:53

Are you worried your new friends will prefer her or something else? Because I don’t understand why you’re being so mean about her being invited. Your new friends sound lovely actually, be careful how play this one out OP as you could end up looking like the bad guy and be dropped from the group.

Everyone is different. She was good enough for you before the new friends arrived, remember that.

FlashingLights101 · 17/08/2019 09:00

The thing is, if all she really has is her baby and her DH doesn't like to do much with her, she probably doesn't have much else to talk about than her baby. It becomes a bit cyclical. So perhaps by putting her in a large group of people who aren't all talking about their babies, it might encourage her to branch out into non-baby related topics and break the habit.

Many of us have been there (I look back now and recognise I could be a bit of a baby bore, but that was literally my life at the time and I didn't have much else going on).

You liked her enough to start with, give her a chance. No need to babysit her or not take your DH, she's a grown woman and your other friends seem nice, I'm sure she'll just be included, especially if she was genuinely pleased to have been invited.

AGenericUsername · 17/08/2019 09:00

It's nice that these other people have invited her. They must see that she's a lovely person who is struggling with the change of becoming a mum and are offering her a hand of support. It sounds like you've found the change easy but some people aren't this lucky and don't find being a mum is as natural as they expected. Support her, don't isolate her. You won't need to baby sit her, just help her to integrate into the group. There's no need to be "pushed off to the peripheral."

Justathinslice · 17/08/2019 09:01

I sound like your friend.
I don't drink - it just doesn't agree with me.
I'm not keen on parties. I am quiet, but I'm still confident. I find people to chat to, and go when I've had enough.

What absolutely pisses me off to no end is when people assume I'm not having a good time, just because I'm not drunk.
People don't have to be loud, or the centre of the group to have a good time.

Kewlwifee · 17/08/2019 09:04

She's just had a baby. She's had years to be out on the piss. She's probably just evolved with her new circumstances whereas you're still dreaming of your uni days.

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 09:04

Seriously @Holidaysmoliday you’ve got that completely wrong. If I was that sort of person I wouldn’t be wasting my time questioning my feelings on here asking for advice would I 🙄!!! I’d just be pressing on with my agenda!

I like this group precisely because it’s not like that at all!!!!! Everyone’s very much on an equal footing and it’s so refreshing - as I have said I couple of times.

OP posts:
Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 09:06

Babies are all around 19/20 months btw.

OP posts:
TigerLilyMasie · 17/08/2019 09:06

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.

this. I get it. Mixing different friends does change the dynamic. It's a fact.

gingersausage · 17/08/2019 09:09

I don’t understand how you have so many friends when you don’t sound very friendly yourself. Sounds like you see yourself as the chess master moving your little pawns around the board. Take the intensity down a few hundred notches and stop bitching behind your friends’ backs, or you’re going to find yourself out in the cold and it’ll be your own doing.

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 09:09

@Kewlwifee that’s not it at all I found it completely overwhelming and not having everything so baby focused and feeling like I have a balance has really helped that’s why having 2 hours of potty training and sleep training chat feels totally anxiety inducing!

OP posts:
mumofwantwomany · 17/08/2019 09:11

you mentioned "teenage bs" in your OP, yet this is the very definition of teenage bs

she doesn't need babysitting in social situations as she's a grown adult

GreenTulips · 17/08/2019 09:14

OP if this woman is so stuck in baby talk and your other friends aren’t, what makes you think she’ll suddenly turn into a party animal? She’ll bore the other equally surely?

Or is it that you know she won’t mix well and you’ll end up sat with her and not enjoy the party as much?

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 09:14

@mumofwantwomany and this is what I needed to here I feel obligated probably because I am a nice person!!! If I didn’t give a crap I wouldn’t be here. But it’s ok to not want to feel obligated and to have a nice time as well. People are telling me to let her get on with it and that is what I shall do.

OP posts:
Kewlwifee · 17/08/2019 09:15

Have you spoken to your GP or HV? It sounds like you're struggling to adapt to your new responsibilities and use friends and social life to deflect from that. Maybe she's behaving very typically and you're not. Have you considered that?

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 09:17

@GreenTulips I think you’ve hit it on the head, and I think that is why we might be bandied together and I’ll end up on the peripheral. I know from a lot of the replies that I am probably overthinking it but I didn’t know why I was feeling so strongly or particularly want to be feeling like this.

OP posts:
Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 09:18

It’s not about being a party animal it’s about there being a balance, I know I’m not unusual for wanting that at over 18 months in!

OP posts:
GreenPillows · 17/08/2019 09:19

I think if they were so keen to invite a new person to thing your “group” isn’t frozen in time anyway. There will always be others who change the dynamic she’s just the first

Fatasfooook · 17/08/2019 09:20

You sound quite selfish tbh

Limoncellosunshine · 17/08/2019 09:20

And it’s not just about drinking, just talking about and doing other activities, clothes, cinema, books annoying DPs etc. Anything but solid hours discussing bedtime routines whilst chasing a toddler round!

OP posts:
Ellabella234 · 17/08/2019 09:21

I don't feel you are being very kind to be honest. She has accepted the invite. Have you stopped to think maybe she feels open to the opportunity to become more settled into a more outgoing, less-boring part of herself that she has lost in the overwhelming constant emotional journey that is motherhood? Just go to be bbq, have a good time, let her enjoy herself too and let things be what they will be. It's really nice of the group to have invited her. I don't want to sound harsh but you don't sound like you've got the right perspective on any of this. I doubt she is expecting to be babysat by you. She is a grown woman, her own person, you didn't know her before you both became mothers, and maybe her personal journey has been different to yours in that she has lost touch with her confidence and that part of herself that stops friends like you seeing her as boring. I would be hurt to be spoken about in this way by someone I saw as one of my main close friends. I think you need to have a rethink. Just leave her be herself, support her and try to enjoy your time with her and the group of ladies at the BBQ, and be a good friend to all of them, including her. Xx

HangryPants · 17/08/2019 09:21

People are telling me to let her get on with it and that is what I shall do.

Just be a normal person - friendly, inclusive and take some time to have a chat with her. Just don't take responsibility for her for the entire time. She's an adult. She'll manage fine.

If you end up on the periphery that'll be down to you, not her.

I think reading that Queen Bees book might be a good idea.

Kewlwifee · 17/08/2019 09:22

When do you think she last went to the cinema? Do you think talking about clothes is intelligent conversation?

It sounds like you're different people. You're more Kylie Jenner and she's sort of Gwyneth P. Hopefully minus the vagina steaming.