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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Overexcited 'friend' and baby

168 replies

AllTheGrrrrsAreTaken · 23/09/2019 10:14

Long-time lurker looking for advice.

Background, as to not to drip feed: DD is 6 weeks old, first child for DH and me. My family lives overseas and we like them, DH's family lives 45min away and "it is complicated". We go NC when MIL goes full-on narc but otherwise, have a polite visit every 4 to 6 weeks or so. They are not allowed to babysit and never will be.

While family support is limited, we have great friends who support us and are our part of our family. DH's "childhood" group of friends includes one woman, let's call her Abby, who became part of that group because she used to be BFFs with DH's best friend's girlfriend. I say used to be, because best friend's girlfriend hinted to us that she has outgrown the friendship but doesn't quite know how to deal with it. Abby is 28 but has never quite gotten past the teenage "we are going to be best friends for ever and ever" stage, which means she is not noticing the otherwise difficult to miss signs that the friendship is on its last legs. Not my circus, not my monkey, and naturally, we are staying out of this.

Abby has been babycrazy all her life (you can see where this is going) and wants nothing more than to get married and have children. She only ever had one boyfriend in her early 20s, which lasted for a couple of months. She does not date casually, which obviously is a perfectly fine choice but I imagine it makes it more difficult to find someone. When DH and me got together, I sensed some slight jealousy but decided to ignore it. I knew that DH asked her out once but nothing came of it because she seemed unenthusiastic and he didn't want to pressure her. Even if they did have a thing in the past, I wouldn't care, so really no reason for him to lie and she confirmed his story. When we got engaged, her response was "He asked me out first", eventually followed by "congratulations". I am not easily threatened, so at my end I just find it mildly annoying.

DD's "godparents" (we have an outing non-religious name for them) are DH's best friend + girlfriend and my best friend + her partner, who live a few hours away.

The Situation: We always used to have gatherings at our place, as most of that sub-group of our friends works in the city we live in, but lives just outside of it. It the most practical option. Now that DD is here even more so. We also want her to build a relationship with her godparents, as these four people really are like family to us.

The issue is that as soon as Abby hears someone else is here - even if it just DH's best friend stopping by to say hello and have a quick pint with DH on his way home - she will be over like shot and trying to babyhog (which we stop). She thinks she knows what sort of mental stimulation DD needs because she is a primary school teacher (I have a PhD in Developmental Neuroscience...still don't think I know what is best for someone else's child). She keeps talking about all the things she will do differently when she becomes a mother (like be a SAHM - which just isn't for me and that apparently makes me a substandard mother Hmm). She gifted us mountains of Disney stuff, although we have repeatedly told her we have got everything we need and want (she is really into Disney - I have no strong opinion on Disney but I am slowly getting to the point of hating it...). All of it plastic (toys) or high in polyester (clothes), which I don't really want to have near a newborn in these masses. Breastfeeding in front of people (in my living room, discreetely) was apparently something "she had always expected of me", because of my promiscuous past. I told her I am glad she knows that sexual exploration can make a woman more confident and comfortable in her body, and recommend she gives it a try.

And of course, there is the judgemental look and silence when we do something in relation to DD she does not approve of, and generally ruining the mood. The bottom-line is that she is probably jealous of me/us/"the life she could have had" and cannot hide it well. Normally I would just repeatedly put her in her place but I am lacking sleep.

The Question: Would I be unreasonable to ban Abby from our house? At least for a while?

I honestly have to ask. We usually have an open door policy. My hormones haven't quite calmed down yet and I don't have any shared history of "going through good and bad times together" with her, so I am not sure if I am being unfair. Neither does DH, technically, but I don't want to rip "his" group of childhood friends apart. DH feels similiarly but hopes that his best friend's girlfriend will finally cut Abby off, so that we don't have to do anything. He would support me either way but I am not sure if banning her might not be a little over the top?

OP posts:
NWQM · 23/09/2019 10:57

For me she is spoiling for you a very precious time. You shouldn't need to be worrying about this so don't. Get your partner to text her saying that she needs to call first before coming round. Personally I'd be inclined to say why but that might just get lots of effort from her to apologise etc.

I think he should tell the others why. Apologise for any awkwardness but suggest they don't publicise for a while they are coming as you fear she'll turn up and it was embarrassing when you have to turn her away.

Her breastfeeding comment is awful.

Actaea · 23/09/2019 10:58

Truthfully I’d start excluding her. Tell the others she isn’t welcome in your home because of her behaviour. Don’t answer the door or phone to her. Don’t invite her to any meet ups (if someone else invites her then so be it). And make sure they know what she’s saying and doing - she sounds like she’s only on the periphery of the group anyway, maybe they’ll just cut her out if you’re obviously uncomfortable with her.

ScreamingValenta · 23/09/2019 10:58

It sounds as though you loathe Abby - you don't have a good word to say about her in your OP - she doesn't seem to treat you very well at all - so I don't understand why there should be any pretence at friendship.

You come across as having double standards - you criticise Abby because She thinks she knows what sort of mental stimulation DD needs - yet you are happy to make assumptions about Abby's underlying mental state - The bottom-line is that she is probably jealous of me/us/"the life she could have had. Why do you think that, when she was unenthusiastic about going out with your DH?

Your 'friendship' seems to be toxic - I think you'd both be better off out of it. But if you are waiting for someone else to do your dirty work for you - DH feels similiarly but hopes that his best friend's girlfriend will finally cut Abby off, so that we don't have to do anything you might be stuck in the situation indefinitely.

VBT2 · 23/09/2019 10:59

You have a 6 week old baby, that’s more than enough of a reason to ban anyone from your home. She sounds like hard work, which you just don’t need. Just tell her she has made you feel uncomfortable and so isn’t welcome. End of drama. As you say, she isn’t even your friend.

Hederex · 23/09/2019 10:59

I voted YANBU but I don't think you need to ban her.
The reality is these people are not your family. They will come and go and may not always feature so heavily in your lives. It sounds like it has the potential to become stifling and unhealthy over time.

Just treat every situation on its own merits. For example, the comment about breastfeeding would have led to me asking her to leave.
Sulking would lead me to say firmly 'I am DD's parent and if you can't deal with how I choose to parent her, please don't stay'.
Re her turning up randomly, I'd speak to Emily and ask that she not broadcast to Abby that she is coming round.

This open door policy isn't working because you have a very regular house guest who isn't your friend.

YouJustDoYou · 23/09/2019 11:01

I find it amusing some are trying to goad OP by saying "you're both loving the drama" or whatever. When, as op has clearly explained, she calmly deflects this woman and her attempts at goading op. Can't see anywhere in whatever she has said that she is "loving the drama".

OP, she's not your friend, as you have said - you have every right to say "no, not today". Or, even not ever - why on earth some people think you MUST have her over I don't know. You can have who you want in your house.
I have a "friend" who does similar, and it's got the point where she is trying to be in the house every chance she gets. I'm an introvert, I like my space before I go to bed, so I've just started telling that to her. "Not today. I'm tired and need space". ALso as pp said, mention you don;t want her knowing when people are coming over.

And, kudos to you for your response to her for being so obviously spiteful with the breastfeeding comment, you have buckets of calm grace. WHat did your dh think when she said this? Can he not see what she's like? Does HE want her in the house?

WTFdidwedo · 23/09/2019 11:03

That breastfeeding comment is the fucking weirdest thing. Also Teddybear45 I am 28 as are most of my friends and I struggle to see them once a month. I literally have no friends this age who want to see each other every day? We're all married and have either started families or will be soon.

Morgan12 · 23/09/2019 11:05

Is your DH even friends with Abby? Would he miss her, would he go for a drink with just her etc?

It doesn't even sound like she is either of your friends. So don't feel bad for cutting her off. She sounds suffocating.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 23/09/2019 11:12

Life is too short for any of this pathetic drama.

regmover · 23/09/2019 11:12

Op, you've been doing great. But if she's in the habit of making rude comments about you be ready, and next time she does "OK, I don't know if you meant to be so rude, but that's really offensive. I'd like you to leave now". Then "apology accepted, but I'd still like you to leave. I'm not going to be spoken to like that in my home"...

AllTheGrrrrsAreTaken · 23/09/2019 11:15

@ScreamingValenta When the topic came up, she said she was very enthusiastic but expected DH to ask one or two more times. Why, I really do not know. Emily mentioned way back that Abby seems angry that DH was now dating someone who was not a hot mess. The white lace dress she wore to our wedding ("the" chi chi london dress) was the point at which even I admited she was probably jealous.

Thank you all for the feedback thus far. I moved abroad straight after school so am no longer close with my childhood and highschool friends. That sometimes makes it difficult for me to put myself in the shoes of someone who is still close with theirs. Emily is going through a bit of a mental health crisis at the moment but her partner is usually quite good about reigning Abby in, so I see how much we can cut the info train.

Ironically, only Abby uses social media beyond messengers, so tagging etc is not really an issue.

OP posts:
Zebraaa · 23/09/2019 11:16

I don’t think you come across well yourself to be honest. It’s entirely your choice who you ban from your house but I get the impression you don’t like her because your husband was previously interested in her. You all sound quite bitchy and teenager-ish.

AllTheGrrrrsAreTaken · 23/09/2019 11:17

Argh, sorry for all the typos, breastfeeding and typing single handedly.

OP posts:
IncogMeToo · 23/09/2019 11:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WellThisIsShit · 23/09/2019 11:19

Oh dear, that’s awkward.

The way you’re setting up the problem basically sounds like choosing whether to disrupt the dynamics of a close knit friendship group, that may well dissolve its current lovely tightness ... or putting up with this persons awful behaviour and letting her stamp all over you.

Is there a third way? Difficult I know.

Perhaps talking to her and setting boundaries around her behaviour?

Or at least starting to push back firmly instead of just little set downs which come across as you sniping and being mean rather than you directly addressing her inappropriate behaviour. So, repeating back what she’s saying to you, or summarising the meaning, and then saying ‘it’s really inappropriate to come into our home and say that’. It would be better if your dh would take her aside and pick her up on her behaviour though, and protect you when she’s behaving so badly. If you are just seen as trading insults, she’ll see it as an issue between you two, rather than her being unacceptable in your (you & your partners) home.

YippeeKayakOtherBuckets · 23/09/2019 11:20

I think the birth of your first child is the perfect time to put your open door policy to bed.

Don’t shy away from telling her it’s time to leave. Or just to fuck off, which is what I would have said after the breastfeeding/promiscuous jab.

ScreamingValenta · 23/09/2019 11:21

When the topic came up, she said she was very enthusiastic but expected DH to ask one or two more times. Why, I really do not know.

I'm not sure you can read too much into that. If you were discussing the matter, she would have to come up with something to say that wasn't insulting to you for having accepted your now-DH's overtures. If there was something she disliked about his looks or personality, or generally didn't think he would be suitable husband material, it would be awkward to mention that to you, his wife.

custardbear · 23/09/2019 11:21

Just don't let her in when she arrives, tell her you're putting the baby to bed so need some quiet time, perhaps phone or text in future if she wants to pop round and you can let her know if it's convenient

Job jobbed as never will it be convenient!

AntiHop · 23/09/2019 11:22

That comments about breastfeeding was awful and enough to get her out of your lives. I'd cut her out. Refuse gifts, turn her away if she arrives. She sounds awful.

Clangus00 · 23/09/2019 11:22

When she comes to the door, don’t let her in.

IncogMeToo · 23/09/2019 11:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Smotheroffive · 23/09/2019 11:26

She sounds awful, and I don't understand why you can't stand up to her.

Such a judgemental comment and quite how it can be related to bf is beyond me.

How didn't you kick her out!?

Again, like others have said, how does she even know you extended an invite?
How come, when she just magically appears do you not say, we weren't expecting you?/ what are you doing?/we are in the middle of something here, I don't recall asking you over/I didn't ask you over.

Your baby is only six weeks, how many times can this have happened?!

It doesn't matter her reasons or feelings for others like your dh, she's downright rude and horrible to you. The bf and promiscuity sentence doesn't even make sense!

RavenLG · 23/09/2019 11:28

After all that I’d ban her from your life let alone your house.

mbosnz · 23/09/2019 11:28

What about when she turns up, saying, 'sorry Abby, so and so is over right now, and we're catching up with them, so it's not convenient to have you over right now. We'll let you know when it's your turn. Bye now'. . .

She's breathtakingly rude, so perhaps you're going to have to be similarly 'rude' right back. . .

Chocolatelover45 · 23/09/2019 11:31

Just tell her you are too tired for visitors and don't let her in. No need to turn it into some huge drama.