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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I being manipulated here?

95 replies

Realmumstuff · 06/01/2020 18:52

Hi, wasn't sure where to put this...

I think I know the answer is yes but really want some advice here. It's a bit of a long story but will try and keep it as short as possible.

DD changed schools in year 4 and made a good friend called M who at first DD was best friends with, me and my partner became pals with the parents and all was well. Then it all became very full on, wanting to spend every minute together...my DD was changing and found it too much and eventually over the years although they are still friends they are not close at all (v different kids). We are still friends with the parents.

In year 5 a girl joined, I'll call her R, DD and R have a lot in common and became very close. I became friends with R's mum and this friendship was very important to my DD (still is). M became very jealous of R and made life difficult for DD and R (I get it, it can't have been easy). All us mums are friends although R's mum insists she is not close to M's mum (not sure why she tells me this).

I tried to get R, M and DD together several times but the jealousy from M was too much. R's mum did the same and again M's jealousy was too much. R's mum said R doesn't get on with M at all but adores my DD. So we all agreed that R and DD would meet up away from M, not secretly...we all discussed this and was all honest, DD would also meet up with M away from R. R's mum still maintained R doesn't like M and won't be spending time with her.

So fast forward to year 7, R had to move schools but still is close enough to meet with DD so although DD was upset things still kind of worked, DD made some new friends. M rolled along and made new friends and occasionally M and DD got together but DD still close with R and they talk every day. I am still close to both parents. It was at this point my DD's confidence took a nose dive and really struggles in social situations.

Fast forward to year 8. M's parents told us they are moving M to R's school. R's mum not happy, maintaining they are not close and doesn't want M in Rs class. DD ok with it and will remain in her current school as doing v well.

So FF to now....M's parents had 2 separate drinks. We were asked to one and Rs parents (as well as some of our old friends) were asked to the second, I found out about this from R's mum who said she really wanted it to be one big drink together but said she thinks M's mum is jealous of my and her friendship. I was a bit annoyed by this too and agreed with R's mum.

So FF a few weeks we then had some drinks for a few parents. I invited both R and M's parents. R said she couldn't as they had tickets to an Xmas light show that day, M's mum said they would all love to and that M and DD can take the little ones to the park, lovely I thought. So DD texted R to say it's a shame she couldn't make it. R said that she was waiting for M to arrive as they were going out, my DD was really upset by this as she thought she was seeing M, when R asked M's mum that my DD was expecting M to be with her today all we heard was 'well that was never the intention' M ended up sleeping over at R's. DD ended up by herself. As we had a lot of our friends around I didn't feel It was right to ask where M was to M's mum but I was very angry about it...not sure how I held it in! It now turns out that R and M have seen each other a number of times without my DD. R and M's mum have not mentioned a thing to me. I still hear how they are not close from R's parents. DD is still v close to R and are always talking. She seems more like her old self, but can I risk her dropping her like hot bricks? R is the only one who seems to be honest, her mum nor M's mum doesn't seem to be.

My partner says to drop both of them and leave them to it. Thing is, that's not me. I want to talk this out and work out wtf is going on! What do I do? My DD still wants to meet with R especially.

Angry Sorry about the long message! Any advice you could give would be great!

OP posts:
Boom45 · 06/01/2020 18:56

How old are these kids? Teenagers? Leave em too it, they'll sort it out. Really don't get too invested in teenage friendships.

Yeahnah2020 · 06/01/2020 18:58

Too many Ms, Rs, Ps I gave up

WorraLiberty · 06/01/2020 18:59

Christ alive!

I'm so glad my mum never used me or my siblings to improve her social circle.

First and foremost these are your daughter's friends and the whole thing sounds ridiculously complicated, since the adults got involved.

If all the adults backed off and let the kids get on with it, I'm sure there'd be far less of a problem - just kids finding their own way around their own friendship circles.

OhMeows · 06/01/2020 19:00

Leave the kids to it. Keep your relationship with the parents separate. You can't manage your child's friendships, even though you might want to protect her.

Kids chop and change a lot at this age, I don't think it's too uncommon. Just wait it out and encourage DD to make more friends.

Sparklesocks · 06/01/2020 19:00

I think you need to leave your daughter to manage her own friendships, it’s part of growing up even though it’s hard at times

Unicornhamster · 06/01/2020 19:01

There’s nothing to work out, they are in what? Year 7 or 8? Why are you so invested? To be honest all I got from this is you’re happy for your DD to have separate meet ups with these girls but not happy for them to do the same. Step back leave them to it, you can’t control other kids friendships and you shouldn’t control your daughters either.

cansu · 06/01/2020 19:02

I think the problem is you are mixing your own relationship with the mums up with the girls being friends. In your place I would encourage your dd to socialise more with the girls she has made friends with in school rather than R or M. It seems likely that R and M will probably spend more time together as they are in school together. I think R's mum sounds like she is being a bit two faced but I would disengage from all this drama and adopt a much more breezy approach. Invite them if you like them but don't expect your friendships to mirror the kids' friendships.

WorraLiberty · 06/01/2020 19:04

To be honest all I got from this is you’re happy for your DD to have separate meet ups with these girls but not happy for them to do the same.

Yes, that's what I got from it too.

dontlikebeards · 06/01/2020 19:05

Back off OP! Your dd is a teenager, she can choose her own friends and the others are allowed to spend time with whomever they choose.

Glovesick · 06/01/2020 19:05

Wow OP, I can see how you would be a bit upset for your DD, but angry? Seems extreme.

AriadnesFilament · 06/01/2020 19:06

I can’t follow any of that.

RhiWrites · 06/01/2020 19:07

It could all be true. The girls aren’t close but they are becoming closer since moving schools. M’s mum is envious of your friendship with R’s mum and wants an independent friendship without including you.

The one shady thing was M’s mum saying she’d bring M to your party when she had plans to drop her off at R’s. But that could be a mistake.

Or they could all be shady AF. But if you get further involved you’ll drive yourself batty. Try to let it go.

Jeezoh · 06/01/2020 19:08

You need to step back, I’m also getting that you’re happy for your DD to maintain seperate contact with R and M but are miffed that R and M are doing the same. I don’t know of any parents of children in senior school who are as invested in their child’s friendships as you seem to be.

SmellMySmellbow · 06/01/2020 19:11

Hang on. So it was all OK when your DD liked both R and M and would see them separately to each other. But when roles switch and R becomes the one seeing both your DD and M separately it becomes an issue? Why can't they all maintain separate relationships? What's the issue with R and M suddenly getting along together? Your DD doesn't seem bothered so why are you?

Quartz2208 · 06/01/2020 19:11

the girls friendships I think have been mismanaged from the start and then the mum relationship started mirroring it.

I would focus on DD and new friendships at school

TheresWaldo · 06/01/2020 19:12

Your dd is at secondary and you should not be this overinvested in her friendships. My friends have children in the same year at the same school and none of them hang out together. It's a bit awkward sometimes at big gatherings, but we let them get on with it and our own friendship has nowt to do with theirs.

SmellMySmellbow · 06/01/2020 19:13

And if the parents have kept R and M's new friendship on the down low, and indeed their better friendship, it's because they thought you might be weird about it. As you are being, so they're right.

CoffeeConnoiseur · 06/01/2020 19:14

all I got from this is you’re happy for your DD to have separate meet ups with these girls but not happy for them to do the same

This ^

They're in year 8, they don't need you managing their friendships.

R and M are now at school together, at a completely separate school to your DD, there's going to be loads that they'll do together that won't include your DD, so better start getting your head around that.

If you want to keep in touch with R and M's parents then do, with no expectations that the children will remain friends.

Cohle · 06/01/2020 19:14

Like previous posters I think you need to really separate your relationship with the mothers from your DD's friendships. You're making this about you when really it isn't.

Rachie1973 · 06/01/2020 19:16

Yr 8 or 9 so teens.

Leave them alone!

Realmumstuff · 06/01/2020 19:21

Yeah, sorry it was so long...

No, I'm not miffed that they spend time together at all, I just don't get why all the secrecy and insistence that they don't get on. Fine if they see each other.

I used to always leave my daughter to work it out for herself, she was very resilient. But more recently I have been overprotective of my DD as she is having major anxiety issues which we are getting help for, social anxiety and panic attacks were common. We are slowly getting her back, I'm just really worried she may nose dive again. My daughter just wants everything out in the open. I just didn't know what to say when she asked me why did they lie and say they were coming when the plan was for them to get together.

Both mums have asked me (separately) for our regular coffee morning, I don't know what to do? Make excuses and not go or go and not mention anything or mention something?

OP posts:
BaolFan · 06/01/2020 19:23

Jesus you sound so over-involved it's untrue.

Step back and stop interfering and trying to micromanage your daughter's friendships. In Year 8 they are old enough to sort this out between them.

ShinyRuby · 06/01/2020 19:23

Take a big step back. You sound over involved. They're old enough to sort things out between themselves.
Teach your daughter to respect herself & others & to widen her social circle. If they're meeting up without her, encourage her to make other plans or enjoy some valuable time to herself. Build her self worth, it's probably awful for her when you get so involved. It sounds like you never switch off.
Teens see everything on social media now, there's no escape from knowing what others are doing. Your job is to help her not be too affected by this not to rant about it.

CoffeeConnoiseur · 06/01/2020 19:25

I just don't get why all the secrecy and insistence that they don't get on

Because you're so friggen weird about it.

BaolFan · 06/01/2020 19:26

As we had a lot of our friends around I didn't feel It was right to ask where M was to M's mum but I was very angry about it...not sure how I held it in!

This doesn't sound like someone who "isn't miffed" that R & M are spending time together without your DD.

Look, I know you are trying to protect your DD and that you are worried about her MH. But the best way to her is to be an open and non-judgemental and supportive presence, and to help her learn some emotional resilience. You can't wade in and fight all of her battles for her - and I speak as someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety (starting from your DD's age) for the whole of my adult life.

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