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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:
P999 · 06/01/2020 22:11

Just agree with both parents that all your DDs get on with it and keep your adult relationship separate. Anything else isn't healthy for your kids on so many levels. Remember, all this to-ing and fro-ing is teaching your daughter a lot of social skills. Also, resilience. Leave them to it!

Butterfly98 · 06/01/2020 22:24

@Realmumstuff tbh you sound over invested in your daughters friendships to the point of coming across as an anxious mum. You seriously need to take a step back and leave M and R to it and also their Mums! You said your daughter had suffered with anxiety previously and even if you're not discussing all of this in front of her she will still pick up on the vibes. Friendships and allegiances change over time for both adults and kids/teenagers. Sometimes people don't get on and suddenly they do and vice versa happens. My instinct is that I don't think either of those Mums have been totally honest with you for some time, it all sounds a bit convoluted that one of them keeps reiterating the point that her DD doesn't like the other Mums DD! Don't presume either that you can formulate lasting friendships with people just because they are the parents of your DD! It can come across as a bit needy sometimes which is off putting!

Butterfly98 · 06/01/2020 22:26

**should read the parents of DD's friends!!

VBT2 · 06/01/2020 22:30

Agree with PP, sounds like you’re overinvested in the detail and possibly seeing things that aren’t there.

I would imagine the other parents maybe had drinks for school friends, then neighbourhood friends or others. You can’t always have a house full.

As for your drinks, maybe M was coming, but changed her mind - she’s a teenage girl after all and she’ll do her own thing.

I would work on supporting your DD to make new friends. 2 close friends at a different school doesn’t sound like the most reliable friendship base. Does she have an interest where she can join a local club - drama, dance, or a sports team? That might also help with her confidence and relieve her anxiety.

2020maddog · 06/01/2020 22:30

This is going to sound really blunt, op. Firstly I'd like to say I hope your daughter is okay, but...
On the night of the 'drinks', I don't understand why you couldn't ask M's mum where M was; seeing it was assumed she was staying with your daughter? You say you want to be open and honest, but, I feel, only the bits that play in your favour.

Also, when this first kicked off, I don't understand why you couldn't validate M's feelings. Yes, she was probably feeling jealous and pushed out. Newsflash: It seems like the jealousy was caused by being pushed out! But you have dismissed M's feelings, all of this time and put it down to 'jealousy'.

Now that your daughter seems to be getting a piece of the pie; you've honed in on your child's feelings and say that this situation is affecting her anxiety. I'm not saying it isn't, but you don't know what obstacles M had to face whilst being ostracised. I'm not saying it was deliberate. Your child can spend time with who she wants.

I think you liked the thought of being the go-between and the 'peacemaker'. And to some extent, having some control over the controversy.

Ps, I am not M's mother!

LolaDarkdestroyer · 06/01/2020 22:50

Well that's 10 minutes of my life I'm not getting back r this m that headache 😩 but yeah that's girls for ya.

TheQueens · 06/01/2020 22:50

Honestly at around 10/11/12 years old I was in a friendship group of 3, there were constantly 2 at a time that would be closer and maybe gang up slightly on the 3rd. But shitty but I have lived to tell the tale and went on to make other friends outside the group and still remain friendly with the other 2. It's honestly not worth getting involved in, next week will be a whole different story probably. Just make sure your daughter is ok, tough enough to ignore the crap that comes with a friendship trio and confident enough to rise above it and make other friends!

pooboobsleeprepeat · 06/01/2020 22:57

I think you need to take up a hobby!

joyfullittlehippo · 07/01/2020 02:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Happinessinapeartree · 07/01/2020 02:47

Hi Op

I absolutely understand your frustration. Having your daughter being anxious and experiencing mental health issues must have been awful, and as a family you're going above and beyond to help and make your house welcoming for friendships. That's to be commended and will help long term.

I've had similar experiences in the past and, looking back, got too involved and too anxious. A few years later my DD did say that my interventions and need to 'fix' everything wasn't always helpful. We have a brilliant relationship where she can say that and I can take it on board. I find it difficult not to try and control things. Maybe you're similar?

Stepping back will help. Honest.

eaglejulesk · 07/01/2020 03:10

I agree that you need to step back and let your daughter sort out her own friendships. The day will come when she leaves home and she needs to have the necessary skills to be able to negotiate all the various problems of life, and you stepping in and managing her friendships at her age is not helping her develop those skills. I know you are only being protective but really she can sort this out herself, if only you will let her.

Removethemess · 07/01/2020 04:03

This post made me cringe. Yuk how awful. Why are parents becoming friends with other parents and over complicating their poor dc’s friendships? I felt anxious just reading about it.

I feel sorry for M and her mum as it would have been hurtful to have been excluded like that a couple of years back.

And it’s natural for R and M to develop a new friendship now they are at the same school.

R’s Mum sounds incredibly rude about M starting at the same school. What an awful thing to say, she should have been more positive about a new beginning for both girls.

Support your dd in making new friends at her new school, as it does sound as if the friendship with R will drift as they are at different schools. But I would not get involved with the parents.

IwishIcan · 07/01/2020 04:11

YABU

ElluesPichulobu · 07/01/2020 06:35

you are WAY too invested in your DDs friendships. seriously this isn't healthy. you are probably exacerbating the situation with your anxiety and overinvestment.

no one can control who is friends with who. it's probably a good thing that M and R are friends now given they are in the same school though it isn't really your business.

encourage your dd to focus on activities she enjoys both inside and outside school and to cultivate friendships with people who share those interests, and not give a hoot about who else any friend is also friends with. people only start lying to you about their other plans if there is reason to suspect you'd react badly to the truth so R may feel that your DD has been trying to monitor and control her relationship with M. I think your dd hasn't been set a good example of rational behaviour here.

Marchitectmummy · 07/01/2020 07:38

Assume this is your only child, there is no way you would be able to be so consumed with a child's life if not.

Leave your poor daughter to learn how to form and maintaini friendships and how to emotionally deal with rejection. We all have to learn these things and closing her off to it by manipulating friendships is delaying a lesson she needs to a falsely late stage.

Im sorry but this manipulating and befriending parents to make friends for your child is terrible parenting.

TheDarkPassenger · 07/01/2020 08:27

I would drop them both. But then I don’t make friends at the school gates full stop because of this, I mean I’m friendly with the parents but on a ‘our kids are friends’ basis!

Especially now the kids are in high I would find some new friends and leave your dd to it. I know what it’s like to be overprotective as I am with my son who has an ED but I forced myself to back off (stepped in when he was being bullied) and made sure I was there to talk if he needed to and let him vent to me

Dizzygirl00 · 07/01/2020 09:03

I do hope your daughter is ok, but I’m finding the fact that people still have “coffee mornings” amusing, sorry! Who has time for that in the real world 😂 I wish I did 😂

P999 · 07/01/2020 10:24

My DD is 10 and will not let me interfere, ever! Girls are v v v political. And there is a lot of boundary testing and seeing how far you can control and manipulate friendships at that age. It's totally normal, honest. I let my DD know she can talk about anything and I will step in (e.g. if she is being bullied) but that is it. And she never wants me to. She puts up with a lot of crap that i wouldn't dream of putting up with in adult relationships. But that is her business. And her decision. Lets face it. Relationships stay complicated for a lifetime. V important for her to work these things out for herself and learn for herself. And be self reliant and develop her own judgement. Through trial and error. It's an essential life skill. She'll be fine!

TiddlestheCat · 07/01/2020 18:34

Crikey! Just leave them to it! They are all entitled to make their own arrangements without consulting you, as are you! And you can choose your own friends regardless of your teenagers friend choices. Utterly bizarre to hold two separate drinks parties.

TabbyMumz · 07/01/2020 19:48

Too much time on your hands and too overly invested. Did you have to get such close mates with parents of your kids friends? Kids in year 7 and 8 make and break friends so quickly it makes it awkward for them if you are all meeting up as parents. We never socialised with our kids friends parents.

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