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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have fallen out very badly with best friend- the day after my father’s funeral

45 replies

FairyF1 · 11/08/2020 11:13

So I know I am very emotional at the moment and may well be being unreasonable. Would be grateful for your thoughts and advice on what you would do. Apologies if this is too long - there is a backstory.

My father died recently (funeral was on Friday) - it was a horrible painful death and because of corona we were completely alone. It will haunt me forever. I had helped look after him for years, built my whole life around him (only child, divorced parents, not married) and am devastated. Everything feels pointless and even getting up to attend to daily life is a struggle /it’s just empty but I know I will need to rebuild. We had the funeral on Friday, I was alone on Saturday and then on Sunday my best friend came round. I have known her since school days , was there for her when her Mum died (helped plan and pay for the funeral) , children were born and she got divorced etc. Unfortunately I have felt we have drifted in recent years. We live in different parts of the country - she has a new relationship and when things are good I can go months/up to a year without hearing from her. When things are bad (for example when he dumped her to start another relationship) I can hear from her 5/6 times a day. During their most recent break up she phoned me saying she was suicidal , my father was in a&e unable to breath properly. I had to leave him to travel across the country and help her. I regret doing that. She then got back with him and despite my father being very ill I didn’t hear from her for months. When she did eventually get in touch I told her how hurt I was to not even receive a text - she didn’t apologise (maybe I was expecting too much) but said it was my fault for being a ‘closed book’/not asking for help: a repeated theme. I don’t think I am really - she knew what I was going through was happy (good for her) just didn’t make the effort? I decided to end our friendship , wished her all the best (in most ways she is a great person and I am very fond of her and her family) and left it at that. She bombarded me with texts and calls, and eventually I gave in. We were friends albeit a bit wary for months ( worth noting up until my father’s recent death she hadnt been to see me once since she began a new relationship six years ago: it was me who had to travel to see her despite my having caring responsibilities for my terminally ill father).

My father died recently. He was in hospital from December and it was horrendous (I will spare you the detail- but it was painful and bloody). When he died my friend did come down for the day the next week and then agreed to help with the funeral (as I had done with her mother and we had talked about for years). However her boyfriend booked for her to go on holiday abroad that week so in the end she was unable to help . She did however come back for the morning of the funeral and said she would stay with me the following week. As I had done for her following the death of her mother at her request. However this has not happened. The day after the funeral she went to a garden party being held by her family - I was kindly invited but was too upset to go and meet new people etc. She offered to come and see me in the evening - initially she said it would be sround 4or 5 but then around 7/8 she said she was going to have a drink with her boyfriend and would come a little later. I was a little annoyed as others had said they would come round to keep me company so I wasnt alone but I had stupidly declined their offers as I thought she would be there. I also wanted to go to the grave early in the morning. She knew I was unhappy but it wasn’t a big deal. The next evening she cane round and we had a huge row- our first proper stand up row in over thirty years of friendship. I was (probably badly) trying to explain how devestated I was that my father had died- the last 20 years of my life have been spent looking after him and I now feel completely alone/nothing to fill my life with/no purpose. I have family and friends but no partner or children and whilst everyone is lovely I am not a priority for anyone and I am going to have to get used to that. She spent the whole conversation scrolling through /checking her phone : I asked if she needed to be somewhere else. She took huge offence, said my comments had belittled the memory of her Mum (who was fabulous -and I would never intentionally say anything bad about) , said I had ruined her holiday (I don’t know how - I didn’t contact her - perhaps because she returned early for the funeral?) and stormed off. I have not heard from her again and don’t expect to. I paid the bill for where we were (alcohol was not involved) and left. It was utterly crazy. I feel confused and hurt about it all- normally I would be upset but given my father’s death it is really just a niggle in the back of my head. As I have no one else to talk to I thought I would consult you all . I am aware I am very emotional at the moment so wondered if I have done something wrong that I am just unaware of or if this is just someone who wanted out of our friendship and was looking for an excuse? What would you do? Have I been unreasonable?

OP posts:
CremeEggThief · 11/08/2020 11:17

Of course you haven't been unreasonable. Your friend has treated you very badly indeed. Re-read your op, and cut her out of your life.

unchienandalusia · 11/08/2020 11:18

Didn't want to read and run. Sounds like YANBU from what you've said (in fact she sounds like a selfish, thoughtless bitch!). Am very sorry for your loss.

Deedoubleyou · 11/08/2020 11:19

I am so sorry for your loss OP, you are going through an absolutely awful time.

Yanbu. To me it sounds like your friend is one of those people who expects people to do things for them that they are then unwilling to reciprocate. Just a selfish person in other words.

Lean on the other people who had offered to come and be with you. Open up to them and you WILL find support. Time will pass and you will feel stronger and smile again.

Flowers
SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 11/08/2020 11:19

She sounds like a very selfish person.

Yes, you are emotional, but that's understandable at the moment. She should definitely step up more.

I think you would be as well to walk away from this friendship, as it seems very one-sided.

Sorry to hear of your father's passing, and hope you have other friends/family who will be a better help to you.

FatCatThinCat · 11/08/2020 11:21

Sorry for your loss.

You have not been unreasonable at all. Your 'friend' is completely selfish and has let you down badly. Call it quits and find better friends.

Annasgirl · 11/08/2020 11:22

I'm afraid this friendship died years ago and because you probably have so little time to have made new friends, you clung on to it long after most people would have ended it.

Take this opportunity to end this friendship forever - do not go back to this friendship, it is doing you no good.

Try to get some counselling to get the motivation necessary to build a new life for yourself and start out on a new adventure once you are through the worst part of the grieving process - this could take many months but you can get through it.

Meanwhile, reach out to those other nice people in your life and please, let this other woman go from your life.

Annasgirl · 11/08/2020 11:22

Sorry I meant to add, sorry for your loss OP Flowers

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 11/08/2020 11:22

Sorry for your loss
She sounds like a taker. You were here fall back/ safety net. She doesn’t want to support you in the way you supported her.

Focus on other people and let her drift.

Chanjer · 11/08/2020 11:26

Sorry for your loss

Some people really suck at being around bereavement.

tbh your friendship sounds pretty kaput anyway but I wouldn't base a final decision on something so close in time to your loss. Let things blow over and assess with a clear head

Helpimfalling · 11/08/2020 11:30

Sorry for your loss.

She's mean but obviously I can think of much stronger words then that.

How dare she pee on your days of need by making things about her

Well rid

Dozycuntlaters · 11/08/2020 11:55

Oh darling, I am so sorry for your loss.

She's no friend, I'm sorry but she isn't. She's a user, drops you like a hit potato when she's loved up, yet expects you to pick up the pieces when it all goes wrong.

You've known her a long time but honestly, cut her loose, she won't change, she sounds like a self involved prat.

Lordamighty · 11/08/2020 11:57

She is thoughtless, selfish & one of those people who like to make every tragedy about them. In other words not a friend.

Purplecatshopaholic · 11/08/2020 12:00

So sorry to hear about your dad, that’s really tough, and if she was a real friend she would have stepped up for you. You are NBU, she sounds a selfish cow frankly. Time to ditch. Take care of yourself op - if I could I would give you a hug xx

Ishihtzuknot · 11/08/2020 12:05

I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through and for your dad passing away. She isn’t a good friend at all, she is the sort of person who takes takes and takes but never gives back. You deserve better and should cut your losses as this will continue if you let it. Don’t contact her again she isn’t worth your time or concern. I hope you can get the support you need irl Flowers

jessycake · 11/08/2020 12:09

So sorry for your loss but honestly ditch the friend , or certainly limit the support you give her in a crisis, on that weekend you were the priority. My dad died a similar death not corona virus , but a lung condition and the last few weeks were awful and traumatic . I will say give yourself plenty of time to grieve, its been over a year , and I still go through it all in my mind on occasions, but it is a lot better .

Mary46 · 11/08/2020 12:10

Sorry for your lossx. Let her go she sounds a diva. I found that too around a bereavement who my true friends were.

RatanPostmaster · 11/08/2020 13:12

So sorry for your loss Flowers.
Please don't give any more headspace to your "friend". She isn't a friend to you and never has been.

Figgygal · 11/08/2020 13:18

She sounds like a lazy fairweather friend

Id move on with my life without her in it. certainly don’t offer any apologies to her.

Hope you get support elsewhere

MinnieJackson · 11/08/2020 13:36

So so sorry for your loss. I expect your dad was very proud of you.
In the same vein he wouldn't want you to feel like this. You never know what's around the corner, try not to condemn yourself to a life of loneliness. Caring for someone and them passing away completely changes everything. Please take time to heal, cry and remember happy times.
Your friend is not a good friend. Surround yourself with the love you deserve Flowers

OldEvilOwl · 11/08/2020 15:18

She sounds very selfish, cut her off and stick with your other friends. she should be making you feel better, not worse

thinkingaboutLangCleg · 11/08/2020 16:10

I have family and friends but no partner or children and whilst everyone is lovely I am not a priority for anyone

I feel for you, Fairy, as I was in very much the same position when my parents died. A difficult and lonely time.

May I suggest that you now prioritise the things that make you happy. You've spent a long time caring for your father, and that leaves a gap in your life. Spend as much time as possible with real friends, doing things you used to enjoy if you had to shelve them while caring for your father, experimenting with new activities, and perhaps trying groups that might interest you.

I'd warn against making any kind of new commitments while you're still in the turmoil of bereavement, eg changing job or running a community group. Do things you can dip in and out of as you wish.

Counselling can help, but don't persevere if you're not finding it useful -- one crap counsellor I went to left me feeling worse than before.

Making new friends takes longer when you're out of your 20s, so do build on your existing real friendships as well as being open to new ones. As for your ex-friend -- the last thing you need is such a selfish and insensitive person draining you. Well rid.

Best of luck, Fairy. Flowers

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 11/08/2020 16:29

I am so sorry for your loss. It's such a big thing to lose a parent. Flowers

You haven't been at all unreasonable. I think your friend has been really selfish and doesn't deserve to have you as a friend. A friend is someone who will be there for you in good times and in bad (both yours and theirs). She sounds like a taker. You deserve better. I would just write her out of your life and concentrate on getting through your grief including getting counselling if you need it.

whatnowitsoverseekingadvice · 11/08/2020 17:25

OP I am very sorry for your loss Flowers Please don't invest in your friend any more - it doesn't seem that she will ever be the emotional and practical support you deserve. She will probably never see that and seems incapable of understanding. She will not change now and all you can do is change your expectations of the friendship. If that is (understandably) too hard after all you have invested in it, then you may need to just let it go...

AnaadiNitya · 11/08/2020 17:36

And she left you with the bill at the end.

OP I’m so sorry about your fathers passing. What a hideous time you must have had.

This lady is not your friend. Reach out to family members this evening and strike up a conversation. You won’t be alone Flowers

Thisisworsethananticpated · 11/08/2020 17:58

OP
I am So very sorry for your loss

Your friend is utterly awful
Awful vile callous , I could go on
Cut her off

I’m so sorry
Explore if you need any held
For PTSD after such a horrible death experience
FlowersFlowers

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