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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

If you’re semi- close to your mum, how often do you speak?

71 replies

Athenaena · 12/03/2021 21:03

There’s so much I could say tbh but we’d be here all night. Ultimately, my mum and I were best friends growing up and until I was about 28. I’m 33 now and over the last 5 years we’ve grown apart which I feel really sad about. I guess I’ve come to the realisation that I just haven’t got a lot in common with her anymore really but at least she used to care, nowadays I feel like that’s not the case.

We tend to facetime once a week, but I’d say the last 5-6 weeks it’s been me that’s calling her every time . It’s usually on a Saturday and I will text her on a Friday saying I’ll call her tomorrow, what time is she free.

When we do talk she seems ‘meh’ from the minute she picks up. All she ever says is ‘oh well, I haven’t really got a lot to say due to this lockdown’
and I get it, none of us do really, but then she ALWAYS, every single time I speak to her, lets slip that she’s spoken to my sibling throughout the week Hmm we used to text each other throughout the week too up until a few years ago, now we rarely do.

Today I was going to send the usual message and then I thought, no, I’m not going to message, I’ll see if she messages me (she hasn’t) or calls me tomorrow or whether I just won’t hear from her for another week?

I just feel sad, all of my friends are so close to their mums and I used to be with mine but she just seems to have little interest in me anymore Sad A few years ago I did what I did tonight and I didn’t speak to her in 3 weeks!! I remember telling my work colleagues at the time and they were all like ‘wtf?! That’s so weird, does she not wonder whether you’re still alive?!’ So I rung her and said I was upset that we hadn’t spoken in 3 weeks (I had tried to ring but got no response!) and she apologised and we’ve never gone that long without speaking since.

If you haven’t fallen out with your mum, how often do you speak to each other? Who initiates contact? Is it equal or one sided?

OP posts:
JaceLancs · 12/03/2021 21:39

1-2 times a week
Sometimes she rings me so could be 3-4 times

Atla · 12/03/2021 21:43

Once a week? Maybe more if theres something specific to talk about. Sometimes less if I'm busy at work. We do whatsapp in between.

WonkyCactus · 12/03/2021 21:43

Every couple of days, usually it's me phoning her. We message on WhatsApp a couple of times a day usually. She would think I was dead if I didn't get in touch for three weeks!

Firstbellini · 12/03/2021 21:47

Most days. It used to be every day.

SprogletsMum · 12/03/2021 21:47

We speak every day. Always at least a message, usually at least one or more phone/video calls.

ufucoffee · 12/03/2021 21:47

3 to 4 times a week

yahyahs22 · 12/03/2021 21:49

Before my mum passed away we were super close. Spoke every day numerous times. I miss her very, very much

The6thQueen · 12/03/2021 21:49

Everyday. Occasionally more, but that’s generally because one of us is stressed about something.
Similar amount with my dad too

MrsCrosbyNRTB · 12/03/2021 21:51

About 4 times a day. It’s me calling her. I think she’d prefer it to be a bit less tbh..........Grin

Laureline · 12/03/2021 21:53

Most days, especially since the pandemic started. We live in different countries, I want to know my parents are ok.

Macncheeseballs · 12/03/2021 21:54

Once a month? we get on great, just dont need to be in each other's pockets

PRsecrets · 12/03/2021 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IdblowJonSnow · 12/03/2021 21:54

Hmm. Maybe once every six weeks? We aren't close. Occasionally I think I miss her and call but she annoys the piss out of me within minutes...
Could it be that your mum is struggling w lockdown but finds it easier to speak to your sibling for some reason?

Relationships change- and keep changing -so you may find you're close again at some point. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Jumpers268 · 12/03/2021 21:55

Oh OP, I feel you. It's the same for me. Every message and phone call is me instigating it. The only time she calls first is to ask me something specific and it's all weird small talk until she gets to the reason she called. It makes me sad too but I've realised that's just the way it is. She's also really meh when I call her and I do find it quite draining (I don't tell her that!).

MajesticWhine · 12/03/2021 21:57

I speak to my mum approximately once a week. We are not super close but we get on fine in moderation. She is a difficult person so I don't really want to be much closer. She is much closer to my brother and does holidays and days out with him. I initiate the calls 75% of the time. She gets a bit chilly if I don't call.

MeadowViews · 12/03/2021 21:58

We chat 3ish times a week on the phone. Before covid I'd see her in person once a month at most.

She has a personality disorder and can be difficult to get on with face to face but we get on brilliantly on the phone!

Lostinspace23 · 12/03/2021 21:59

My mum never calls me but is always happy to speak if I call. Sometimes we might not speak for a few weeks if I don’t make the effort, but usually we talk 1-2 times a week. She’s just shit at being proactive, crap at relationships and self-absorbed. I still love her and I don’t take the way she is personally any more. I did at one stage feel really sad about it all - I just wanted parents who made me feel cared for. Having made peace with the fact that it will never be the case, I’m able to make the best of our relationship.

tootiredtospeak · 12/03/2021 21:59

This is weird like there is some huge elephant in the room you arent discussing. I would consider myself very close to my Mum we go on holiday together spend Xmas together I really love her. But I haven't seen her for 2 weeks and never rang in between and neither did she. I might see her twice in 1 week than not at all in 2 there is no set pattern. What seems weird to me is how you have drifted apart but wont address it just ask her what's going on.

nocoolnamesleft · 12/03/2021 22:00

At least weekly, more often if there's something happening.

Frozenintime · 12/03/2021 22:02

We WhatsApp message a couple of times a day and see each other every week

pastaislife · 12/03/2021 22:04

Does she maybe always wait for you to call as she thinks you’re busy? I’m close with my mum but sometimes I get annoyed that she never ever calls me first, but this is down to her being retired and me working full time and other stuff etc, she doesn’t want to disturb so waits for me to call when it works for me!

ethelredonagoodday · 12/03/2021 22:05

I'm in a similar position OP, I could go a fortnight between contact, but we don't have a bad relationship, we just seem to have lost the closeness that we once had.

happygertie · 12/03/2021 22:08

My mum calls me every Sunday for a chat, we aren't super duper close we've never had that "best friends" vibe that some have with their mums but she is amazing and I'm glad she is my mum. we live in different counties but pre covid I would visit every 3 weeks as rest of family are there too. I'll happily call / text adhoc when I have something to tell or ask her and vice versa.

CamdenLurker · 12/03/2021 22:08

I'd never speak to my mum again if I waited for her to call me.

She very occasionally texts if she wants or needs something. I can't remember the last time I even had a cup of tea at her house. I don't really feel welcome there tbh.

Like you I always feel quite sad about it, especially around Mother's Day, I don't really do social media, but it's difficult when my friends have great relationships with their mothers - I don't resent this at all, but I love to see really close mother daughter relationships, I know that I want the same with my daughter when she's an adult.

iluvpickles · 12/03/2021 22:09

Pre children every night for at least an hour 😆 The shite we used to talk. Since having kids, I don't have the time. It's work, dinner, bath time bed time for the kids and by that point my mums usually in bed she starts work early.

I can't just have a quick 5/10 mins with my mum she's impossible to get off the fone 🙈 We text every day though and I usually see her one or twice a week.

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