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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want much to do with this friend any more

15 replies

biddlybop · 06/05/2021 07:16

NC

I have a friend that I used to know years ago at college, we reconnected in more recent times and she is now part of my friendship group.

So friend has a child the same age as mine (2.5) and constantly complains that she wishes she had alone time, every day she texts and says being a mum is so hard (it is hard) and wants time to herself, can somebody just take her child away and so on. She also puts this stuff on facebook every day too. I have offered to take her child out for the day with ours if she would like a break, or even just go for a walk with them both for an hour but she would prefer not to do this. Fair enough, with covid I do understand, but mental health is important to so I'd always offer if she was struggling. She does have help at home from DH and from what I am aware relatives also offer to take her son out for the day but she won't let anyone do it.

Fast forward to her getting pregnant. The entire way through the pregnancy she was texting me and putting up facebook posts complain about pregnancy, how hard it is (it is hard). I find this a little bit insensitive to be honest as I know she is friends with some people who would love nothing more than to start a family, but are going through IVF journeys. She had a couple of bumps with tests that I also had and when I tried to talk her through my experience to reassure her I would always be told why it's worse for her. These complaining texts were coming at least twice a day, maybe three times. Now she has had the baby she's posting all these perfect scenes to facebook of her two children, when I know full well that in a couple of weeks she is going to be moaning about them both just like she moaned about her little boy the first time round. And I'm not exaggerating when I say this was daily.

I think I feel some sort of resentment because she really talks her first child down all of the time, and I know she will do the same now. The daily texts about how hard being a mum is are nothing short of draining, and if you are finding it so hard, why would you have another one now? Particularly when the other one is still so young and dependent on you.
It's gotten to the stage that I actually don't know if I want to remain friends with this person. We first met at college when we were younger and have since reconnected. She is now part of my friendship group so it wouldn't be easy, when we start seeing each other again we are always a group. I have asked the others and she doesn't text them like she does with me so I'm assuming she feels that I can relate in some way...but it's got to the stage that it's making me so angry! I don't know if AIBU for my feelings? I probably am.

Motherhood is difficult, it is draining, but the constant attention seeking behaviour is ridiculous.

OP posts:
PhannyPharts · 06/05/2021 07:28

If someone is constantly negative then no of course you're not unreasonable to feel the way you do.

That said, if she was actually my friend I'd be more inclined to make sure she wasn't depressed and if not and we weren't close or with a long friendship behind us I'd just ignore it and just check in with her from time to time to see she's ok.

biddlybop · 06/05/2021 07:39

That said, if she was actually my friend I'd be more inclined to make sure she wasn't depressed and if not and we weren't close or with a long friendship behind us I'd just ignore it and just check in with her from time to time to see she's ok.

I was doing that for about a year and honestly I think she's just attention seeking, she definitely isn't depressed

OP posts:
DinosaurDiana · 06/05/2021 07:41

I would just bar her. She sounds like hard work.

Dozer · 06/05/2021 07:41

You don’t like her behaviour/company, so yes, step back.

babyt2020 · 06/05/2021 07:50

I would stop being friends with her, I had a friend who was incredibly negative alllll the time and every time I saw her I was exhausted!

JustGiveMeGin · 06/05/2021 07:59

I would actually say something to her, next time she starts on about how hard she finds it I would say 'what made you want another one then?'
With any luck it will make her think about what she says and how she comes across or she'll be majorly offended and stop talking to you- either way, job done!

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 06/05/2021 08:16

I think some people just love a moan. As long as there are no MH issues and this isn't her cry for help then maybe just don't acknowledge anything negative she says and only respond to the positive stuff. If the whole message is negative don't reply and hopefully she will get the message.

AmbientLighting · 06/05/2021 08:20

You're not being unreasonable to not want to be friends with her.

You could just cut down on one on one contact with her and if you see her as part of the group then that's fine. You don't have to completely stop talking to her unless you want to. As PPs have said you could say why have two if one was so hard work or just don't really give her the attention when she is being negative.

TheNeverEndingOver · 06/05/2021 08:36

YANBU.

I had a friend like this (her moaning was about being stressed and busy) and to start with I would always offer advice and help, but in the end, I realised actually, she didn't even want the help. Her moaning was about her work and being busy constantly, but she didn't implement any solutions and I think she was actually a workaholic. Some of the work she would take on voluntarily. It is completely draining to have someone text you all day these negative messages, so I understand exactly how you feel. I feel so much better now I have put some distance between us

Royalbloo · 06/05/2021 08:54

She sounds like a negative fun-sponge. Now I'm older I'm not mean but don't hang around with people who drain my energy. You don't have to either.

Nexttome · 06/05/2021 09:01

Any chance she could have PND? Otherwise I’d reduce contact, not reply to messages that often, maybe even ask if she ok as she doesn’t seem happy. If you reply to most messages she will just keep on texting.

Flossie44 · 06/05/2021 10:10

Id definitely step away. Negativity has an impact on others around too. Begins subconsciously and then suddenly it hits you. And you’re left feeling exhausted and drained, while the instigated carries on merrily.
I think this type of person sounds needy. You’ve got your own family to think about. Leave her to moan. And you enjoy and live for the moment x

greeneyedlulu · 06/05/2021 10:17

stop responding, id be thoroughly bored of her crap!

DrManhattan · 06/05/2021 10:24

I'd move away from that friendship

biddlybop · 06/05/2021 16:03

Thanks everyone. I think I'll be moving away from the friendship because I don't have the energy to listen to it any more. I'd love to ask her why she had another the next time she starts moaning about it but I'm not sure I have the balls! I will continue to see her as part of the friendship group but may stop responding to texts and drop one to one meets (hopefully it won't be too awkward when meeting as a group).

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