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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Feeling troubled about friend

11 replies

SpringButterfly · 23/05/2021 12:31

Sorry this is long...

Back story is that we made friends in college (now early 30s) and have mainly stayed in touch over the years but while I grew up she didn't. She's always been a bit of a taker, because of the situation (I've been driving and living independently since early 20s, while she hasn't and her parents are quite well off) so for example she would always come round to mine, eat my food, leave a mess and expect a lift home, never reciprocating and not understanding that things cost money, e.g. using almost a whole (last) roll of toilet paper while I was at uni to put on the seat because she doesn't sit down directly on other people's toilets(the toilet was clean) Wearing the leather strapped watch I lent her into the ocean because she decided last minute that she didn't want to take her designer watch on holiday (to be fair she did pay for the watch after me pointing out she has ruined it)

Friend used to have a serious drinking problem and gave up a few years ago which was great because she was terrible while drunk.

We didn't speak for about a year and a half because I had depression and decided I wasn't going to make an effort to contact people who weren't contacting me (so not seeing each other showed I was the one making the effort. This was after they stopped drinking)

I got back in touch last year, we had some heart to hearts and she started making more effort to contact me. Then she moved 2 hours away without telling me (so now living out of her parents house for 1st time) she thinks I should go and see her but it's a lot of time/money to get there when I work full time in a low paid job and have a husband to spend time with.

I am dealing with a lot at the moment. My father died suddenly 2 months ago. I have various health issues going on. Feeling pretty down and depressed but trying hard not to fall as far as I did before.

About a month ago, friend told me she has started drinking again. She can't wait to have a drink with us. I don't drink and my husband has cut right down since my dad died. I don't want to be around this friend if they are drinking. They told me that they had been out the night before so felt rubbish all day at their brand new job...

I can't really be bothered with a lot of people at the moment, let alone someone who is quite hard work.

They then told me out of the blue that they are now trans male... this is quite hard to wrap my head around as its completely out of the blue as they were more feminine than me and a lot of the things we do together are girly. Anyway, now it feels like if I want to cool the friendship due to their drinking and just to focus on myself, it will seem like I'm anti trans.

OP posts:
TaraR2020 · 23/05/2021 12:34

I don't think this is a real friendship, op, let it cool.

Hopefully, embracing her identity will help her lead a more settled life but it is not your responsibility to put your wellbeing at risk for the sake of politeness.

mainsfed · 23/05/2021 12:50

She doesn’t sound like much of a friend.

Please don’t feel you have to stay friends because of the trans thing.

Thankfully she lives far away, just don’t travel up to see her, tell her you don’t drink and aren’t meeting people due to your health.

Looubylou · 23/05/2021 13:09

Be honest - her drinking again is a problem based on past experience. Don't let her drag you down.

SpringButterfly · 23/05/2021 13:17

Thank you, yes I feel I should be concentrating on myself more but I do feel a lot of guilt about putting myself first.

OP posts:
Igmum · 23/05/2021 13:33

They sound like a very troubled soul. They also sound not very nice. You need to put yourself first OP. If they ask be honest with them and focus on their drinking and the other things in your life. You have enough going on without being dragged in to this. Might be an idea to suggest AA to your friend if their drinking is a major problem. Good luck and so sorry for your loss

Merryoldgoat · 23/05/2021 13:43

It boils down to them being hard work and you not liking them very much. Those are the facts - you don’t need to keep pretending. Just cut them off.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 23/05/2021 13:51

Just cut them off.

Awkward choice of words in the circumstances...

Sorry. I’ll get my coat.

LemonSherbetFancies · 23/05/2021 13:59

It doesn't mean anything that she used to live at home up until recently. Hmm

Generally though she sounds hard work and the friendship obviously doesn't bring you joy so better to let things slide.

Merryoldgoat · 23/05/2021 14:24

@StillCoughingandLaughing

Just cut them off.

Awkward choice of words in the circumstances...

Sorry. I’ll get my coat.

🤣
Tk5787338 · 23/05/2021 14:43

You don’t have to see them just because they want to see you. If you do want to see them then be honest and say it’s the drinking and could they come to you instead? If you don’t want to see them at all thought that’s ok.

katy1213 · 23/05/2021 14:56

Sounds like a friendship that should have been allowed to fizzle out years ago.
You don't like her much and never did. Doesn't matter whether it seems like you're anti-trans - because that's going to be a whole attention-seeking drama you're well out of!
Look at this way ... you're both finding your balls!

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