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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Close friend uninvited me from 30th because of my ex

321 replies

AlenaMacc · 01/09/2022 05:56

It’s a long story so please bear with me.

One of my closest friends is celebrating her 30th birthday this Saturday and has invited me to the party (I live abroad so it was amazing luck that I happened to be here for it). I told her I’ll come at 7pm after I BF my 10-month old before his bedtime, after which I’ll leave him with my parents and join the celebration.

However, yesterday she rang me and told me that she completely forgot about it, but before knowing I was going to be here for her celebration, she invited my ex boyfriend. She asked me if I had any issues with this, and I told her I have none whatsoever - the whole thing seems like a lifetime ago to me and I have long since moved on with my life. She told me that she’ll ask my ex as well as she doesn’t want anyone feeling uncomfortable.

She then called me back and said that he apparently has an issue with me being there and asked me to come earlier and leave before he arrives. However this is not an option for me as the birthday location is out of town, and this coincides with my baby’s dinner/bath/BF/bedtime routine. She’s not close to my ex at all whilst me and her are very very close so I expected her to say “okay then, just come as we discussed originally and your ex can grow up and sort himself out” or something of the sort.

However, she then told me “that’s okay, we can meet on Monday instead”. I then told her that I really want to be there and that it’s really shitty that we have to allow his behaviour and let it get in the way of us celebrating together. She essentially told me that she feels really bad that she invited him and had she known that he’ll be like that, she wouldn’t have and that some people don’t grow up. I made it a point that I really want to be there and his behaviour is infuriating but she ended the conversation by saying “don’t be angry, I really wanted you to be here as well but what can you do”.

A bit of backstory - me and my ex dated in high school for 2.5years (this was 10 years ago). The breakup was very messy and he took it very badly. Fast forward to 10yrs later, I have long forgotten about this, have dated many men since, gotten married, had children etc. He however apparently has only just started dating somebody, his first gf since our break up.

My friend isn’t at all close with my ex - her fiancé used to be in the same friend circle with my ex in high school, but haven’t kept in touch since. Recently they went out once with him and his new GF and my friend decided to invite them to her birthday on the spur of the moment. However, my friend is one of my closest ones, she was my bridesmaid, we are in a very close friend circle, we’ve been through a lot together, etc.

I can’t stop thinking about this since it happened yesterday - I feel betrayed, I feel like she chose my ex instead of me, I can’t believe that she essentially uninvited me from her 30th because of someone whom she only saw once recently. I felt very hurt yesterday and came to the conclusion that her friendship with me is not a priority to her anymore and that I should accept it and move on. My other friends think that I should give her a chance and speak to her about it, however I don’t want to ruin her 30th and I also don’t know if there’s anything that she can say that will fix this for me. At the same time I am wondering if I am just overreacting. AIBU?

OP posts:
BadNomad · 01/09/2022 15:53

And your friend could have suggested to him that he come early then leave before you arrive if he has that much of a problem being in the same room as you.

babyjellyfish · 01/09/2022 15:54

BadNomad · 01/09/2022 15:53

And your friend could have suggested to him that he come early then leave before you arrive if he has that much of a problem being in the same room as you.

Yes, this.

Longdistance · 01/09/2022 16:20

I bet the other reason he doesn’t want her there is because he thinks the cat would be let out of the bag and the new gf will do a runner.

Glittertwins · 01/09/2022 16:41

I'm quite staggered by the fact the ex can't let go of things after 10 years over a minor school days relationship!!

Emotionalsupportviper · 01/09/2022 17:00

Same here @Glittertwins - it's pathetic!

Of course it is just another "I'm the boss" control ploy, though - he sounds a real prince.

And I don't for one moment believe that he hasn't had other relationships, no matter how brief, in TEN YEARS.

Dream on!

ImustLearn2Cook · 01/09/2022 17:18

Wibbly1008 · 01/09/2022 11:21

I have no idea why she didnt just say to both of you that the other would be at the party, come if you want. She has made this all a drama by giving choices and asking if people mind about who she is inviting to HER party, its madness.

Ditch the Monday. Honestly, i couldnt look at her in the same way again. Be honest that you are hurt, let her own that, why should you tip toe around her feelings when she has let someone she barely knows stomp all over yours.
We just outgrow some friendships and move on, it does take away what we used to have, but you have to protect yourself and if she is going to make you feel crap avoid the drama.

This 100%.

Grumpusaurus · 02/09/2022 00:18

OP, you are far too nice for your own good. Meh about not wanting to spoil her party! I'd be tempted to bloody cut the power to the house if a so-called friend treated me this shitty.

ImustLearn2Cook · 02/09/2022 02:28

Maybe it’s time to just walk away with your head held high. Perhaps you’ve outgrown the high school drama years and maybe your old friends haven’t. Don’t confront them or get drawn in to unnecessary drama or issues

Toboggan · 02/09/2022 09:58

Grumpusaurus · 02/09/2022 00:18

OP, you are far too nice for your own good. Meh about not wanting to spoil her party! I'd be tempted to bloody cut the power to the house if a so-called friend treated me this shitty.

All about you much? 🙄

Toboggan · 02/09/2022 09:59

BadNomad · 01/09/2022 15:53

And your friend could have suggested to him that he come early then leave before you arrive if he has that much of a problem being in the same room as you.

It wasn't minor. The OP said it was a 2.5 year relationship. It was almost certainly the boy's first love.

AryaStarkWolf · 02/09/2022 10:09

Toboggan · 02/09/2022 09:59

It wasn't minor. The OP said it was a 2.5 year relationship. It was almost certainly the boy's first love.

So what? Fucking hell, they dated in school, they were kids.

babynamequestion · 02/09/2022 10:23

Toboggan · 02/09/2022 09:59

It wasn't minor. The OP said it was a 2.5 year relationship. It was almost certainly the boy's first love.

So what?

I dated someone for two years in school and was heartbroken when it ended.

If I met him at a party now I would ask how he is doing and make small talk, before moving on to talk to other people. Because I'm a grown up and it's been 15 years.

buzzbuzzybuzz · 02/09/2022 10:34

babynamequestion · 02/09/2022 10:23

So what?

I dated someone for two years in school and was heartbroken when it ended.

If I met him at a party now I would ask how he is doing and make small talk, before moving on to talk to other people. Because I'm a grown up and it's been 15 years.

Exactly!

Marvellousmadness · 02/09/2022 10:40

You could go earlier. And let your baby be bathed by someone else. This bedtime routine is understandable however it is an excuse. This is a milestone birthday for a close friend. Not just a lunch with a vague acquaintance.

But

Lets be honest the ex isn't the issue
I think you aren't as good friends with her as you think. At least not anymore

She Might have just looked for a reason to univite you as you'll be not drinking and she might see you as "fun liability "

Anyway
Who cares. Either go earlier or don't go.
Or just rock up at 7.. whatever makes you happy.

babyjellyfish · 02/09/2022 10:53

You could go earlier. And let your baby be bathed by someone else. This bedtime routine is understandable however it is an excuse. This is a milestone birthday for a close friend. Not just a lunch with a vague acquaintance.

You would have a point if she wasn't being asked to show up early so that she can be hustled out of the door before her ex arrives.

oopsfellover · 02/09/2022 10:53

OP isn’t looking for an excuse not to go. It’s the friend who’s suggested these ridiculous time negotiations. I don’t think the coming early thing would work because then what happens if OP doesn’t want to leave at the prescribed time to suit the ex’s arrival? Friend hasn’t thought it through properly.

AryaStarkWolf · 02/09/2022 11:02

babyjellyfish · 02/09/2022 10:53

You could go earlier. And let your baby be bathed by someone else. This bedtime routine is understandable however it is an excuse. This is a milestone birthday for a close friend. Not just a lunch with a vague acquaintance.

You would have a point if she wasn't being asked to show up early so that she can be hustled out of the door before her ex arrives.

Imagine actually asking someone to do that, come to my party but you have to leave after an hour, it's so insulting

MichelleScarn · 02/09/2022 11:13

Marvellousmadness · 02/09/2022 10:40

You could go earlier. And let your baby be bathed by someone else. This bedtime routine is understandable however it is an excuse. This is a milestone birthday for a close friend. Not just a lunch with a vague acquaintance.

But

Lets be honest the ex isn't the issue
I think you aren't as good friends with her as you think. At least not anymore

She Might have just looked for a reason to univite you as you'll be not drinking and she might see you as "fun liability "

Anyway
Who cares. Either go earlier or don't go.
Or just rock up at 7.. whatever makes you happy.

A 'fun liability?!! So you'll drop friends if they don't drink? Nice!

aloris · 02/09/2022 14:42

"Imagine actually asking someone to do that, come to my party but you have to leave after an hour, it's so insulting"

Exactly. It's not really an ok thing to do.

MRex · 03/09/2022 08:37

milestone birthday
It seems target juvenile to get so over-invested. I don't even remember who did or didn't come to my 30th, it's just a few drinks out FFS, not a 4yo's first ever party or a wedding.

Holland65 · 04/09/2022 06:25

She is Your close friend but you are not Her close friend. She may not like you as much as you like her.

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