Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To end 20 year friendship over this?

291 replies

BirdieStar · 16/07/2023 16:20

Been I’d say best friends with G for 20 years. We are v close and do a lot together. We’ve recently just last year travelled across America together and I’d considered her family.

So a few months ago G started seeing someone for the first time and I was delighted for her. She had always shied away from relationships. However he’s turned out to be not so good, no job, does drugs, doesn’t see his child, ex-offender and refuses to meet her family or friends so we’ve never met.

This person has become her whole world and she adores him but it’s sort of taken over her life and made her a shitty friend. She keeps missing prearranged and expensive plans we’d made at last minute with some very serious excuses only for me to find out she was actually dossing at her boyfriends house. (She’s said previously he sits on games most the day and she just watches- we are 40!)

So, for example, we’d had a afternoon tea booked for a few weeks after her birthday- I paid the deposit and train tickets as part of her gift, she said she’d like to do this and said she wanted to go- talks excited really happy until the day before when she went quite cold and started saying she had to take her mum to hospital urgently. I completely understood, I rearranged the plans, lost the train money but that’s life. Only to find out by accident through her weeks later that she was actually at her boyfriends that weekend at a concert and mum was never sick. I confronted her for lying, she got upset and we moved on from it- although I was annoyed.

The same thing happened with the rescheduled date- big drama involving her now having to work and her manager saying so (the day before we were suppose to go again) to again find out that she was at her boyfriends house waiting in for a package for him.

Then comes this weekend, it’s my 40th birthday bbq. Friend is coming and really excited- messaging the day before saying that she’s going to be bringing certain things and what time train she’s getting in, she’d asked me if she could pay for the cake as part of my present and I said I’d pick her up at the station. The day comes and nobody has heard from her- we are all worried when the time the train is suppose to be getting in comes and she isn’t there, calling round, trying to get her to answer- only for her to respond 5 hours later saying she and her BF went out, got too drunk and she’d only just woken up and charged her phone. I’d messaged her BF on Facebook to check if she was ok and with him, and when he saw it later on he just replied “lol”. She’s known it was my birthday bbq for weeks.

I spent my whole birthday morning trying to get hold of her, feeling worried something had happened to find out that she had just overslept- and we had to quickly run out and get another cake too!

When I finally spoke to her, she said a half sorry but her apology was mainly about how awful she felt herself hungover.

Im feeling just so sad today, it’s like my friend has had a personality transplant since meeting this person. I’m happy for her, but I’ve never behaved this way myself when I got into a relationship.

Im really feeling like I should say enough is enough and end the friendship, but I’m heartbroken a little and trying to rationalise that before she met this person she wouldn’t have been like this in the last 19 years! She’s never been this person- it’s horrid.

but should I end the friendship and distance myself?

OP posts:
MayThe4th · 17/07/2023 08:34

Cherry8809 · 16/07/2023 22:47

You’d have ended a 20 year friendship because they started a relationship with someone who doesn’t see their kids?

Wild.

It’s not just about not seeing his kids though is it? He is:

A drug user
An ex convict
I’d assume he doesn’t see his kids because of afore-mentioned history.

Anyone who knowingly and willingly becomes involved with an ex convict drug user who is likely not seeing his kids because he’s not allowed to lacks judgement and moral compass and the frendship would be incompatible from then on.

Nellynoowhoareyou · 17/07/2023 09:29

She’s behaving like a teenager. Has she not had a boyfriend in the whole time you’ve known her?

WildUnchartedWaters · 17/07/2023 11:12

MayThe4th · 17/07/2023 08:34

It’s not just about not seeing his kids though is it? He is:

A drug user
An ex convict
I’d assume he doesn’t see his kids because of afore-mentioned history.

Anyone who knowingly and willingly becomes involved with an ex convict drug user who is likely not seeing his kids because he’s not allowed to lacks judgement and moral compass and the frendship would be incompatible from then on.

In this post it's not the friend who comes off badly.

JournalistEmily · 17/07/2023 17:50

Completely withdraw. If she comes back, great. If not, there’s your answer. Anyone sane would realise what a dick they’d been. Am honestly amazed anyone can be so rude after being normal for two decades!!

Bluebelle100 · 17/07/2023 17:59

Be ready to pick up the pieces, hope it's sooner rather than later.

joycies · 17/07/2023 18:04

She has moved on, I think. Hate the sound of her life just now but she has no right to ruin yours. I can't see anything to gain from being her best friend any more. Sad but just LIFE. Don't have a row or anything, just back off gracefully?

Elliecat7 · 17/07/2023 18:08

Distance yourself but be prepared to hear from her in the future when this relationship of hers implodes. One of the first things abusers and control freak psychos do is to isolate their victim and drag them into their addiction. Mark my words…once she’s sick of being a captive and wants some freedom, he’ll beat her. Let her know you can’t stand by watching her self-destruct, but that you’ll be there when she leaves him to help her pick up the pieces of her life that she’s destroying.

TopMog · 17/07/2023 18:17

How many more times are you going to allow this utter contempt for you before you see the light?

She is toxic. Cut her out now. Don't explain - just never again respond to any contact from her (email, phone calls, SMS, etc)

You deserve better.

PoppyIwas · 17/07/2023 18:19

I would step back as she’s made her choice, unwisely, but I would also explain why so that she knew it was her current situation that you didn’t like (as you’re likely to be worried how this will turn out/develop/end) and say you’ll be there for her but for now, you’re stepping away.

PurpleBugz · 17/07/2023 18:26

Sounds like the beginning of an abusive relationship for her. They love bomb and distance you from friends.

I'd tell her straight you don't like what's been happening recently that you love her and will always be there if she needs you but you won't be treated like this in the meantime. Then just keep contact via text or whatever don't leave yourself open to being let down.

Don't think of her as toxic if she's not been like this in 20 years. Abusive men are toxic and it's amazing how they influence women. Ive been through it myself- ex made me cancel plans and put a distance between me and friends/family by the time I realised what he was like and what he had done to my life there was very few people left to help me escape

DunePeyton · 17/07/2023 18:27

I know it was your 40th but you seem a bit needy. Her priorities have changed.

Bludyhelltobenutz · 17/07/2023 18:28

I’d end it if you feel you couldn’t take her back in a changed situation. I have had friends that have screwed me over and the hurt never really goes away. Alternatively you could treat her more like a distant acquaintance and get on with your life. It’s up to how you feel I guess. Is her relationship an abusive one? It sounds like it.

Singlemum19802023 · 17/07/2023 18:31

I’d be worried. This could be a controlling and coercive relationship. Maybe give her distance for now but keep an eye. She may need you.

HappyMe6 · 17/07/2023 18:36

No disrespect to you op but I’m surprised you have to ask! You sound like a lovely friend. I’m wondering if she’s in an abusive relationship, but she’s made her choice hasn’t she, I just think if it all goes sour for her she will be back in contact with you.

CJDoxon · 17/07/2023 18:36

always leave the door open - friendships sometimes go through cycles so keep a little distance for now but dont leave her behind completely. We all go a bit du lally sometimes and she might need you at some point

WotsitsMadeIn1927 · 17/07/2023 18:37

Distance yourself and don’t make plans with her.
Try and wait out their relationship, she sounds too blindsided and will be kicking herself when she finally wakes up and sees him for the miserable free loading scumbag he is.

CurlyNins · 17/07/2023 18:37

I completely understand how you feel about your friend, you were so close, and now the relationship you both had is no longer, you have believed her excuses, giving her the benefit of doubt, if she doesn’t want your friendship anymore then it’s best she is honest and tells you, however it doesn’t sound like she will do that. Maybe bring this up with her and say you try but this friendship is not working like before, say you understood about the man in her life but would still like to be friends even if it’s just to keep in touch now and then. I have no idea what her reaction will be, but you never know when things might not work out with this man and she would really need her friend back then.

Flamingos89 · 17/07/2023 18:42

Have you actually spoken to her about all this?

If one of my friends of 20 years was behaving like this I would tell them my worries about the relationship they were in and how their behaviour has upset me recently. How she responds to your feelings will give you your answer on whether the friendship will work moving forward.

However if it’s been 20years of friendship - you owe her a chat atleast!!

trebarwith1 · 17/07/2023 18:45

Big step back from her, so sorry you have been treated like this. I do think thought that he sounds a bit controlling, cutting off friends and family is a big red flag is domestic violence situations, so do try and check in when you can. Turn up unexpectedly, try and get her when he isn't there.

Daphnis156 · 17/07/2023 18:48

It's time to stop chasing her or having any expectations of her, and wasting more money, time, effort, and most importantly, emotion.

And the sad thing is she won't even notice.

If she tires to re-appear after this boyfriend causes her misery, just keep your distance- she'll never be the same after him anyway.

Lilly0909 · 17/07/2023 18:57

Distance. She’ll be back and feeling apologetic when it ends

Tidsleytiddy · 17/07/2023 18:58

You can try to tell them. I’ve got a friend who has married a loser. Took no notice of any of us. Dug heels in and digs heels in further when any advice is given. Maybe she doesn’t want the advice. All she wants is to not have to split the house.

BadNomad · 17/07/2023 19:04

I have little tolerance for liars. That's not how you treat a friend. Block her and leave her to it.

wendyjoy · 17/07/2023 19:05

Is she being coerced? Or is love blind?
Either way she's been a friend for such a long time .. but l think one day the shit will hit the fan and she will need you.. be a true friend and be ready to pick up the pieces when it happens while getting on with your life without her for a while

yaya83 · 17/07/2023 19:06

I think it sounds like this is, at the very least, an unhealthy relationship and at worst, an abusive one with some drug involvement.

Im imagining myself with some of my closest friends and I think if it were me, I’d have to distance myself and make it clear that a friendship boundary has been crossed - she’s lying to you, not keeping her commitments etc. I

I would probably put it in a text to her BUT I would say something about my door always being open if she needed me-I’m saying this because I’ve had friends in abusive relationships who burned all their bridges at the beginning and when things became intolerable for them, they had nowhere to turn. If she’s truly your friend of 20 years, make sure that she knows that she has a safe place to land while also putting up boundaries for yourself.

Swipe left for the next trending thread