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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Family Friends being unreasonable - how to react

222 replies

ComfortFoodCorner · 24/10/2023 19:42

We are friends with this family for 5+ years. We are very close, we live nearby, we get along so well, we celebrate all big events together. For any kind of help, this family is the first we turn to, and they never refused to help. We are the same for them too. There is this small issue that's been going on for several years and I feel I need to do something about it now. This is just silly, but hope you dont find that way. They have the habit of decluttering their home, and dump all the unwanted things to us. Repeatedly - to the extent, everytime we go to their home we come back with big bags of items. It doesnt matter we need them or not, they find it easier to unload the items through us. I tried being polite, and I took up the task of donating them myself. Couple years back it became too much for me. I work full time, and I find really hard to keep my house clean. My friend doesn't and she maintains the house very clean. I have told both the husband and wife both, that I hardly find time to clean/declutter, they seem to empathise, but still they dont stop this behavior. It is not just house hold items - but also groceries, clothing, left over food that she spoilt either by making it too spicy/salty that's almost unconsumable, etc. Most of the items must be going to bin, but they dont have the heart to bin them and just dump on us thereby making it our worry to carry the guilt of binning them. Couple times I got annoyed, and I carried the items to their home and gave it back to them saying I dont need them. Then they became clever. Because we are codependent, like she helps in my DD school pickup, and we do exchange special cooked items, she sneaks in the decluttered/leftover items along with the special items. So you can't accept one and say no to the other. Similarly, as she helps in my DD's school pickup, she sends those items through DD and I am in awkward position to keep taking the items back, as I am bit hesitant to upset them, as the next day I do need their help in school pickup. They both do take it really bad when I return the Items they are dumping on us. At one point DH and I accepted to our fate that we just have to take the task of clearing off their declutters. If I have anything that I think they would like it, I will message them asking if they want it. Only if she says yes, I will give them. Same with food as well. I only give the food that i know they will enjoy for sure. I seriously wish they give me the same consideration. Yesterday we met with them and had a really good time playing games and watching movies. When it was time to leave, lo behold, there were 3 bags of declutter for us to carry home. I couldnt say anything, but carried them home with heavy heart. It really upset me so much, to have my cluttered house being cluttered by my friends more... All the things that I told them regarding how much the cluttered house is stressing me, is falling on deaf ears. They are the only family friends we have in this country, and we really dont want to upset them. Apart from this, we love them a lot. As I said, they are the first we share any good/bad news, none of our family events go on without them. And for anything ,they are the first to come for help. How can I handle this situation? Any idea...

OP posts:
Coffeerum · 24/10/2023 19:43

I’m really not understanding how you can be so close and just not be able to say no.

batsandeggs · 24/10/2023 19:44

I’m sorry but it’s really quite simple. Say no. Return whatever is put in the kid’s bags. If a gentle no doesn’t work, a firm no will - that is, if it’s so bothersome, stop going round.

Hankunamatata · 24/10/2023 19:45

But your didn't have to take the bags yesterday. A simple no thanks we are decluttering ourselves

BrightGreenMoonBuggy · 24/10/2023 19:45

I also don’t understand the problem with saying no thank you, firmly. And then putting the bag onto the floor. Why are you so scared of your friend’s reaction? They don’t care about yours!

RudsyFarmer · 24/10/2023 19:46

I’d love that shit 🤣

xyz111 · 24/10/2023 19:47

How much clutter does one family constantly have??

KnickersOfDoom · 24/10/2023 19:48

Just thank them for their kindness but say no Thankyou, you’re decluttering so won’t take the bags. Then leave the bags where ever she gives them to you

KnickersOfDoom · 24/10/2023 19:49

You need to be consistent saying no, say no Thankyou each time

ComfortFoodCorner · 24/10/2023 19:49

Thank you for your replies. Last year around this time, it went on too much with old clothes, half written notebooks/papers, toys that's not even worth donating to charity, a bag of food items that they themselves quoted 'we are going bin it, but we feel bad to do it, so we are giving them to you'... I got really upset, and told we dont want it. And returned them back. This angered the husband really bad, and our friendship strained badly. Then for few months together we didnt talk much, my DH felt really bad. He doesnt have any friends, My friend's DH is the only person he likes to talk to. Then I felt guilts that I cut the only friendship he had. Then we slowly started speaking again, and immediately after that, the declutter/leftovers started happening again.

OP posts:
Avatartar · 24/10/2023 19:50

Just say no thanks our house is full too- would you like some of our stuff?

Maddy70 · 24/10/2023 19:51

Just say "I dont want it take it to a charity shop "

KnickersOfDoom · 24/10/2023 19:51

Also when in school take the items you want and leave the items you don’t want randomly on the side where she will see them later. If anyone says anything, point out they belong to your friend

SophieHope7 · 24/10/2023 19:53

Just say, "no thanks, I'm not going to the tip or the charity shop this week. Please can you go?"

You're worth more than this. It's very rude of them.

pictoosh · 24/10/2023 19:54

Sounds absolutely bizarre frankly.

Doingmybest12 · 24/10/2023 19:54

This is crazy, other than saying no what else can you do? What about if you make it clear you'll just bin what ever they give you , eg ok we will drop it at the litter bin on the way home for you and hope this puts them off.

FuckingHellAdele · 24/10/2023 19:54

It's sad for your husband, but if they're going to see their arse over you not accepting their cast offs, they're not real friends anyway.

Stop being mugs. Friendship is a two way street.

ComfortFoodCorner · 24/10/2023 19:58

Yesterday was one good example. We had potluck dinner, and had really good time... we were playing together for 6 hours. Then when we were leaving, she asked me to take the 2 bags , "we have some items FOR YOU" ...as I explained in my previous message, I have experienced how much it angers/upsets them when we refuse to take the items. It was quite awkward situation, we all had fun, and I didnt want to upset them... Before even we could think of any possible reply, friends DH carried the items to the car, and kept in it.
Now the sight of those 2 bags annoys and frustrates me to the core. This whole day I havent thought about anything else but how to react for this.

OP posts:
Pandor · 24/10/2023 19:58

They’re not real friends if they will only be friends on their terms and not yours!

when they try to declutter you say that you’re also decluttering and can’t take anything.

Luxell934 · 24/10/2023 19:58

Sounds like a very strange situation to be honest. How much clutter can one family possibly have?

You say the husband got angry when you refused to take their clutter and you didn’t speak for awhile but now you’re codependent on them for school pick ups etc??

Very weird.

ComfortFoodCorner · 24/10/2023 20:01

@Doingmybest12 Yes several times I have did that. I have told them I have no use for these... I only have to bin them... they said, 'yes ok bin them'... Its that they dont want to carry the guilt in their conscious to bin the food... so shifting the guilt to us... not sure if I am explaining it clearly.

OP posts:
LakeTiticaca · 24/10/2023 20:01

I can't get my head round how they constantly have stuff they want to get rid of. Do they buy a lot of crap?
What you should do on leaving their house is just leave it outside the front door and run off

Spattergroit · 24/10/2023 20:02

ComfortFoodCorner · 24/10/2023 20:01

@Doingmybest12 Yes several times I have did that. I have told them I have no use for these... I only have to bin them... they said, 'yes ok bin them'... Its that they dont want to carry the guilt in their conscious to bin the food... so shifting the guilt to us... not sure if I am explaining it clearly.

Shove them in their bin on the way out?

coveredindoghairs · 24/10/2023 20:02

Are they compulsive shoppers? Where is the stuff coming from? I'd either start dumping it before it could even get in my house (assuming you have a place to throw it out/donate it) or tell your husband that if he doesn't want to lose his 'friend', he'll have to deal with the junk in a way that doesn't involve putting it in the home or leaving it in the car.

EmmaDilemma5 · 24/10/2023 20:02

I think the real issue here OP, is that the friendship is unbalanced in power. Your friend is upsetting you, you've let them know, and they're continuing to do it and you don't feel you can say anything again. They've shown you that your friendship will suffer if you don't act like their personal recyclers.

I know you lean on them a lot but I really don't think it's healthy.

I think you need to try again. "Sorry, but we're actively decluttering now as I'm starting to feel stressed at home. We really don't want anymore items but thank you". If they get offended and end the friendship, that's on THEM not you.

Is it possible that they view you as "in need"? Do they have more money than you? Either they're using you or they're very blinkered and can't see that you don't need or want all of their stuff.

PaminaMozart · 24/10/2023 20:05

you should read Boundaries by Henry Cloud.

And your DH needs a new friend.