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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:
wizzywig · 24/10/2023 20:06

Sell the items. Then watch them post on mumsnet that they are outraged at you selling tye stuff

ComfortFoodCorner · 24/10/2023 20:06

I have even told them the place to donate, given them the apps to donate easily. Still no ... It should be on us. Plus, they are very healthy eaters. So when they feel like eating sweet, they get a box of sweet ( as the sweet they like only comes in box), eats one or two, and dumps the remaining box to us... And there was a time they bought the sweet box, it smelled a bit funny, so she brought to ours, saying, 'It is smelling funny, so I dont want it".. as if our tummy is a garbage bin. They walk all the way to our home carrying that, when I said no, they both made an act of walking in cold carrying that box... My DH is a very soft and timid man, he didnt want to make them feel bad, so he said, " OK I will eat it" and took the box. Later we binned it, but he is really afraid to upset them. I dont blame him, only with this family he really comes out of his shell. Only with them I have seen him laughing until the tears flow from his eyes. I am really afraid to take this friendship away from him... It does really gets lonely in this country when you dont have much people you know.

OP posts:
Bivarb · 24/10/2023 20:06

That's irritating. Just keep saying no thanks. They can't force you to take it. Let it get awkward by continuing to say no thanks. No need to say anything else or explain.

I'd be tempted to start bringing them bags of clutter and leftover food. Tell them you want to return the favour!

Donna1001 · 24/10/2023 20:09

take them, then put it all in their bin on the way out.

CuriousGeorge80 · 24/10/2023 20:11

The obvious answer is to say no and deal with the fall out; but I understand why that is difficult. So the practical answer is to just put it all in the first bin you see every time, and don’t give it another thought.

OfcourseitsaNC · 24/10/2023 20:13

I'll be honest. I find their response weird when you say no.

Personally, I'd be putting the bags in their bin in front of them on my way out.

Or I'd be bringing my own bags to their house every time I went round, or giving them bags of stuff when they came to mine.

If you don't want to address this with them again for fear of your husband losing the friendship, your only option really is to put up with this very strange behaviour. Which I suspect isn't the answer you want to hear, but it's the only solution I can see.

SparkyBlue · 24/10/2023 20:20

This is very odd behaviour from them. To be honest it seems like they don't have a great opinion of you. I mean to give you gone off food is horrible and quite insulting. You need to just refuse to accept all this stuff from them

ComfortFoodCorner · 24/10/2023 20:23

@OfcourseitsaNC Yes, they 100% know how I feel about taking their declutter... Still they want to try my patience every time. Once the friend's DH brought the trampoline they bought from a charity shop to our home ( which they decided they dont need it). He was ready to dump in our yard, but I strictly said no, and I am glad I did it.... I had to send a long apology message later to cool him down... I sometimes even feel that they just want to see how long I can go...

OP posts:
ComfortFoodCorner · 24/10/2023 20:26

@SparkyBlue Yes it is not the first time... As it always come with along with a really good time we have with them with laughters and games, we feel obligated to take it, and bin it later. They also have another family friend who is higher in financial status than us, I doubt they would do these to them...

OP posts:
NowItsSpring · 24/10/2023 20:26

You need to stop.worrying about upsetting your 'friends' by refusing to take their castoff stuff. They are not giving you the same consideration and do not seem bothered that they are causing you upset. Say no and mean it.

ComfortFoodCorner · 24/10/2023 20:30

Thank you all for your replies.. I will learn to say firm No... I am also quite determined to return back the 2 bags we were given yesterday, which i will find an opportunity this week and return. It has eaten my mind a lot and I had enough... Starting this thread really helped me to ease off some burden... Thanks all once again...

OP posts:
landbeforegrime · 24/10/2023 20:31

It sounds weird and disrespectful. They are acting like you are desperately poor and would be grateful for any scraps they throw your way. All this said my dad does similar with me - he cannot bring himself to throw things out. He has a hoarding issue so I will take the item and throw it out so I know it won't be another thing to clutter his house. Your friends don't sound as though they are hoarders though who need help? You shouldn't have to, but to keep the friendship can you just say when they give it to you that you really don't have space/ your cupboards are bursting but you can help them with a trip to the tip next time you see them. Or tell them more frankly that it's starting to feel like they think you are destitute and that's not the case so they shouldn't keep giving you things you don't need and have no space for. but also focus on widening your friendship circle as a priority- I have no suggestions as opportunities for this will vary a lot from area to area but volunteering and local interest groups seem the obvious place to start. good luck and sorry you are finding it hard to find people you can connect with.

Yodeleyyyyheeeeee · 24/10/2023 20:33

This is one of the most bizarre posts I’ve ever read 🤣 refuse, walk away and if they don’t like it, tell them to F off!

TossieFleacake · 24/10/2023 20:36

Just say no.
Assert your boundaries.
'No, we do not want any more things from you'

If they force the bags into your hands, put them straight back down on the floor in front of them.

Stand up for yourself.
If the 'friends' do not like this response, they are not the friends you thought they were.

Agapornis · 24/10/2023 20:37

They're really weird and not your friends.

Why not try to make new friends? Start a new hobby?

Winnipeggy · 24/10/2023 20:39

Tbh it sounds like they are playing a game with you, nobody can act that way sincerely, surely? It honestly sounds crazy. I can't imagine not being able to say to my friends - 'what are you doing, I don't want any of this crap'....but if you really feel like you need them in your lives then I think you just have to accept this madness and bin everything they give you. Just say to them every time 'I'm just going to put this straight in the bin' ...I dont know what else you can do. I wouldn't be friends with them.

AlisonDonut · 24/10/2023 20:40

My mother used to do this.

I told her that my house was too small and I had spent the last 6 months getting rid of stuff so I couldn't take any more.

And I stopped taking it.

And she finally stopped giving me a load of shite.

Cherrysoup · 24/10/2023 20:42

They are very rude, but you are allowing it! Tell them no at the point they give you stuff, mean it and tell them it’s insulting, you are not à rubbish bin.

DinaofCloud9 · 24/10/2023 20:45

Dump the bags at their front door. Cheeky gits.

pictoosh · 24/10/2023 20:55

I think they are a bit bonkers tbh...and maybe not in a charming way. Who in their right mind falls out with friends over something like this?

Can I ask OP...when you wrote the long apology over the trampoline, what did you apologise for?

tianabiscuit · 24/10/2023 20:58

Somebody who needs profuse apology to cool them down just because you've said no to having their unwanted crap dumped on you is not your friend.

Your DH needs to find a real friend that respects him, because these people do not respect either of you.

MariaLuna · 24/10/2023 20:58

'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,

This is a really strange friendship. Is there a cultural aspect to this? Why are you letting them walk all over your boundaries?

They are using you as their personal rubbish collectors. It's not on!

Bassetlover · 24/10/2023 21:01

As a PP said, start taking bags of shite and dodgy food round to them, smile sweetly and say you can't possbly accept their gifts without returning the favour. Don't accept a refusal from them. Let them see how it feels. Don't be afraid of causing offence, they aren't.

TomatoSandwiches · 24/10/2023 21:01

They're not your friends, if you can't say no ( you absolutely can btw ) put them in their bin on the way out.
Regift any solid non perishable item at Birthdays and Christmas or just find new friends.
I wouldn't be putting up with it either way, let them fucking sulk.

IsThatMyUmbrella · 24/10/2023 21:08

What really strikes me is how dependant you both are on their friendship. You need to focus on making some new friends. It's really not healthy to make them the centre of your world outside of your family, and such friendships rarely last as they're too intense. I know, I've had a couple in the past and learnt to not get so enmeshed.

Regards to the junk - start sending bags of your cast offs to them. They can hardly complain and it might make a point.

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