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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this friend taking the piss?

204 replies

gailedit · 19/04/2024 14:29

My friend and I visit each other with our children (5 years old) often, we usually alternate hosting.

No long ago we were at her house and they were talking about this juice they started drinking, which is on the expensive side. She diluted it with water for the 4 of us saying that is because of the sugar content but also to make it last longer.
Fair enough.

DD and I really liked the juice and started buying it. I didn’t want to dilute it for myself so DD asked to try it undiluted and she prefers that way too.

So next time the friend is due to visit, I tell DD that I will dilute the juice for the 4 of us because this is like how they drink it (and I didn’t want to create friction between friend and her DD in case her DD wanted the juice undiluted too.

So they came, and when is snack time DD explains (not my instructions, out of her own accord) that we like the juice undiluted but we will dilute it today because they are visiting.

So friend very quickly say ‘absolutely not’ since it is our house, they can drink it undiluted too.
Okay no problem.
And they really love it and keep having more. I serve in a jar so topped up when needed.

Then it was our turn to visit them again and to my surprise, friend serves 4 glasses of the diluted juice and that is it.

Then her DD blurts out that she is looking forward to come to our house next so she can drink lots of undiluted juice again😅

Friend was mortified and quickly changed the topic.

Btw, her household income is double than mine. But I appreciate she might have debt as she is always complaining about money and the price of things… for instance she complained that her cleaner uses too much product and should use more elbow grease lol.

I don’t have debt. Nor a cleaner.

Should I serve unlimited undiluted juice next time?

OP posts:
venus7 · 20/04/2024 18:45

AliciaCared · 19/04/2024 15:58

Bolinger?

Yes, brilliant. Must be served undiluted. Wasted on kids.

TriesNotToBeCynical · 20/04/2024 19:03

Qwerty21 · 19/04/2024 14:33

I don't understand this at all. Surely you only dilute cordial type of juice, other juice is served as packaged as it's ready to drink?

My grandmother diluted the Lucozade she brought me in hospital, but she was a very mean woman. And hated children.

Mnk711 · 20/04/2024 19:07

I'd just not offer the juice next time and give something else instead.

Lollipop81 · 20/04/2024 19:13

I don’t think this is something I could get worked up about 😂

Mere1 · 20/04/2024 19:27

It’s too trivial to worry about. Juice…

TheMerryTiger · 20/04/2024 19:54

There are people dying ffs get over yourself

FeetLikeFlippers · 20/04/2024 19:58

Is this a genuine post? If this is the biggest anxiety in your life right now you need to thank your lucky stars and get a grip.

picolosmum · 20/04/2024 20:15

Did you need to post this? Are you seriously loosing sleep over fruit juice? 😂😂😂 this is funny

GalileoHumpkins · 20/04/2024 20:17

TheMerryTiger · 20/04/2024 19:54

There are people dying ffs get over yourself

People have been dying since time began, I hardly think it's news.

Therealjudgejudy · 20/04/2024 20:19

You need to get a life....

mamajong · 20/04/2024 20:19

Life's to short for this drama. Don't serve that juice next time or just limit everyone to a glass each because its expensive

Thalia31 · 20/04/2024 20:47

gailedit · 19/04/2024 14:29

My friend and I visit each other with our children (5 years old) often, we usually alternate hosting.

No long ago we were at her house and they were talking about this juice they started drinking, which is on the expensive side. She diluted it with water for the 4 of us saying that is because of the sugar content but also to make it last longer.
Fair enough.

DD and I really liked the juice and started buying it. I didn’t want to dilute it for myself so DD asked to try it undiluted and she prefers that way too.

So next time the friend is due to visit, I tell DD that I will dilute the juice for the 4 of us because this is like how they drink it (and I didn’t want to create friction between friend and her DD in case her DD wanted the juice undiluted too.

So they came, and when is snack time DD explains (not my instructions, out of her own accord) that we like the juice undiluted but we will dilute it today because they are visiting.

So friend very quickly say ‘absolutely not’ since it is our house, they can drink it undiluted too.
Okay no problem.
And they really love it and keep having more. I serve in a jar so topped up when needed.

Then it was our turn to visit them again and to my surprise, friend serves 4 glasses of the diluted juice and that is it.

Then her DD blurts out that she is looking forward to come to our house next so she can drink lots of undiluted juice again😅

Friend was mortified and quickly changed the topic.

Btw, her household income is double than mine. But I appreciate she might have debt as she is always complaining about money and the price of things… for instance she complained that her cleaner uses too much product and should use more elbow grease lol.

I don’t have debt. Nor a cleaner.

Should I serve unlimited undiluted juice next time?

Is this some sort of joke?

Marieb19 · 20/04/2024 21:12

Get a life. It's juice. Don't serve it, if you don't want to pay for it.

anon4net · 20/04/2024 21:13

I get it @gailedit you wouldn't normally tit for tat but this is a bit Confused when it's so blatant and especially with the income difference. I think you find that a lot. I have friends with an household income of over 300k and they are so so tight and always go on about prices. It just irks after a while.

anon4net · 20/04/2024 21:15

Also, take a break from the juice. Say your family is on a water kick! :)

Bansheenothree · 20/04/2024 21:16

I wouldn't even think twice about this.

Let alone post online about it

But I guess if your friend is on Mumsnet the issue might resolve itself now anyway!

MumTeacherofMany · 20/04/2024 21:18

Who cares?! It's clearly about the sugar content & not the money

OldPerson · 20/04/2024 21:32

Oh dear.

It's not a good sign for anyone involved - adult or child - that the most interesting focus of a visit is what juice they're drinking.

Don't think I'd want to know any single one of them.

CrispieCake · 20/04/2024 22:46

I'm not sure household income necessarily has anything to do with it 😂. We're comfortably off, but I'm afraid visiting children only get water, milk or (after checking with their parents) sugar-free squash at our house. They don't get fruit juice, but if they did, I remember being told that fruit juice served to children should always be heavily diluted. We are quite generous on snacks though! Adults can have whatever they want to drink and no, it's never diluted.

I have a friend who goes through periodic stages of trying to budget, but she is really quite sweet with it so I can't say I really mind. She does odd things, like serve the kids cereal and toast for dinner when we're visiting, but she's quite upfront that this is because she's trying to keep her spending low that week. Then you'll go there some weeks and be served steak and chips or a whole salmon. It's bizarre but she's great company regardless of whether it's cornflakes or coq au vin for dinner.

Mrsmontgomeryburns · 20/04/2024 23:29

I wish I had these problems 🤣🤣🤣

shenandoahvalley · 20/04/2024 23:49

POM diluted with sparkling water and served with lots of ice and a squeeze of lime is the BOMB.

threatmatrix · 20/04/2024 23:52

I’d buy something else for when they come over.

threatmatrix · 20/04/2024 23:53

CrispieCake · 20/04/2024 22:46

I'm not sure household income necessarily has anything to do with it 😂. We're comfortably off, but I'm afraid visiting children only get water, milk or (after checking with their parents) sugar-free squash at our house. They don't get fruit juice, but if they did, I remember being told that fruit juice served to children should always be heavily diluted. We are quite generous on snacks though! Adults can have whatever they want to drink and no, it's never diluted.

I have a friend who goes through periodic stages of trying to budget, but she is really quite sweet with it so I can't say I really mind. She does odd things, like serve the kids cereal and toast for dinner when we're visiting, but she's quite upfront that this is because she's trying to keep her spending low that week. Then you'll go there some weeks and be served steak and chips or a whole salmon. It's bizarre but she's great company regardless of whether it's cornflakes or coq au vin for dinner.

‘Sugar free’ contains sweeteners. I don’t let my children have any sweeteners in any form, good old sugar for me.

MyrrAgain · 21/04/2024 00:00

WTF

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 21/04/2024 00:06

Just don’t have any in next time they visit…

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