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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

No well wishes on my 30th? Did I do something wrong?

41 replies

OhForFrogSake · 02/06/2024 20:24

Hello- long time lurker, first time joiner but decided to swallow some courage and ask you for any insight. Sorry if this is long!

Today is my 30th birthday for context. I’ve had a group of female friends (4 of us, all 30) for the past 4 years. We met when I joined a hobby when I moved to our city. None of us are apart of that hobby anymore.

We used to see each other once every two weeks and contact each other maybe once a week on our group chat. It was lovely and we got on really well. It was nice to have friends that were bitchy free and all three of them are very easy going-as did I think I was! I’ve helped them through difficult times (breakups, house moves, etc)

Then in January, while on holiday- I got some bad news about my health unexpectedly, at the same time I lost a family member and my landlord decided to sell and text me to tell me . All within the four days we were away on a girls trip m. I tried to keep a brave face but by the last day, during one of our excursions, I broke down. I went back in a taxi to the hotel and the others stayed out. We flew home the next day and everyone was quiet but it was an early flight so assumed tired.

Since then things have been frosty, none of them have reached out to see if I was ok really. Contact has become a lot less, and although they would reply to my messages when I ask if they’re ok etc quite friendly- nothing would be instigated by any of them and they’d never message first anymore. If I suggested meeting up, they’d say they weren’t sure if that date could work etc and it would never happen, I asked if I’d done something and all three said no. So I just stopped communicating, as did they (assume they’ve got another group chat) and it was left at that.

Since then, I’ve happened to see all three of them in person at weddings recently and another at a work conference (separately, not together). Big hugs when they see me (coming up to me) “we should do something soon!” I’ve missed spending time with you etc-so I reached out again a few weeks ago, and again radio silence. I also found out that they’d gone round to one of the girls new homes for a house warming and I’d not been invited.

It’s also my 30th today and although they’ve liked the picture of me on instagram with my 30 cake my Nan made (cute!) they’ve not reached out to say happy birthday. I’m probably being pathetic, I just feel sad as I made such a huge deal for their 30th as they did to each other. I just feel confused by their actions.

I should probably cut my losses, but I don’t have any other friends, I keep wondering what I did wrong? And I’m wondering how to make friends in my 30’s? Our hobby was a choir/book club but it’s no longer running and the nearest is 30 miles away.

OP posts:
Whatsmyusername1235 · 02/06/2024 21:10

You’re not being pathetic and they sound like rubbish friends. I would be really hurt by this too and their behaviour is really weird. They aren’t real friends unfortunately. Happy birthday 🥳 I hope you’ve managed to have a good day regardless.

Roundroundthegarden · 02/06/2024 21:19

Happy birthday op! I'm puzzled at their behaviour. It was definitely something on that trip because that's where it went wrong. And given ALL of them are behaving the exact same way, they all know something. I wouldn't want friends like these. I would just message each of them just for closure but still move on distancing yourself.

PoopingAllTheWay · 02/06/2024 21:23

Happy Birthday 🎉

WePanickedAtTheDisco · 02/06/2024 21:31

Happy birthday girl 👑

These people sound shit and they don’t deserve your time, nor your thoughts (easier said than done I know!) If it were me, I would quietly move on. I agree with your mum, don’t ask and don’t give them the satisfaction to think they’ve upset you.
You deserve better and better people will come along. For now, concentrate on your lovely family, they’ve got your back.

Elcad · 02/06/2024 21:40

Happy birthday ! These kind of things happen unfortunately.
I think they already belong to your past, no need to waste more time with them.
Maybe try to form different bonds withmore people as you seem to have invested a lot of your energy and time with these women only and as a result you are lonely without them.
It will get better !

DeadbeatYoda · 02/06/2024 21:58

This sort of thing happened to friend of mine, only they were 40 ish at the time. The three other friends were surprisingly uncaring given the fact that my friend had just had a genuinely traumatic experience involving a death at work. You get to see people's true colours when you're the one struggling. It's really crap and I wish people were better than that but some just aren't.
Join more groups, find another friend. Don't let their lack of kindness do you any more harm.

DeadbeatYoda · 02/06/2024 21:58

Happy birthday, here's wishing you the very best of health and happiness for the years ahead.

SkaneTos · 02/06/2024 22:04

@OhForFrogSake
Happy Birthday!
All my best wishes to you!

Singing in a choir is such a great hobby. Is there any chance at all that you can find another choir, or another book club? Or are they all too far away?

Wayk · 02/06/2024 22:10

Happiest of birthdays to you. May the next decade be the happiest decade and you will enjoy good health and an abundance of happiness 🎂

Delphiniumandlupins · 02/06/2024 23:37

Happy birthday. Hope your cake was lovely. Tomorrow start looking for another choir, book group and some new friends. X

babymamalove · 03/06/2024 00:26

Damn, people really suck. I’ve had similar things happen to me with ‘friends’ and it hurts. Anyway, they’ve made it clear they don’t want to hang out for whatever reason so I don't really see the point in asking them why. I’d delete them from social media and try my best to move on. It does suck though I really feel you!

oh and HAPPY birthday! ❤️❤️

EnglishBluebell · 03/06/2024 12:07

Happy 30th Birthday for yesterday. I too had so called friends ignore me on my 30th it's not nice. I was pregnant and spent my 30th cowering on the floor of a caravan bedroom in Lake District, hiding from my angry then-partner hoping he wouldn't start on me again and sobbing, wishing I could get to my car without passing him. He absolutely despised anyone getting any special attention. Made him furious.

As for your friends, I'd honestly confront them. How dare they chicken out of being honest and in turn, be hurtful towards you by doing this? It's cruel. Don't allow it - confront them and do NOT let them gaslight you into believing it's all in your head or that they've "genuinely been busy"

EnglishBluebell · 03/06/2024 12:19

I bloody hate 'ghosting' and 'phasing people out' it's such a cowardly and excessively cruel thing to do. (Even more so I expect, if the person is neurodivergent)

Shirtdress · 03/06/2024 12:33

EnglishBluebell · 03/06/2024 12:07

Happy 30th Birthday for yesterday. I too had so called friends ignore me on my 30th it's not nice. I was pregnant and spent my 30th cowering on the floor of a caravan bedroom in Lake District, hiding from my angry then-partner hoping he wouldn't start on me again and sobbing, wishing I could get to my car without passing him. He absolutely despised anyone getting any special attention. Made him furious.

As for your friends, I'd honestly confront them. How dare they chicken out of being honest and in turn, be hurtful towards you by doing this? It's cruel. Don't allow it - confront them and do NOT let them gaslight you into believing it's all in your head or that they've "genuinely been busy"

Edited

Sorry to hear that, @EnglishBluebell.

I think your second point is a fair one, and one I often think reading the fairly frequent threads about this kind of scenario — an entire group going quiet on someone after a group holiday while saying ‘Just busy!’ I don’t think it needs to be some kind of massive takedown, but important to actually put it to them, and make it clear you’ve noticed, and that you’re not impressed by their excuses, while accepting you may never find out why.

EnglishBluebell · 03/06/2024 14:56

@Shirtdress Exactly. My attitude towards this is like my attitude towards CFs! Ignore it and allow it, then you're enabling the behaviour which makes these idiots worse. Flowers

Emmadaily · 03/06/2024 15:07

All the best to you OP
Hope you enjoyed the cake made by your nan 🎂
New friends hopefully on the horizon
for you

I would forget about the other so called friends they really are not worth it
Xx

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