Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Balancing friends and family

12 replies

KindOchreEagle · 06/07/2024 21:47

my best friend who I have known since we were 5 is single and depressed, it breaks my heart and sometimes when she is having a down day I find it really hard to be around her she is snappy and defensive and I struggle to think of things to say that aren’t going to cause offense. When she is in a good mood or doing something like a night out she is good fun and I enjoy being around her. But overall it’s 20% good mood and 80% bad mood and I feel a resentful.

I recently got married and had a baby and things have gotten worse she is telling me she is all alone and she either wants me to go and see her or to go out with me and as a last resort she will come to mine but that’s not a preference, I feel like there is a lot of pressure and sometimes I either want to chill out at home either with husband and baby or by myself when I get the chance and occasionally with other friends so if sometimes I say no to hanging out I first get a guilt trip like it’s so hard being alone and the it’s threatening like I’ll find better friends then won’t speak to you again and it goes round in circles.

i have said I can spend two days a week with her ie one night have dinner together and one day at the weekend and she is saying it’s not enough and if I am going out for example why shouldn’t she be invited as she will be alone anyway. So I want to know am I being unreasonable

yabu - you should be supporting her more and inviting to everything

yanbu - 2 days a week is plenty and spending time with different people is okay

OP posts:
Psspsspssssss · 06/07/2024 21:48

YANBU you have responsibilities now. You can't be there to support her as much as she wishes.

Santaclausthemovi · 06/07/2024 21:50

2 days a week is more than enough. You have a baby and a husband and are not responsible for her happiness. She should not be guilt tripping you.

Is she getting any help for her depression?

Bigbirthdaygal · 06/07/2024 21:51

Personally I think 2 days is a lot! Especially as demands from baby will ramp up as they grow.

RandomGuy374 · 06/07/2024 21:52

Seams quite toxic to me, you shouldn't be expected to be there 24/7 for her, two days is plenty and if she resorts to threats or guilt tripping I would understand if you wouldn't want to see her at all

Whatsnormalhere · 06/07/2024 21:54

2 days a week is a lot, this friendship is not good for you and certainly not healthy. You need to either tell your friend how you feel or reduce time spent with her and see how it goes - twice a week is a hell of a lot when you have a baby and life to maintain!

Fionaville · 06/07/2024 21:54

You're giving her too much of you time imo. I'd go one evening in the week tops, even that is a big ask if its every week.

autienotnaughty · 06/07/2024 21:58

That's ridiculous you are not responsible for entertaining your friend and she shouldn't be threatening you because you have a lot on. She being selfish and nasty, if she was a good friend she would be sharing your happiness not resenting it. You can be struggling yourself and still be happy for others.

If you are wanting to continue the friendship it would be nice to invite her for dinner weekly. I would not be feeling pressured to go out tho. If you want to that's fine but it's definitely ok to say no. It would probably be good for her to make new friends in a similar situation but she doesn't have to choose them over you.

juicelooseabootthishoose · 06/07/2024 22:02

I don't know any adults with or without children who see one specific friend more then twice a week.

It is very sad. But her loneliness, her depression needs to be resolved by her. You pouring a tiny bit more of yourself into her void won't touch the sides.

I think you need to trust yourself. You are generous and kind and supportive. You are not unreasonable. Her need being greater then what you can offer is not your problem. Her happiness is not your responsibility.

I think i'd be taking a massive step back, or putting in boundaries. She will kick and scream. But she is being childlike a difficult.

ButterflySkies · 06/07/2024 22:03

I think it's lovely you're offering the support you are.

The reality is you have a young family and it's hard to strike the balance within that unit to get enough time for yourself, let alone with other things on top of that. You can't take on the responsibility fully of your friend's happiness and wellbeing, especially if it's impacting your own (which it sounds like it is).

Give yourself some grace, you're being a really good friend and offering a lot of support.

Hold your boundaries firmly but fairly - you arent being unreasonable xx

newyearsresolurion · 06/07/2024 22:15

How about once a fortnight or never?! You have a baby now your life has changed

Turnthelightoff · 06/07/2024 22:19

You are being more than fair and I think you need to earn her that as your baby grows into a small child you will have less time as they will need you more.

BippetyBoppetyBooHoo · 06/07/2024 22:26

Seeing her two nights a weeks is verging on enabling her. She needs to get out there and make new friends rather than depending solely on you who she has guilt tripped to spend time with her.

She also needs to find new hobbies and interests to enjoy on her own. It's not your job to help her with that but maybe you can plant the seed for her.

Can you suggest doing things together that involve her meeting new people?...and I don't mean your other friends.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread