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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Not invited to christening

263 replies

Blackberryandcherry · 20/07/2024 16:58

AIBU?

One of my close friends had a baby in November. I planned her baby shower completely on my own for around 30 people, and I’ve been a regular visitor whilst she’s on mat leave, often using my annual leave to keep her and baby company during the day.

I went round last night for a couple of glasses of wine and she got onto chatting about her plans to get the baby christened. She said it would just be a small christening with family and her babies ‘friends’. It turns out that involves inviting our entire friendship group and their little ones, but not me as I am child free. I am the only one without a baby.

AIBU to be hurt by this? Fully expecting to be told she can invite who she likes but honestly I am feeling a bit devastated to be the only one excluded.

OP posts:
LizzieBennett73 · 20/07/2024 19:28

Don't let her know how hurt you are. It won't make you feel any better. It's so hard when you realise that a friendship isn't the way you've valued it from their perspective, but from hard earned experience, I wouldn't fall out over it and just distance yourself quietly.

I think most of us have been there at some point, and it's shit but don't take it personally - it's one of those situations when it really isn't you Flowers

Mmhmmn · 20/07/2024 19:28

That's truly, breathtakingly, bizarre and awful. Notice now who she really is -a taker. That's so cruel. Sorry OP, your efforts deserve better than that treatment. I hope you have other, better friends you can spend your time with.

HolyPeaches · 20/07/2024 19:30

Same thing happened to me.

A close friend had a Christening for her two young DCs. I’d always been active in their life, baby showers, birthdays, Christmas presents for the kids, visits etc. Me and another friend weren’t invited as we didn’t have kids at the time.

It wasn’t even a small christening. It was like a huge event. We’ve obviously drifted and I don’t make as much effort now.

betterangels · 20/07/2024 19:31

Book a break the weekend of the christening so there's no danger of you being asked to make sandwiches like an unpaid skivvy.

Seconded. Definitely be away that weekend.

CheshireCat1 · 20/07/2024 19:32

I’m sorry that you’ve been treated so awfully by this person, I wonder if all her so called baby’s friends will support her in the future. I’d give her some space and wait for her to contact you when she realises how rotten she’s treated you.

Mmhmmn · 20/07/2024 19:32

Surely the rest of the group will be shocked. If they're not, then they're monsters too. Agree you have nothing to be embarassed about - your 'friend' should be mortified.

Sallyh87 · 20/07/2024 19:37

Going against the grain here. I would not expect to be invited to a children’s party unless I had kids or was close family (and was obligated to attend). I wouldn’t be interested in going.

Your feelings are hurt but it’s possible that the host doesn’t know you would like to go to the party. Just talk to her.

CountessWindyBottom · 20/07/2024 19:41

I'm so sorry @Blackberryandcherry. In some friendship dynamics you have a radiator and a drain. The radiator provides all the comfort and help and the drain, well, it's self explanatory.

This isn't the friendship that you thought it was and on that basis I'd make myself unavailable. She may or may not realise that she has lost a lovely friend but, as it stands, she sounds like an inconsiderate user.

user1469770863 · 20/07/2024 19:45

crumblingschools · 20/07/2024 17:21

Why do you use annual leave to go and see her? Do you have a social life that doesn’t revolve round her?

Edited

unkind

ByCupidStunt · 20/07/2024 19:45

She is, at the very least, rude and thoughtless.

It's probably a good idea to be busy now on the day of the christening - a spa day, or weekend away. It'll take your mind of it at least.

AndForAFortnightThereWeWereForever · 20/07/2024 19:52

MrsSunshine2b · 20/07/2024 18:10

Aside from the established fact that it's horrible of her not to invite you, why do people think it's acceptable to discuss events that people aren't invited to in front of them? Rude af.

I completely agree with this. I used to go to Church when I first moved into the place I live now (about 10 years ago,) and there was a big bunch of about 12 or 13 quite cliquey women there. Pleasant but very tight. There was one of them (Ann) that used to hang on to me like a limpet. She was so possessive and obsessive and constantly wanting to know everything about me and what I was doing and lots of personal intrusive questions about me ... She was so nosey. After a while - about 8-9 months I started giving her a wide berth.

She was actually one of the reasons I stopped going to church so much and cut it down from three to four times a month to once or twice a month. A new trainee minister came to the church; (he was actually learning the craft from the vicar there,) and was there twice a month. He was due to be another church a few miles down the road later on.

6 of these women in this group got invited to his wedding, because they were very thick with the vicar.. 'Ann' was not invited, but she pretty much invited herself. She said to the trainee minister. 'Oh yes, me and Steve will be able to come. That's so wonderful - we're looking forward to your wedding!' She actually invited herself! No-one had the nerve to say she can't go.

I was actually talking to the women in the group who were invited, and this weird obsessive woman (Ann) joined in the conversation, and she started going on about the wedding. 'And oh, I'm coming to your house first, aren't I? Annette. It'll be so much fun at the wedding. I can't wait. Can you Julie? Sarah. Linda, Liz?'

She kept blathering on about this wedding that I wasn't invited to. All of the women in the group who were chatting were going to it... Except me. After about 30 seconds of Ann talking about it, one of the ladies actually turned the subject off it - and she turned it right back on again.

I really, genuinely think it was to rub my nose in it that I wasn't invited, to be spiteful, because I had been giving her a wide berth. But I wasn't expecting to be invited because I didn't really know the couple that well. She was only going because she'd invited herself. She didn't know the couple any more than me! She only moved into this area 3 months before I did, and got herself in with the Church clique quite quick! I carried on going to Church for a while - a couple of years - but went less and less and less, then stopped altogether when Covid hit and never went back.

But yeah, tl;dr, it is beyond rude and spiteful and nasty, to chat about something that is going on - like a 'do' or a party or a wedding, especially with other people who are invited - in front of someone who isn't.

Hellodarknessmyfriend · 20/07/2024 19:52

@MumChp I was referring to slanother poster who said (quite correctly) that it doesn't exactly uphold her "Christian values".

Katbum · 20/07/2024 19:53

‘Hi Friend - I’ve been thinking - and although of course you can invite who you like to baby’s christening and I understand it’s a small event - I am hurt to not have been invited. I have made a huge effort for our friendship since you became pregnant and considered us very close. I don’t expect an invite now, but want to say this has hurt me.’

Cuppachino · 20/07/2024 19:54

AndForAFortnightThereWeWereForever · 20/07/2024 18:03

Also, as has been said @Blackberryandcherry she can NOT stop you going to the Church. It's a public place. I wouldn't though. Just ghost her. She clearly doesn't think of you as a close friend anymore, because you're not a mummy! What a nasty way to treat you! Confused

Anyone with a shred of self-respect will not turn up to an event that they've not been invited to. Public place or not.

MumChp · 20/07/2024 19:55

Hellodarknessmyfriend · 20/07/2024 19:52

@MumChp I was referring to slanother poster who said (quite correctly) that it doesn't exactly uphold her "Christian values".

I am not sure tbh a guest list for a christening has a lot to do with Christian values. Or my years working in CoEf didn't teach me this.

But friendships and relationships have a lot of values - which are not met here.

Blondeshavemorefun · 20/07/2024 19:55

She sounds horrible

No children so not Coming

Hellodarknessmyfriend · 20/07/2024 19:55

@Sallyh87 Since when is a Christening a "children's party?"

AndForAFortnightThereWeWereForever · 20/07/2024 19:56

Cuppachino · 20/07/2024 19:54

Anyone with a shred of self-respect will not turn up to an event that they've not been invited to. Public place or not.

Well that's why I told the OP to not go. Confused

Hellodarknessmyfriend · 20/07/2024 19:57

@MumChp I'm not referring to the guests, I'm referring to the women arranging the Christening for her child. But I suppose these days even she doesn't have to be a Christian?

MumChp · 20/07/2024 19:59

Hellodarknessmyfriend · 20/07/2024 19:57

@MumChp I'm not referring to the guests, I'm referring to the women arranging the Christening for her child. But I suppose these days even she doesn't have to be a Christian?

I read nothing about the parents' faith. I assume a christening is important for them as they arrange it.

MumChp · 20/07/2024 20:00

LizzieBennett73 · 20/07/2024 19:28

Don't let her know how hurt you are. It won't make you feel any better. It's so hard when you realise that a friendship isn't the way you've valued it from their perspective, but from hard earned experience, I wouldn't fall out over it and just distance yourself quietly.

I think most of us have been there at some point, and it's shit but don't take it personally - it's one of those situations when it really isn't you Flowers

I would be very honest. Why not?
And move on.

Hellodarknessmyfriend · 20/07/2024 20:01

@MumChp And it certainly doesn't appear to be the case that the invitee is upholding Christian values here by not inviting her "friend." It's so unkind.

pinkfondu · 20/07/2024 20:02

She's a user

Cuppachino · 20/07/2024 20:03

AndForAFortnightThereWeWereForever · 20/07/2024 19:56

Well that's why I told the OP to not go. Confused

Edited

Why even mention it?

sentfrmmyiphone · 20/07/2024 20:05

MumChp · 20/07/2024 19:59

I read nothing about the parents' faith. I assume a christening is important for them as they arrange it.

sadly nowadays... christenings are the 'next bit', they have the 'we're pregnant' news, then the 'sex reveal' news, then they the 'baby shower' and then they have the 'baby is here news', then ofcourse there is the 'christening' which is nothing to do with religion and then the 1st birthday party!!

my DD is having her child christened, she is not religious in any way shape or form BUT i am, and her dads side of the family as massively religious, so although its not import to her, it IS important to others she respects and loves.

but the majority of the time.. its just for a party

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