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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask was I a bad friend?

72 replies

notagdfriend · 02/08/2024 07:16

I have a childhood friend, very close growing up but have slightly drifted as adults. I got married quite young and have a son with complex needs.. Friend has a lot of mental health issues and is a functioning alcohol. I've tried to support her/get help but she's resistant to it.

Recently it was her hendo , a night away. It started early (about 11 am) it was fun but by 9pm I was flagging, we were in a pub most of group were dancing, a couple were sat. I sat down a few minutes to look at my phone and message dh. Almost immediately friend came over and asked if I was dancing. I said I was having a minute. (Most of others were dancing I wasn't stopping the fun) She then said she wanted me to request a song (she has a habit of asking me to do things for her, get drinks, accompany to toilet etc) I said she could request her own song if she wanted one. She walked off , I felt bad as it's her hen do. I got up danced, requested songs for her.

We all got back to hotel about 1am. We are sharing a room, she mentions setting her alarm for 5am. I said make sure you turn it off as we don't need to be up that early (we are meeting at 10, no plans to do anything before then) she said she would.

5am her alarm wakes me, I ignore it. Ten minutes later it goes off again. A further ten minutes later and it goes off for the third time. I say 'Sarah turn your fucking alarm off'

I have insomnia so i basically lay wide awake from 5am . Friend sleeps (and snores) until 9. She is very off when we are getting ready (one word answers) I ask what's up and she glared at me and went to the bathroom to call her bf. When she comes out I try to ask her what's wrong she turns it on me saying something is wrong with me. I say I'm just tired. She then goes on about how I overreacted to alarm going off and why did I make an issue of it. I say let's leave it it's fine let's just enjoy the day. She keeps pushing me to tell her why the alarm was an issue. In the end I snap that of course setting a 5am alarm when you went to bed at 130 is an issue and that given I never sleep well (due to sons needs) maybe I was looking forward to a lay in.

She burst into tears and said I ruined her hendo and how can she go out and have fun today after the way I spoke to her. She told other friends who comforted her and I was basically the bad guy. I felt massively uncomfortable for rest of day

Was I an awful friend? Should I just have kept my mouth shut?

OP posts:
AquaShark · 06/08/2024 09:08

I would have sworn too if someone's alarm went off 3 times at 5 am and they didn't turn it off themselves - who wouldn't?

1mabon · 06/08/2024 09:34

I'm glad she' not my friend. Why need to set the alarm for 5 when she didn't get up until 9.00, inconsiderate woman. If you still want her as a friend you'll need to suck it up I'm afraid.

Safaribar · 06/08/2024 11:15

Loopytiles · 02/08/2024 07:27

The info about her MH, alcohol problems and past annoying behaviour on nights out seems irrelevant.

bit demanding of her to ask you to request a song, but it was her hen do and your response seems rather blunt.

Weird and annoying of her to set the alarm for 5am, but swearing at her was uncalled for and it was unrealistic of you to hope for a decent sleep when sharing a room at a hen do.

Her reaction sounds OTT.

What weird logic. 5am alarm when you don't have to be up til much later is bizarre. She knew she set it so why do that?
The alcohol problems might explain her irrational behaviour.

Safaribar · 06/08/2024 11:20

rainbow126 · 02/08/2024 10:30

Nothing kills a vibe like someone sitting texting. Her asking you to request a song sounds like she was trying to get you back involved with the party! Your response was rude and unnecessary.

Setting an unnecessary alarm for that time is weird and super annoying. Surely if you’re such good friends you could swear at her in a for gods sake kind of way, without it being aggressive/escalating? The alarm thing sounds symptomatic and like she was upset at your behaviour from the night before and the mood shift and used the alarm situation to express that.

I do think you weren’t being a very good friend overall - she probably got the sense off you that you couldn’t really be bothered about her hen and it upset her and that’s where it all stemmed from. These kind of events often shine a spotlight on friendships and magnify any cracks. Your comments on her addiction etc aren’t remotely relevant and show more of how you actually feel about her.

This friendship may not last the distance but I don’t think you’ll be too concerned if it does fizzle.

OP has a child with more needs so was maybe checking in? I have one child who doesn't cope well when I'm away, gets seriously distressed, is sick etc so maybe OP needed to check?! People need to be able to detach themselves also from an entire day of drinking. Also, not everyone dances and should certainly not be forced to.

Marosanne · 06/08/2024 14:05

My ex used to set his alarm really early and then snooze it at least 3 times before he got up. When I objected, he got annoyed and said it was "his routine." Needless to say, the relationship did not stay the course!

Iwant20cats · 06/08/2024 21:09

Who the he'll gets up at 5am on a hen do?

Welshmonster · 06/08/2024 22:18

So she set an alarm and then ignored it. If you were awake anyway then you should have got up and started the day once you realised she was going back to sleep. All bright and breezy.
how she reacted to you being annoyed is not on you and next time there is a group event tell the so called others they can share a room with her

NotSoHotMess24 · 06/08/2024 23:51

Urgh. I've met people before who like to use their birthdays / other special days, to just be rude and unpleasant. Almost like that's part of the enjoyment for them, being allowed to get away with being awful and having dramas. And it's so awkward as you can't really call them on it. But of course that's the point. Never mind that it was also supposed to be a special day for their unfortunate guests, to celebrate with them. Who have also most likely spent a fortune on drinks / outfits etc, just to be their punching bag. It's a really horrible personality trait, but sadly not all that uncommon.

I wouldn't necessarily ditch her off if this really is a one-off, but wouldn't put up with it twice. And certainly don't feel bad that you've done anything wrong x

BobbyBiscuits · 07/08/2024 00:14

Why did she need to wake at 5am? If that's the case she should have had a room alone.
She sounds really bizarre. I can understand why you got annoyed. But maybe you could have been a bit less blunt.

Fifferfefferfeff · 07/08/2024 00:21

supertouper · 02/08/2024 08:08

Setting an alarm for 5am when everyone has been up until 1.30am and people have specifically asked you not to sounds deliberate to me. Its as if she wants you to be annoyed at her so she can then play the role of victim to everyone else.

Be very wary of this person. She knows exactly what she's doing.

Yes. Why would she decide to wake everyone after 3 hours' sleep? What a horrible thing to do to you.

rubeeeeel · 07/08/2024 00:28

Sorry I know this is a few days old but I had to post.

SHE SET AN ALARM AT 5AM KNOWING SOMEONE WAS ASLEEP IN THE SAME ROOM - JUST SO SHE COULD ENJOY GOING BACK TO SLEEP AGAIN?

That is onE the of the most selfish and inconsiderate things I have ever read on here. What an absolute prick.

thebestinterest · 07/08/2024 02:57

The alarm is an issue because it is an ISSUE to keep your stupid alarm on while others are sleeping. What a cruel c. Sorry, but let this one go. How disgusting.

MyLimeGuide · 07/08/2024 09:03

People dp turn into c###ts when they are getting married, my sister was pretty vile to me on her hen do - I organised it and it was really hard work, aren't humans just lovely!!

Bjw8290 · 07/08/2024 19:29

I wonder if she felt guilty and knew she was in the wrong but adopted the old 'best form of defence is attack' behaviour? That way she can get support from the others and convince herself that it's all your fault

CosyLemur · 07/08/2024 20:58

YTA
Why are you sharing a room with someone if you wanted a lie-in?
And why couldn't you request the song that she wanted?
From the first paragraph you wrote it feels like you don't actually like this woman at all.

MsNeis · 08/08/2024 08:03

DifficultBloodyWoman · 02/08/2024 07:35

She is batshit. You are normal.

I have to agree with this

Lucytheloose · 08/08/2024 18:56

CosyLemur · 07/08/2024 20:58

YTA
Why are you sharing a room with someone if you wanted a lie-in?
And why couldn't you request the song that she wanted?
From the first paragraph you wrote it feels like you don't actually like this woman at all.

Sleeping beyond 5am hardly qualifies as a lie-in!

Toptops · 08/08/2024 19:28

Lucytheloose · 02/08/2024 08:24

Why would anyone set an alarm for 5am who didn't have to be up early?

Yes.
This?

sassyclassyandsmartassy · 08/08/2024 19:29

Jesus 1.30am to bed and a 5.00am alarm.., I’d probably be locked up for my actions right now 😂🙈. You are NOT a bad friend, she needs to get a grip and also do her own running around 🙄.

3luckystars · 08/08/2024 20:02

Lucytheloose · 08/08/2024 18:56

Sleeping beyond 5am hardly qualifies as a lie-in!

O😂

WorriedMama12 · 08/08/2024 20:26

supertouper · 02/08/2024 08:08

Setting an alarm for 5am when everyone has been up until 1.30am and people have specifically asked you not to sounds deliberate to me. Its as if she wants you to be annoyed at her so she can then play the role of victim to everyone else.

Be very wary of this person. She knows exactly what she's doing.

That was my thinking too

T1Dmama · 15/08/2024 16:43

I couldn’t stay friends with her… what a horrible person!
As someone who is constantly up in the night with alarms going off I know how valuable a good nights sleep is!
To set a 5am alarm is just horrible of her… to not turn it off and allow it to keep going off is beyond rude and selfish of her

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