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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think of uninviting her

134 replies

Forthelovagod · 08/08/2024 23:24

Invited friend on holiday with my family. She's being a nightmare and we haven't even left yet. I can't stand her negativity, abruptness and mean-ness. I have been friends with her a long time but i no longer want her in my life. She causes me nothing but stress and i realise now that she's only having a hardtime because she behaves in a way that is totally unreasonable but then adopts a poor me attitude.

We go on holiday in 2 days. Aibu to even consider telling her i cant go through with it. I can refund her, its less than 200 quid as cheap flight and small contribution to our accomodation.
Or do i have to suck it up for a week. Im actually dreading spending a week with her.

OP posts:
betterangels · 09/08/2024 21:35

Your adult children will have a shit holiday, won't they? Fun times.

She gave you an out. You should have taken it.

holoboyo · 09/08/2024 21:46

Can't she drive to your lave car at yours and then jump in with you all so you don't have to go fetch her?

Normallynumb · 09/08/2024 23:58

She gave you an out, you should've taken it really
I don't expect she will have a personality transplant during the holiday so if things blow up again, just meet up for dinner and do your own thing during the day

Lampshadeblue · 10/08/2024 00:25

I think cancelling someone’s holiday a couple of days before is a bit too mean. Instead I would spell it out to her that she needs to be less negative and the affect it’s having on you. Then when you’re back you can let the friendship go if you like.

pikkumyy77 · 10/08/2024 00:45

This should be fun.

Anonymous54 · 10/08/2024 19:58

Has she always been like this? If not these are classic signs of depression..doesn’t mean it’s your problem but might be a cry for help.
In your position I would probably have a word and be honest and say you can’t go and accommodate this level of negativity for your own well-being etc. Make it her decision?

AllyArty · 10/08/2024 20:39

I sympathise with you as I have a similar friend. She too is single, mean and selfish. She has joined my family for several events including a long weekend. Here are my tips:

  1. start as you mean to go on. Tell her what you want to do and what you do not want to do. Then ask what’s she wants and agree on a plan.
  2. when you make arrangements tell her you are not responding to several texts from her trying to change/complicate/confuse everything.
  3. agree finances on day one otherwise you will pay the lion’s share of the holiday as she ducks and dives her way out of paying her share.
  4. try and keep a smile on your face and if nothing else, enjoy your children’s company. Good luck let us know how it goes!
TheMerryTiger · 10/08/2024 21:20

PixiePirate · 08/08/2024 23:30

If you’re not worried about continuing a friendship with her, I’d reply to her next negative message (which I’m assuming will be along shortly, based on what you’ve said) with something along the lines of: “Regrettably I feel our wants and needs for this holiday are not aligned and as such I don’t think we should go ahead. I’ve transferred your money back to you in full and I’m sorry if it upsets you but I think it’s for the best”.

Life is too short to put up with that on your holiday.

This is perfect I think and you are tight pixiepirate - life is far to short

Scentedjasmin · 10/08/2024 22:20

Were you going to just stay with her overnight or were your two adult children also hoping fir a bed for the night? If the latter, that would be a fair amount of work for her.

HauntedbyMagpies · 10/08/2024 23:53

@Forthelovagod Don't let her come, OP. She will ruin your kids' holiday! She will make it all about her.

VickyPollard25 · 11/08/2024 09:35

I had a friend come and stay with me as she was going through a hard time at home (she lives in another country). She spent the first evening bad mouthing her family, particularly her niece, and then criticising everything about my apartment over the following days (it was a huge and fairly luxurious place). She broke several things in my kitchen and blamed it on my kitchen being too small. Within a week she had made a pass at my boyfriend in front of me and 6 other friends. We were due to go away together for a week in Istanbul. I cancelled and told her I wouldn’t be going. I have not seen her since (over 10 years ago now).

You cannot tolerate abuse and disrespect from people. Especially so-called friends. Don't go anywhere with this woman.

VickyPollard25 · 11/08/2024 09:39

VickyEadieofThigh · 09/08/2024 11:01

Taking a single friend on holiday with a couple or family is usually a recipe for disaster - in my experience.

Too late now, I think - but for the benefit of other readers I encourage everyone to think very long and hard before you do it (we took my oldest school friend with us for a few days on a city break and the relationship has never really recovered).

Do you mind sharing what happened? I’m interested as I have seen this several times.

Thalia31 · 11/08/2024 10:02

Secondguess · 09/08/2024 02:57

Hi friend,

You seem quite irritable recently. I need this to be a relaxing holiday and really don't want things to continue how they've been the last few times we've (meet/been in touch etc). I am wondering if you actually still want to go with us. I'm happy to refund £xx for your booking, or maybe you want to use the flights and find other accommodation. Just let me know by (date).

fantastic

StarCurator · 11/08/2024 13:03

Totally unreasonable to cancel friend at such short notice; it's very hurtful, and just bad manners. She presumably has booked annual leave, maybe bought some clothes, maybe has an animal and has booked a petsitter or boarding kennels, etc. etc. I can understand her being thrown by your suggestion that you stay over with her, as her house or apartment may not be in great shape if she's just about to go away and has been busy. As a single person, I also think that people who are coupled up don't always appreciate how challenging it can be to be on one's own, and, since she has recently emerged from a relationship, she may be feeling low and lonely. I also find the comments about "protecting your family" somewhat absurd; it's not as if you are living in Gaza or Ukraine! But I know that kind of attitude goes with the Mumsnet territory.

All that being said, I would talk with your friend immediately, either face-to-face if you can or on the phone, but not via text or voice notes. I'd say that I was concerned about her negativity as it might blight your holiday, and would ask her if she has has second thoughts or if something else is bothering her. It sounds as if you invited her on a (kind) impulse, and she impulsively accepted your invitation, and may have buyer's remorse, too. But if she wants to come, I don't see how you can uninvite her.

In her position, I would not have accepted. When close married/partnered friends had young and teenage children, I would sometimes join them on holiday for two or three nights, but always with my own transport or good public transport available; the kind of holiday when there is a weekly flight is not ideal. I have also always had coupled friends and their kids (if any) to stay, particularly when I lived in America, and enjoyed those visits very much, but everyone seemed to be in agreement that they should not be too long, or if they wanted to come for a lengthy stay, that they would do their own thing when I was at work. The success of those kinds of holidays depends on having good conversations in advance and everyone being clear about what the expectations are on all sides. Good luck, OP!

rookiemere · 11/08/2024 19:14

Those still posting lengthy solutions on how the OP should handle this may wish to read OPs updates where she has agreed for the "friend" to come.

ThePoshUns · 11/08/2024 19:29

Yea ok here for the holiday updates

ns87 · 12/08/2024 08:22

What happened OP?

CameltoeParkerBowles · 12/08/2024 16:28

VickyPollard25 · 11/08/2024 09:35

I had a friend come and stay with me as she was going through a hard time at home (she lives in another country). She spent the first evening bad mouthing her family, particularly her niece, and then criticising everything about my apartment over the following days (it was a huge and fairly luxurious place). She broke several things in my kitchen and blamed it on my kitchen being too small. Within a week she had made a pass at my boyfriend in front of me and 6 other friends. We were due to go away together for a week in Istanbul. I cancelled and told her I wouldn’t be going. I have not seen her since (over 10 years ago now).

You cannot tolerate abuse and disrespect from people. Especially so-called friends. Don't go anywhere with this woman.

Edited

Bloody hell! What a first-class bitch! I bet you were glad to see the back of her...

VickyPollard25 · 12/08/2024 16:49

CameltoeParkerBowles · 12/08/2024 16:28

Bloody hell! What a first-class bitch! I bet you were glad to see the back of her...

Thanks @CameltoeParkerBowles I really was!

Melonjuice · 13/08/2024 08:39

Why did you invite her? Your relationship was good enough at that Point to invite her so what happened ?maybe have a chat with her you can’t take her off the holiday now she’s paid. You are going to have to suck it up.

CosyLemur · 13/08/2024 08:45

Forthelovagod · 09/08/2024 08:34

Was trying to avoid a massive post and yes of course there is a massive back story.
To try and answer some of the questions...
Why wait til now.... I've not had much contact recently by choice because i thought that would help me cope with her for the week. She's incredibly intense and when she is in in good form this is managable when she isn't in good form it's actually unbearable. She rants, bombards me with endless long messages i send one 3 line message she replies with umpteen long text messages and 4 or 5, 3 minute long voice messages. Im truly not exaggerating and i have tried hard to stay friends because I've known her a long time and she feels im like a sister to her. Interestingly she and her actual sister dont speak.
She has a way of being super abrupt and rude and if i say anything she instantly becomes the victim in it. She will recall things that have happened between us in a completely different way to how they happened always painting me as a shit friend. Im not and i am able to maintain healthy friendships and relationships with my family.

Without writing a novel its hard to paint a true picture. Why now so last minute.... Whilst doing check ins, printing passes, sorting airport parking she has been so difficult. Wasn't happy with the way i did the boarding passes... We said we would stay with her the night before as flight at 3am so we can travel together she then complained about the hassle of getting things ready to facilitate this, could i not stay elsewhere but then drive an hour out of the way to collect her at 3am. Then when i say i won't collect her because it's the opposite way than airport that she can take her own car she says doesnt make sense to both pay for parking. Followed on by another message of how she was invited to go on a diff holiday but cant afford it after this one sadly.
She is extremely well off. Far better off than i am but bloody mean and materialistic.

Sorry for the long reply.... Im exhausted just typing it, I hate allowing this stuff to eat into my time. My Dad is horribly ill at the moment and i guess its making me feel even more like life is too short for this sort of bullshit.

This makes no sense you're wanting to stay at hers which is 40 minutes away in the wrong direction with your family - I'd be pissed off too. She's one person why not get her to drive to and park at yours the night before and stay at yours?

Mazpaz · 13/08/2024 09:03

Think you are being unreasonable. You obviously invited her. And she will be out of pocket as she will have bought stuff for her holiday and arranged time of work
i would just let her go . And hpe gift the best time.

Nanny0gg · 13/08/2024 09:37

Forthelovagod · 09/08/2024 14:43

I will however this is tricky because she then sulks and thats almost more unbearable than her abrupt ness but it's one week I guess. Never again

You're a mug

But if she behaves badly while you're away don't put up with it

Tell her to pack it in and if she doesn't. go off with your children and leave her to it.

Do they like her?

Forthelovagod · 13/08/2024 09:38

@CosyLemur i dont stay 40 mins from her. My Dad stays an hour from her and his house her house and the airport form a triangle.
I live 4 hrs from both but had been staying with my parents for a couple of nights.

Update.... We are all good so far. It definitely helped talking with her before we left. We are just different people. For example.... First thing i like to drink coffee and quietly catch up with emails, messages, sm. She likes to chat quite loudly and is very animated. Horses for courses. But both surving. 🙏

OP posts:
Forthelovagod · 13/08/2024 09:38

Or surviving 🤦‍♀️😂

OP posts: