Bit of background:
We’re originally from the UK but moved to Australia six years ago (me, DH, DD, and DS). We didn’t know anyone when we arrived but have built up a good network of friends over time.
I’m naturally quite a "connector" — I’ve introduced lots of people to each other over the years.
There are three families involved:
- One family is from the same area as us back in the UK, so we became friends early on.
- Another family we met through DD’s old school (she's now at a different school, but we’ve kept in touch).
- The third family we met through our DS’s current school — our sons (both 7) are good friends.
The UK family’s kids still attend DD’s old school, so through me they met the second family — though realistically, they probably would have crossed paths eventually as their kids are in the same year group. The third family (DS’s friend’s family) met everyone at my 40th birthday party about 7 months ago and really hit it off.
Now for the AIBU part:
While I’m happy they all get on, I’m feeling a bit hurt and left out. They often catch up without including us — I recently saw on social media that they all went camping together this weekend. Also, my DD and one of their DDs play netball together, and I noticed the whole group turned up to watch and support their friend’s child.
Of course, they’re allowed to be friends, but I can't help feeling a bit sidelined, and it’s knocking my confidence a bit.
Adding to that, the family whose son is close with ours keeps asking for favours — I’ve been asked to look after their DS one afternoon every week after school, and we also looked after their dog for a month while they were overseas. I don’t mind helping out, but it feels very one-sided — like they’re happy to take but not particularly interested in including us socially.
AIBU to feel a bit hurt and used?