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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think my friend keeps undermining my marriage?

207 replies

suziequeue1 · 02/04/2026 12:47

I don’t know if I’m explaining this properly, but it’s got to the point where I leave conversations with her feeling really irritated and slightly put down, and I’m starting to wonder if I’m overreacting or if it actually is as off as it feels.
For context my friend got married 2 months ago and I've been married 5 years, but even before that she’s always had a bit of a “know it all” streak. Recently though it’s turned into what feels like constant, subtle digs at my husband and my relationship.
It’s never outright rude, but it’s very consistent and always framed as a comparison. For example, I mentioned my husband wants to buy me my dream bag when I give birth, and she said “I find that really weird, it would be nicer if he bought you gold.” Not awful in isolation, but it’s the tone.
I said he’s going away for a month for work because he’ll be getting paid double, and she immediately said “I can’t believe he would leave you when you’re pregnant.” I explained I encouraged him to go as we need the money and I’m fine, and she just gave me a look and said “my husband would never do that.”
She does this a lot - frames everything as “my husband would never…” or implies her relationship is somehow stronger. She was talking about being worried about her in-laws and I said sometimes they say things when your husband isn’t there (as that’s happened to me), and she said “well they know my husband is my best friend and I tell him everything so they wouldn’t dare.” It just felt like a dig, as if to suggest me and DH aren’t close?
What I find odd is she’s actually told me quite negative things about her own husband (e.g. him not wanting her out past a certain time), but then she reframes it as “protective” and uses it to make comments about mine like “I know your husband is less protective” or even “maybe your husband isn’t as dominant” when I mentioned a disagreement I had.
It’s that kind of comment that really doesn’t sit right with me. It feels quite undermining and honestly a bit disrespectful, but because it’s said in a casual way I don’t know if I’m making it into a bigger deal than it is.
Another example that didn’t sit right with me... before she got married she told me she struggles with anger. I opened up and said I used to as well, and therapy really helped me, especially early in my marriage as I had to learn to handle disagreements better (my husband has always been very calm and patient).
Instead of engaging with that, she kept insisting she “wouldn’t have that issue” because her husband is amazing and she only has issues with her family. It felt like she completely missed the point and turned it into another comparison about husbands, which is something she does a lot.
It’s also the fact it’s so frequent now- almost every conversation ends up with some sort of comparison or comment about my husband/relationship.
AIBU to feel like this is actually quite off behaviour? Or am I being too sensitive?

OP posts:
BlueSlate · 02/04/2026 13:56

She's very contrary, isn't she?

Insecurity, unhappiness - who knows where it comes from but it sounds to me like she's trying to convince herself, as much anyone else, how much better her relationship is than yours.

CaragianettE · 02/04/2026 13:57

suziequeue1 · 02/04/2026 13:38

HAHA the multiple 'do you need help' made me laugh and also make me feel stupid for not responding in this way... thank you for your suggestions

I mean this in a non-critical way, because it’s your life: I think if your instinct is to reply to her bitchy one-upmanship with your own bitchy one-upmanship, you are perhaps the right friends for each other.

suziequeue1 · 02/04/2026 14:00

CaragianettE · 02/04/2026 13:57

I mean this in a non-critical way, because it’s your life: I think if your instinct is to reply to her bitchy one-upmanship with your own bitchy one-upmanship, you are perhaps the right friends for each other.

I have to strongly disagree with this. I’m not someone who normally talks down about other people’s relationships- if friends tell me things their partners say or do, I usually try to play devil’s advocate or highlight the positives. I genuinely like uplifting people and their relationships where I can.
But this isn’t a one-off or casual comment, it’s a pattern of constant digs at my husband and our marriage. I don’t see why I’m expected to be the 'bigger person' After a while, it’s reasonable to respond in kind or at least call it out, especially when it keeps happening. I’m not trying to “one-up” her for fun. I’m just not going to let someone continually put down my husband without noticing it.

OP posts:
Itsseweasy · 02/04/2026 14:00

Yuck she sounds awful. She wants to feel superior to you all the time so is clearly extremely insecure.
If that was my so-called “friend” she’d be waved goodbye and packed off to find someone else to spout her narcissistic crap at 😂

DysmalRadius · 02/04/2026 14:00

If someone criticised my husband like that they wouldn't get the chance to do it twice, no matter how many good qualities they had. Fuck her.

Tacohill · 02/04/2026 14:01

I haven’t voted as I too find it weird that your DH is buying you a bag for giving birth - why not just buy it now?

Also I find it a bit bad that he’s going away whilst you’re pregnant and you’re having to rely on others for lifts - can’t you drive yourself?
How pregnant will you be?

However, constant comparisons would really annoy me and I’d have to comment about how your relationships are both different and so comparing them is pointless.

Are you a bit envious of her marriage?

user2848502016 · 02/04/2026 14:02

It sounds like she’s insecure in her own relationship, just stop talking about your husband much or if she says anything give a “hmm really”
type response

Silverbirchleaf · 02/04/2026 14:03

canisquaeso · 02/04/2026 12:49

I’d bet anything she’s miserable in her marriage lol

My first thought also, that all is not as it seems, so to boost her self esteem, shes knocking your relationship.

However, you don’t have to put up with this. Either tell her straight that her constant criticisms and put-friend are annoying you, or just distance yourself from the friendship.

facethemusical · 02/04/2026 14:06

I don't think it's about insecurity, I think it's because it feels to her that you're always boasting about your husband, 'my husband's buying me my dream bag', 'my husbands working away so he can earn double'.

That might not be your intention but that might be what she's hearing when you say those things.

auserna · 02/04/2026 14:07

Bristolandlazy · 02/04/2026 12:51

You aren't being too sensitive, but even if you were, if you're not enjoying her company why do you hang out with her? Personally I would send her a message telling her how she makes you feel and that she frames many of her replies, comments in a competitive way. Look for new friends. She's insecure, if she has children she'll get even more annoying.

She's insecure, if she has children she'll get even more annoying.

Absolutely. Then she'll be a better mother than you, as well as having a better husband than you (supposedly).

Mymanyellow · 02/04/2026 14:08

Firstly I’m sorry I don’t know what a dream bag is.
Secondly take a leaf out of my old mum’s book and just tell her ‘it’s a pity he can’t lay fucking eggs too. ‘

worldsgonemadnow · 02/04/2026 14:08

Morepositivemum · 02/04/2026 12:52

it might honestly be nothing at all to do with you and she might just be the type of person who automatically goes against the person she talks to, which sounds weird but I know a few people who you might say ‘god its cold’ and no matter how cold it is they’ll insist it’s not so cold, or you might say oh my kids did this nice thing, and she’ll say ‘do they do this though? Mine do that’. My friend said recently of one ‘she’s like donald trump, everything has to be right or the best!!’

Yip! People who would, as my gran used to say, "Argue a black craw (crow) white"

Beachtastic · 02/04/2026 14:08

She sounds like the perfect embodiment of the spirit of many MN threads 🤣

BudgetBuster · 02/04/2026 14:08

suziequeue1 · 02/04/2026 13:36

God if I said I'd love the break, I can already hear her making a comment about how she loves her husband's company so personally wouldn't want a break 😂

Oh ya of course that'd be her reaction... but I'd honestly just play up to her. I presume she wasn't always like this though so I would think she is deeply unhappy.

suziequeue1 · 02/04/2026 14:09

Tacohill · 02/04/2026 14:01

I haven’t voted as I too find it weird that your DH is buying you a bag for giving birth - why not just buy it now?

Also I find it a bit bad that he’s going away whilst you’re pregnant and you’re having to rely on others for lifts - can’t you drive yourself?
How pregnant will you be?

However, constant comparisons would really annoy me and I’d have to comment about how your relationships are both different and so comparing them is pointless.

Are you a bit envious of her marriage?

I don’t drive, I can take public transport easily but my appointment aligned with the time she goes to work so I asked for a favour bc that's what we do for each other, but honestly it’s all smooth and manageable and I’m not far along in my pregnancy. The bag is something my husband wants to gift me after the birth, so it’s not about “why now,” just a personal gift.
I’m definitely not envious of her marriage- most of what she’s shared about it has been things I personally would not want, and I try to be supportive and uplifting.

OP posts:
YerMotherWasAHamster · 02/04/2026 14:10

You need some stock replies.
Something along the lines of its so nice we've both found partners that meet our different needs. (Only worded better)

Or i love my husband just the way he is. I don't want anything different.

Or even just say I've noticed you're always criticising my marriage and my husband. Why is that, when you know I'm happy?

Or fight fire with fire and respond with things like really? God that would drive me potty.

Or does he? Id hate that, I like my own space

Catcatcatcatcat · 02/04/2026 14:12

People are drains or radiators.

Choose your friends wisely.

5128gap · 02/04/2026 14:14

This sounds tiring and miserable to me. If I meet up with a friend I want to enjoy it and leave feeling good. If the opposite was happening to me then I'd not waste time trying to work out the reasons, I'd just stop meeting up. Then if asked I'd tell her that I didn't enjoy our conversations because she seemed to always be criticising my husband.

BudgetBuster · 02/04/2026 14:16

Tacohill · 02/04/2026 14:01

I haven’t voted as I too find it weird that your DH is buying you a bag for giving birth - why not just buy it now?

Also I find it a bit bad that he’s going away whilst you’re pregnant and you’re having to rely on others for lifts - can’t you drive yourself?
How pregnant will you be?

However, constant comparisons would really annoy me and I’d have to comment about how your relationships are both different and so comparing them is pointless.

Are you a bit envious of her marriage?

Really? It's quite common nowadays for a partner to buy a gift for the birth of a child... usually a longed-for or pricier item that the family wouldn't ordinarily buy.

Re the going away while pregnant... I'd 100% encourage my husband to go if it meant extra cash and I wasn't ill. I am almost 7 months pregnant now and have a toddler... my DH was away on a sports trip for 5 days. I somehow survived!

She isn't relying on her friend for a lift, she just happened to ask her because she already goes that way. I'm sure she could grab a taxi or bus or something if needed.

What part if the OPs story makes you think that she is envious of her friends marriage? I don't think we read the same thread at all.

muggart · 02/04/2026 14:17

I really don’t think you should get into a tit for tat here. the conversation will turn ugly, you’ll end up feeling bad and youll have no grounds to call her out on her behaviour if you start doing the same thing!

Just reply “why do you mean by that?” every single time. “I’m not sure if it was deliberate, but you seem to be implying that you look down on my DH” and of course “did you mean to be so rude?”

make her defend her comments. and let silence hang in the air.

suziequeue1 · 02/04/2026 14:19

muggart · 02/04/2026 14:17

I really don’t think you should get into a tit for tat here. the conversation will turn ugly, you’ll end up feeling bad and youll have no grounds to call her out on her behaviour if you start doing the same thing!

Just reply “why do you mean by that?” every single time. “I’m not sure if it was deliberate, but you seem to be implying that you look down on my DH” and of course “did you mean to be so rude?”

make her defend her comments. and let silence hang in the air.

Thank you for your advice I see your point

OP posts:
Kerrylass · 02/04/2026 14:21

A technique i use when this happens is ask her (calmly) to explain the comment.

So she might say, "my husband would never leave me while i was pregnant". You could reply with ...that's interesting, explain to me why that is necessary.

If she says something particularly hurtful ask her to repeat it back to you, So she says "my husband is much attentive", your reply with, sorry can you say that again, i don't understand, and let her try to explain it. Then if its an obvious dig you can keep it light and reply with well we have different taste in men.

You cant keep on the same trajectory as you currently are. If you change nothing, nothing changes.

I've a friend like this, i've bit my lip so many times, but occasionally i probe her a bit. To be honest it changes nothing but at least i feel i stood up for myself.

Owly11 · 02/04/2026 14:21

It sounds like she is in a controlling relationship and is either getting fed lines by her dh (who may also be trying to isolate her) or trying to convince herself her dh is a good husband or both. I would step back a bit but maybe be there for her too later on when things go tits up, depending on how good a friend she is.

WiddlinDiddlin · 02/04/2026 14:21

I think she sounds like a rather irritating twat... who has now found herself married to a controlling twat and she absolutely cannot admit she's stuck, made a mistake, the relationship isn't what she hoped for... so she's addressing this by trying to pick holes in yours to make hers seem better.

TheMerryGreyMaker · 02/04/2026 14:22

Agree with everyone else, she is unhappy and possibly jealous. Usually those who constantly crow about how good things are tend to be the unhappiest. Ignore it and reassure yourself that it is likely the opposite. Or, if it’s pissing you off that much, take a step back from the relationship.

If it helps my husband works away a fair bit even when dc were very small. It’s not that untypical, my dad and grandad both did it for a time. You do what is best for your family, it’s doesn’t mean anything less.