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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for thinking who TF does she think she is?

1000 replies

CFornot123 · 26/06/2026 19:57

Aibu for thinking this is overstepping the fcking mark

Long story so will try to condense and keep to relevant details.

Been with ‘D’H for 13 years (married 6). We have 2 DCs aged 4 and 3. He’s 38, I’m 31. He has been bestfriends with a woman, let’s call her Jane, for 25 years (since they were teens) and there’s never been any romantic history between them.

In general she’s not really my kind of person. She’s quite blunt and a bit rude, uses racist language (I’m Asian) like it’s a casual word and tbh is a bit of a bully. However, knowing she means a lot to my husband, at the start of our relationship I made A LOT of effort to be friends with her and she was even one of my bridesmaids when we got married (the theory being that if she’d have been a guy, she’d have been a groomsman so wanted her to feel involved in the wedding as she Hs best friend). We were on maternity leave at the same time, both had baby girls at the same time (she’s married) etc. but around this same time (so 5 years ago) she stopped engaging with me, started ignoring messages, every plan I made with her she cancelled and then we weren’t invited to her daughters first birthday. Throughout all of this she maintained contact with my husband and they met up regularly for coffee. I raised concerns with H at the time and he brushed it off as “it’s just what Jane does, she’s a bit flaky, don’t take it personally”.

I’ve not spoken to her now for about 4 years, bar the odd hello if she happens to be at a family/friends event (a lot of shared mutual friends/large friendship groups). But she frequently meets up with H for drinks, dinner, brunch, they have regular video calls.

H and I have been going through a lot recently (we relocated from California after spending two years there for his job, I quit my corporate legal career to basically follow him around the world for his high paying role and have moved 10 times in the last 10 years) due to stress with house moves, redundancy and, me trying to figure out what career to do around the kids following a career in law (I’m a high achiever, degree from Oxbridge) and taking a back step. He works very long hours, lots of traveling as we moved to be closer to family as the girls are starting school soon so I said no more following him.

He met up with Jane last Saturday (they’d both been invited to their mutual friends wedding - I wasn’t) and when he came home on Sunday, he asked me to “make some time in my calendar to meet with him on Friday afternoon” (like I’m a business associate…). He told me today that he “discussed me at length with Jane” and THEY had decided that WE don’t communicate in our marriage enough. SHE also, in her expert opinion as a mental health nurse, diagnosed me with a borderline personality disorder based on everything she’s heard and seen from my husband over the last 13 years and that he should gently suggest I go to the GP. For context, like (so it seems) every other woman in their 30s I’m undergoing an ADHD assessment (VERY different to BPD).

So my AIBU - wtf has DH been saying to her about me that has led her to diagnose me with BPD after not speaking to me for 5 years? And who TF does she think she is?

We had no falling out, no cross words were said, I simply stopped making an effort with her and suggesting meeting up because she never made an effort with me and somehow that’s my fault and she hates me enough to say I have BPD?

Frustratingly H said she’s sent him to information to read up on about it.

So far I’ve not reacted or responded to H. I told him that I needed some time to process the conversation we’d just had and I’d discuss it with him when I felt ready

OP posts:
JustSawJohnny · 28/06/2026 13:15

cheeseandbuscuits · 28/06/2026 07:25

I'm very pleased to hear you were lucky to find a reputable one. Someone I know had a diagnosis of adhd and autism on the same day,( at university) I have known this young person from the age of two and have spent ab awful lot of time in ger company and I very much doubt they have either

With respect, it's not hard to find reputable companies.

Also, you are not in any way qualified to determine if anyone does or doesn't have ADHD.

The ignorance surrounding female representations of ADHD is shocking. I have made it to 54 as an absolute poster child for female ADHD and my Mum is worse. A diagnosis doesn't entitle you to anything, I have lived an average life (friends, uni, career, relationship, kids etc) BUT it does help people to understand themselves and their struggles better.

I spent years battling what I was told was OCD and anxiety. It wasn't.

Now I understand my brain and life is so much easier.

Nobody would think my high achieving DS had ASD. He is at a grammar school and masks incredibly well. At most, they might think him shy or a little brusque at times.

What they think means fuck all and I can assure you the anxiety he carries and the battle he has in public every day is very real.

Whothought · 28/06/2026 13:17

I think you should identify your closest friend/former friend who went to the wedding. Doorstep them in some way and ask them to answer one of the following questions. Say that whatever the answer is, it is going to be painful so they may as well be honest.
a. did DH come with Jane?
b. were you invited all along but DH didn’t let on?
c. did your friends really invite you ?

A lot of questions would be answered and save you wondering about a lot of them.

Get your career back on track. It would be a crime to waste your talents.Good luck!

HazelMember · 28/06/2026 13:30

Whothought · 28/06/2026 13:17

I think you should identify your closest friend/former friend who went to the wedding. Doorstep them in some way and ask them to answer one of the following questions. Say that whatever the answer is, it is going to be painful so they may as well be honest.
a. did DH come with Jane?
b. were you invited all along but DH didn’t let on?
c. did your friends really invite you ?

A lot of questions would be answered and save you wondering about a lot of them.

Get your career back on track. It would be a crime to waste your talents.Good luck!

Another question - why did you make so much effort with someone who is openly racist?

Ohwhatabeautifulpudding · 28/06/2026 13:45

HazelMember · 28/06/2026 11:36

Try waking up darling.

Third time is also a fail. Yawn.

HettyMeg · 28/06/2026 13:47

Wow.

Who does she think she is, but who does your husband think he is, discussing intimate details of your marriage?! I would find that unforgivable. Sounds like there are three people in your marriage.

OtterLovesItsRock · 28/06/2026 13:51

Start a thread in legal re: divorce. Report this thread to have it deleted. Take him to the cleaners. I'm sorry, @CFornot123, this is no marriage. It is worse than The Yellow Wallpaper
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1952/1952-h/1952-h.htm

The Yellow Wallpaper | Project Gutenberg

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1952/1952-h/1952-h.htm

cheeseandbuscuits · 28/06/2026 14:03

JustSawJohnny · 28/06/2026 13:15

With respect, it's not hard to find reputable companies.

Also, you are not in any way qualified to determine if anyone does or doesn't have ADHD.

The ignorance surrounding female representations of ADHD is shocking. I have made it to 54 as an absolute poster child for female ADHD and my Mum is worse. A diagnosis doesn't entitle you to anything, I have lived an average life (friends, uni, career, relationship, kids etc) BUT it does help people to understand themselves and their struggles better.

I spent years battling what I was told was OCD and anxiety. It wasn't.

Now I understand my brain and life is so much easier.

Nobody would think my high achieving DS had ASD. He is at a grammar school and masks incredibly well. At most, they might think him shy or a little brusque at times.

What they think means fuck all and I can assure you the anxiety he carries and the battle he has in public every day is very real.

I was diagnosed age 52 and my life has been an awful struggle I can assure you. I just wanted to point out that there are a good many poorly run agencies that will and do diagnose people with adhd and autism. My own GP at tge time said adults couldn't have adhd. I didn't ever suspect I had it as an adult but when my non whos a specialist ADHD practitioner ( grade 8 nurse) suggested that I should be tested and laughed and said that I'm certain I had it as a child, she said its something hardwired into you for life. She gave me three copies of a a questionnaire, one for me to complete, one for a close family member and a close friend. There was one question only I could answer but apart from that we had the same results, very high.

Snorlaxo · 28/06/2026 14:08

Not an excuse for his behaviour but is your h ND too? He is being extremely trusting of someone who is causing damage to your marriage which is as bad as an affair. The fact that he can confide in her but not you is a big fat bunch of red flags. He’s clearly telling her stuff that he can’t tell you like why he hasn’t got your back. They might not have had sex but Jane is clearly working against your relationship and marriage. Your h is very naive and gullible and I’m not sure that anyone can convince him otherwise.

You literally gave up your career in 2024 so that he could get his big promotion. It seems like he’s forgotten that big sacrifice. It doesn’t matter that things worked out well- you could have easily said no.

This BPD thing is also her stirring things. Creating a “poor h with a horrible wife” narrative that is damaging your relationship with him because he won’t see it for what it is.

His actions have demonstrated that she is more important to him than you are. I’m not sure that reality can ever change - especially as it’s been going on for years. He has clearly jumped to the jealous conclusion based on conversations with her. You’d be the same if she was a male friend causing trouble.

Merryoldgoat · 28/06/2026 14:42

Look @CFornot123

You can go over and over this stuff but the reality is, he doesn’t respect or prioritise you. Your marriage is in serious trouble.

HazelMember · 28/06/2026 14:53

Ohwhatabeautifulpudding · 28/06/2026 13:45

Third time is also a fail. Yawn.

Goodnight.

SomeGarlic · 28/06/2026 15:30

BeardySchnauzer · 27/06/2026 22:10

Are you able to clarify how your finances work and why you needed him to take the dog to the vet?

This worried me, too. I didn't understand why OP couldn't take the dog to the vet on her own initiative, nor why she needed a relative's intervention to get it done.

WooWooHelper · 28/06/2026 15:31

I found this reel and thought of you OP!
he is making you responsible for understanding him….
and interesting he is using her in the same way….
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GkzLUmhDV/?mibextid=wwXIfr

justasking111 · 28/06/2026 16:00

SomeGarlic · 28/06/2026 15:30

This worried me, too. I didn't understand why OP couldn't take the dog to the vet on her own initiative, nor why she needed a relative's intervention to get it done.

Maybe she was struggling with two little ones at the time. Have you ever been there. A fitting very sick dog and two under fives to get in the car and get to the vets. And a husband who wouldn't take serious responsibility for any of them.

Bunny65 · 28/06/2026 16:09

Your husband is gaslightng you. His "relationship" with Jane is highly suspect. It's convenient for him to have you around to bring up the kids etc. Divorce would be a hassle for him. It is beyond doubt that you would have been invited to the wedding, shame you didn't insist on seeing the invite. He has turned you into a doormat through fear and hoping for the best. Get legal advice, tell him it's over and reclaim your self-esteem. Try and get him to divorce mediation sessions, a bit of being forced to listen to some reality would be good for him. And good for you to throw the book at him in a controlled situation.

Wagyue · 28/06/2026 16:20

CFornot123 · 27/06/2026 22:11

I happened to see a couple of the messages before he turned his screen off - he told her I’d said he was dismissive of me and her reply was “but you have reasons for that”. In what world is it ok for a husband to dismiss his wife and a person not involved in the marriage to tell him he justified in doing so “because he has reasons”.

I sincerely hope you have access and eyes on all finances.

Get yourself organised and in front of this.
He is not on your team clearly.

BeardySchnauzer · 28/06/2026 16:23

justasking111 · 28/06/2026 16:00

Maybe she was struggling with two little ones at the time. Have you ever been there. A fitting very sick dog and two under fives to get in the car and get to the vets. And a husband who wouldn't take serious responsibility for any of them.

Edited

I was more concerned it’s because he wouldn’t give her the money to see the vet

notatinydancer · 28/06/2026 16:32
  1. you were invited to the wedding
  2. she put a ban on you attending
  3. the N word is not ironic. I bet she doesn’t use it when you’re not there
  4. get a job
  5. get a divorce
  6. he will never see your point of view
  7. leave them to it.
Dersie · 28/06/2026 16:49

CFornot123 · 26/06/2026 19:57

Aibu for thinking this is overstepping the fcking mark

Long story so will try to condense and keep to relevant details.

Been with ‘D’H for 13 years (married 6). We have 2 DCs aged 4 and 3. He’s 38, I’m 31. He has been bestfriends with a woman, let’s call her Jane, for 25 years (since they were teens) and there’s never been any romantic history between them.

In general she’s not really my kind of person. She’s quite blunt and a bit rude, uses racist language (I’m Asian) like it’s a casual word and tbh is a bit of a bully. However, knowing she means a lot to my husband, at the start of our relationship I made A LOT of effort to be friends with her and she was even one of my bridesmaids when we got married (the theory being that if she’d have been a guy, she’d have been a groomsman so wanted her to feel involved in the wedding as she Hs best friend). We were on maternity leave at the same time, both had baby girls at the same time (she’s married) etc. but around this same time (so 5 years ago) she stopped engaging with me, started ignoring messages, every plan I made with her she cancelled and then we weren’t invited to her daughters first birthday. Throughout all of this she maintained contact with my husband and they met up regularly for coffee. I raised concerns with H at the time and he brushed it off as “it’s just what Jane does, she’s a bit flaky, don’t take it personally”.

I’ve not spoken to her now for about 4 years, bar the odd hello if she happens to be at a family/friends event (a lot of shared mutual friends/large friendship groups). But she frequently meets up with H for drinks, dinner, brunch, they have regular video calls.

H and I have been going through a lot recently (we relocated from California after spending two years there for his job, I quit my corporate legal career to basically follow him around the world for his high paying role and have moved 10 times in the last 10 years) due to stress with house moves, redundancy and, me trying to figure out what career to do around the kids following a career in law (I’m a high achiever, degree from Oxbridge) and taking a back step. He works very long hours, lots of traveling as we moved to be closer to family as the girls are starting school soon so I said no more following him.

He met up with Jane last Saturday (they’d both been invited to their mutual friends wedding - I wasn’t) and when he came home on Sunday, he asked me to “make some time in my calendar to meet with him on Friday afternoon” (like I’m a business associate…). He told me today that he “discussed me at length with Jane” and THEY had decided that WE don’t communicate in our marriage enough. SHE also, in her expert opinion as a mental health nurse, diagnosed me with a borderline personality disorder based on everything she’s heard and seen from my husband over the last 13 years and that he should gently suggest I go to the GP. For context, like (so it seems) every other woman in their 30s I’m undergoing an ADHD assessment (VERY different to BPD).

So my AIBU - wtf has DH been saying to her about me that has led her to diagnose me with BPD after not speaking to me for 5 years? And who TF does she think she is?

We had no falling out, no cross words were said, I simply stopped making an effort with her and suggesting meeting up because she never made an effort with me and somehow that’s my fault and she hates me enough to say I have BPD?

Frustratingly H said she’s sent him to information to read up on about it.

So far I’ve not reacted or responded to H. I told him that I needed some time to process the conversation we’d just had and I’d discuss it with him when I felt ready

Sounds like DH is a bit of a gaslighter as well as an unsupportive traitor, and jane appears just as delightful by actually encouraging his appalling behaviour toward you.
You deserve much better.
the problem is him (and her) not you

Wagyue · 28/06/2026 16:50

The whole not passing on a wedding invitation is surprisingly not that rare for a certain type of man.

A couple of years ago this happened to a friend of mine's younger sister.

Her partner who had moved in with her, (she has a gorgeous house in a great location) went off on a long weekend, boys only, no partners invited wedding in Italy.....or so she was told.

She didn't actually mind until after he was gone and she got a text from another partner who couldn't go because of having to work.

Turns out she was invited but he lied, decided he wanted a boys weekend.
Silly man.
The lie pissed her off, and embarrassed her.

She cleared her home of every trace of him and her brother delivered his stuff to a storage place.

She text him early the day of the wedding telling him where his stuff was, one month paid, and not to contact her again, they were done....and blocked him on everything.

She ruined the wedding for him apparently!
Apparently she had caught him out in a few white lies and was just done.
She didn't want drama, she wanted him out of her house.

She never wanted children so she thankfully didn't feel the waste of time some women in their late 30's might feel.

A year later she met a lovely man and has never looked better.

The Ex was and continues to be devastated....not least because he had to find accommodation in a far less nice neighbourhood.
It was all just a mix up apparently.
Nope, he was just a liar.

She didn't necessarily think it was to cheat, he just found lying easier.

Cariadm · 28/06/2026 17:07

CFornot123 · 27/06/2026 22:11

I happened to see a couple of the messages before he turned his screen off - he told her I’d said he was dismissive of me and her reply was “but you have reasons for that”. In what world is it ok for a husband to dismiss his wife and a person not involved in the marriage to tell him he justified in doing so “because he has reasons”.

I have previously posted that I think this whole situation is totally and absolutely off the scale and comprehensively unacceptable! 😡
However in regard to this last message and any further observations you might (quite understandably!) want to comment on re detailed 'points' they astoundingly feel justified to discuss, I feel that it has now been well and truly established which camp DP has firmly set himself down in and some serious and positive action is necessary from you to let them, but especially DP, that a 'line' has been well and truly crossed and that he can now feel free to discuss what the hell he wants to with his dear friend as much as he would like BUT he should be aware that he won't be doing it from your house nor is it up for further discussion!! 😊
Oh and retain a solicitor ASAP!! 🙄

HazelMember · 28/06/2026 17:11

Dersie · 28/06/2026 16:49

Sounds like DH is a bit of a gaslighter as well as an unsupportive traitor, and jane appears just as delightful by actually encouraging his appalling behaviour toward you.
You deserve much better.
the problem is him (and her) not you

OP made an effort with racist Jane and even had her as her bridesmaid. That is on her.

Snorlaxo · 28/06/2026 17:16

I bet that she doesn’t use the N word at work.

Wagyue · 28/06/2026 17:20

Imagine staying with a man who is so disloyal and continues to be friends with someone who would use that word?

MN...parallel universe.

BiteSizeByzantine · 28/06/2026 17:37

HazelMember · 28/06/2026 13:30

Another question - why did you make so much effort with someone who is openly racist?

Do you think it was because OP was trying really hard to please her sick in the head difficult husband?

HazelMember · 28/06/2026 17:50

BiteSizeByzantine · 28/06/2026 17:37

Do you think it was because OP was trying really hard to please her sick in the head difficult husband?

Yes. But nothing OP did was going to please him.

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