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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

for resenting having to look after friends child

491 replies

Kamikatze · 03/11/2009 15:40

I'm an older mum with two kids at uni and my 7 yr old surprise dd still living at home (kind of obvious?) Anyway, I've been thru the hectic young mum years when I never seemed to find time to just smell the roses and am now enjoying every minute of being with my dd, just chilling.
When my dd first started school I was approached by a mum with a son same age as dd. I had not made any effort to socialise at the school gate, been there done that, except for of course slight chitchat and making play dates and so on. ANYWAY(will I ever get to the point?)
This other mum, Jane, decided to get a part time job cos she was bored at home. Her dh works 9 to 5 and is always home to bath kids, make dinner. My dh is often away on business trips and hardly ever home bfore dds bedtime. I'm used to it and these days, don't get uptight about it.
Jane has started calling me several times a week to ask me to pick up her kid and keep him at ours until she or her dh comes to pick him up. I don't work away from home so feel guilty to say no, but I resent having to look after her son so many times a week. I want to spend this time with my dd and no one else. I wouldn't say anything if my dd was happy with the situation but she isn't happy specially cos she's in the "boys are yukky" phase. I feel bad for resenting this child and overcompensate by being extra nice to him which leaves dd feeling jealous. Can anyone come up with an idea of how I can get out of this very one sided arrangement, or should I just accept it and say nothing? Maybe I'm just an old kvetcher and should hang my head in shame for getting pissed off about small things? Please advice!!

OP posts:
dilemma456 · 11/11/2009 22:45

Message withdrawn

MollieO · 11/11/2009 23:02

Well Jane reacted as expected. Sounds to me as if she is a sociopath and will never grasp how wrong her behaviour is. Fortunately you have allies in the school playground but it wouldn't do you any harm to let some of them know quite how much you did for Jane. I am sure this won't be the end of the matter quite yet so you need to be strong and maintain a thick skin where she is concerned.

Well done for standing your ground both to Jane and her dh.

Portofino · 11/11/2009 23:06

kami, totally with you on that. You are so nice! I wish you were my friend.

Jacksmama · 12/11/2009 15:22

So how much have you loved the last few days of being Jane-free?
Hope "no news" continues.

Agree with Portofino, I wish you lived near me, you sound lovely!

Kamikatze · 12/11/2009 17:42

Portofino and Jacksmama, thank you for your kind words but I'm not sure I'd want to be friends with a wimp like me.
After my brave words about how Jane doesn't exist anymore, I'm back to wimp mode. Joined two of the other mums for a coffee this afternoon (they seemed v. eager to have a chat) and heard more gossip about bloody Jane.
I can't even go into what was said but it affected me and left me feeling even worse than before. Also, I don't want anyone to think that I'm making things up cos the things Jane has said and done are so weird that I almost started thinking that the two mums were making things up! Proper paranoid now. Argh eww. Funny how people are prepared to tell me stuff now, why not before??

OP posts:
warthog · 12/11/2009 17:48

before they thought you two were thick as thieves. probably thought you were so close you were helping her out with childcare! now they're all breathing a collective sigh of relief that you have extricated yourself.

TheCrackFox · 12/11/2009 17:54

They probably thought that, just maybe, you were both proper friends to each other. I would imagine that a lot of the mums worked her out yonks ago. Don't feel bad, though, you were just to nice and she took advantage of you.

CarGirl · 12/11/2009 18:00

Kami please spill, that is teasing us!!!!

We all want need to know just how nuts Jane really is.

I'm sure you will never get taken in by anyone like her ever again because your "user radar" will spring into action.

pigletmania · 12/11/2009 18:02

Crackfox they always take advantage of the nice people.

Kamikatze · 12/11/2009 18:03

Yes, they did say they thought Jane and I were really good friends, but I can't understand how they thought that after the many nasty comments that Jane made about me. (while we were supposedly friends)

OP posts:
poppy34 · 12/11/2009 18:06

Yep spill- have been following this and well done you for standing up for yourself.

Kamikatze · 12/11/2009 18:18

CarGirl, I promise I'm not teasing, just feeling humiliated and so fed up. Jane has made such low comments about me and my family; "I don't understand how her DH can stay with that old trout", "I need a sick bag whenever she starts talking about her love for her DD, it's just SO OTT". I told Jane that after having my DD, I've had slight bladder problems, so Jane commented" I always thought she smelt vaguely of wee". I know I should laugh it off, but at the moment I feel like like shite. But to me, the worst one was that she didn't tell me when her DS had worms, and that she actually wanted my "precious" DD to catch them. Now this may sound like I've always talked or boasted about my DD to her but I haven't!

OP posts:
cocolepew · 12/11/2009 18:20

I wouldn't bother with these 2 'friends'. Bloody gossips, there was no need for them to share any of this with you.

GoldenSnitch · 12/11/2009 18:20

What a bitch!

poppy34 · 12/11/2009 18:22

Agree that two friends should have buttoned it but jane sounds deranged to say that kind of thing. And talking about loving your dd is nice and normal ffs!!

Kamikatze · 12/11/2009 18:24

cocolepew, I agree with you! Wish I'd never agreed to coffee and a chat.

OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 12/11/2009 18:25

Fucking hell. What a bitch. I agree the other two should never have shared this information with you.

Kamikatze · 12/11/2009 18:27

And she's complained that I wasn't happy for her when they bought a new car! I'm not happy when my DH buys a new car, I couldn't care less, since I don't even drive. But I guess I should have shrieked and jumped up and down when she showed off her Land Rover. (but of course, then I would have pissed myself) ; )

OP posts:
AmericanHag · 12/11/2009 18:31

Kami, thanks for the follow-up. You're right to avoid the other gossipy mothers, too. Too much toxic drama. Who needs it?

You'll never be able to put Jane and her creepifying theater of cruelty behind you until she becomes a non-issue. Time and distance should do it.

So, avoid The Crazy and enjoy your days.

TheCrackFox · 12/11/2009 18:32

Kami - i am the same about cars (can't drive either) and wouldn't notice if DH bought a new car. She sounds so bloody self obsessed. I actually for her son, imagine having her as a mum.

Mutt · 12/11/2009 18:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kamikatze · 12/11/2009 18:36

Thanks, Mutt and others, I'm going to have some wine, watch EastEnders and try to get over this "dirty" feeling. Btw, I'm pretty damn sure I don't smell of wee. Yet.

OP posts:
clam · 12/11/2009 18:41

What a vile, vile woman.

You are so much better off out of this.

Well done for kicking her into touch.

justaboutautumn · 12/11/2009 18:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

PercyPigPie · 12/11/2009 18:57

I'm with you about the car thing, and also about the being soppy about children thing. I agree, avoid these other two, they sound gossip vultures. If it was me (were me? don't know, my grammar is rubbish these days) I would keep low key and be a couple of minutes late for drop off and pick up to avoid people for a month. They will soon find others to gossip about.

'but of course, then I would have pissed myself) ; )'- glad to see you haven't lost your sense of humour .