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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

My friend...what would you do?

10 replies

Trickyfriendthingy · 08/12/2011 18:52

Another friend tale of woe....

I have a friend of 30 years- she was my bridesmaid and is godmother to a DC.

BUT although we get on really well when we meet, she has changed hugely over the years in some ways and I find myself being judgemental and almost not liking who she has become.

In a nutshell, she is very me, me, me. She has no children but huge wealth with a DH who earns megabucks. She doesn't work, but has made herself busy with bits of voluntary work etc. and pampering herself. I am not jealous, but I suppose I am a bit fed up at her lack of effort in our friendship. I work, I have had 2 DCs and the last one has just left home. Whenever we meet up, the onus is on me to see her where she lives,(in a big city where I might go shopping or to have my hair done) - not her ever coming to see me in the country. I always used to suggest we met up when I was there, but recently I've stopped doing this simply because she wasn't inviting me- I had to always suggest we met after I'd had my hair done or whatever. So we haven't met for almost a year, but speak at least once or twice a week on the phone.

On top of all of this, her marriage is very dodgy- divorce has been on the cards for years- but she will not take any "blame" for how it is- it's all his fault. Yet when she tells me what they have rowed over, I can see both sides, and sometimes tell her this which ends up with us rowing on the phone.

I suppose I am just ranting here. I don't want to lose her as a friend, but money has changed her, and not for the better. I find that everytime we talk, I have to bite my tongue because I disagree with her views on lots of things, especially her relationship.

The other thing- and I know this sounds petty- is that several years ago she suddenly stopped buying me a Christmas or birthday present. Up until that year, we had bought for each other and at Christmas would also buy a small gift for each other's DHs. She continued to buy for my children, and I found this really hurtful as I knew her for years before they came along. It also put me in a tricky position because I felt it was odd to buy her a personal present when she wasn't buying for me any more. I got round this by buying her and her DH a joint impersonal gift. I have no idea why she stopped buying, because money is not the issue.

I feel cool towards her, but I think I'm feeling like this because she for a long time she hasn't made as much effort as she used to, and she has also become a bit of a different person by having so much money. This is not so much a question over what to do, but just asking if anyone else has long friendships that change?

OP posts:
Besom · 08/12/2011 19:07

Oh god yes. It surely must be a rare friendship that isn't changed by time and circumstance. If you're lucky it'll evolve in a positive way.

Not to do with money, but I have an old friend who moans if I don't give her enough attention - when she is single - and when she's in a relationship I don't see her for dust. My bridesmaid lives close by and has a child of the same age and yet I hardly see her any more. (Fault is on both sides and nothing acrimonious).

I know you're not looking for advice but I think you just need to take it for what it is. Meet up with her, have a good time, but don't expect a great deal else.

MidnightHag · 08/12/2011 19:10

You're hurt because she buys a gift for your children and not you?
Welcome to my first ever Biscuit.

Trickyfriendthingy · 08/12/2011 19:13

But Midnight- she did buy a present for me for probably 10 years religiously, as close friends do ( and me her of course) - at Xmas and birthdays- then one year they just stopped.
That's what's odd.

OP posts:
WinkyWinkola · 08/12/2011 19:21

Why don't you ask her why she stopped? Ask get if she would still like you to give her gifts? You don't give to get anyway.

You do sound a wee bit Envy to me. And usually it's ok because many people get the odd stab of jealousy. However, I think you don't like her anymore so why don't you just take a break and see if she will make more of an effort if you fade into the background?

Eurostar · 08/12/2011 19:23

Could she be saying....my friend never invites me to see her in the countryside, I'm an afterthought when she comes to town for a haircut?

Trickyfriendthingy · 08/12/2011 19:31

Euro- possibly! Smile But long before we were both married, the expectation was always that I'd go to see her (I was living somewhere different then ). Don't know why.

I really am not jealous of her lifestyle, honestly!

I do think she puts me at the bottom of her list of friends as she has a couple who live nearby, who she sees more often, but unlike me she doesn't work so it would be much easier for her to travel to see me when I am not working, than me drop everything and go to her.

OP posts:
Eurostar · 08/12/2011 19:39

Why not try inviting her over and see what happens? Although, to be honest, it sounds like you don't like her much anymore.

WinkyWinkola · 08/12/2011 22:44

So she's not treating you properly as a friend should.

Tell her or just don't be available anymore.

Why should you be an afterthought for anyone?

Alargeglassofred · 08/12/2011 22:54

I have a friend who seemingly had everything , rich husband , large house, private schools for the kids... I always liked a pair of jeans that she wore all the time. Started to see less of her over the years... Turned out she was being emotionally and financially abused ... tWas the only pair of jeans she had!! Prob none of that made sense... Don't judge or call time on the friendship too soon! You have a good bond talking twice a week! Don't ruin it !

CHOOGIRL · 08/12/2011 23:26

Maybe she is a little tired of seeing a 'friend' who seems to want to judge her because she isn't the person you think she should be. You may not be jealous but you do seem to resent the fact she has money and doesn't work. Just because her life doesn't mirror yours doesn't make her a bad person. I personally think friendship is about respecting life choices, being happy for their success and being a sympathetic ear when things aren't going well. Put yourself in her shoes, what does she get from this friendship?

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