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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

I've been dumped by my friend/acquaintance, haven't I? (Long & self-pitying!)

47 replies

Justonemoreissue · 14/02/2013 09:38

So, met a "friend", lets call her Sandra (name changed naturally!) at a post-natal group. We attend a few of the same groups together; however she works part time, I am a WAHM just starting to go back to the office now.

It is reasonable to say that we would not maybe naturally be friends if we'd met without children, but our DS's play nicely together (both just over 2) and we laugh together when we see each other. All a bit superficial, but pleasant, polite and all fine.

The local toddler group has been shut last week and this. I am part of the committee, so when it was an unexpected closure last week (expected this week due to holidays), I telephoned round to let people know, and suggested to Sandra that we take the boys out to the local soft play. She declined and said she was going to go food shopping instead - which is fair enough. I then said that I'd see her next week - forgetting it was the holidays.

Realised after the conversation my mistake, and texted her that I'd forgotten about the closure, and did she want to come round to mine instead. She agreed. I then texted back that I'd see her then, and I was off to take DS to the soft play.

Few minutes later, she then texted back that actually, she'd been invited by another friend to go, so she'd see me there. Bit Hmm about this, but fair enough. We then went to the soft play, and she spend the entire time not talking to me much - very monosyllabic and closed answers to my questions, but full on chatting to the other friend.

To today, and I'd posted on the toddler group website last week that I was offering my house for play (and tea/coffee), and a few other mums agreed it would be nice to come round (three in total).

Since last week, Sandra and I have been in contact via text and email (it's easier due to toddlers and work!), with no hint of anything bothering her - swapped recipes, asked after each others family - all normal to my eyes.

Fast forward to today, and I texted another friend to give her my address (I'd forgotten to do that!) and she texted back that she and Sandra were actually going to the soft play centre, was I not coming?

Turns out that Sandra has taken it upon herself to organise a trip out to the soft play. I was not invited - there is nothing on Facebook (group webpage) and no texts to me. I then texted her (on a random pretext) and she has only now told me about the trip; so while it may have been a genuine oversight (very unlikely), it feels more deliberate.

I've been dumped haven't I?

I actually feel quite angry and then terribly sad. I've gone to quite a bit of bother making cakes and things, and making sure that what I've done is suitable for her son who has allergies. I can't think of anything I've done to offend her enough that she would then try to sabotage (not the right word, but I can't think of what else to use) other people coming to mine.

I'm very shy, and I can't confront her, so I guess I'm just not going to do anything and back away. So sad...

OP posts:
Laura0806 · 14/02/2013 13:30

It is indeed v strange and v rude! Still best you found out now before investing anymore of your time and energy on her.

calypso2008 · 14/02/2013 13:38

You sound happier Onemore - well done. Onwards and upwards as you say!

sweetestB · 14/02/2013 14:11

Laura I have no idea why that woman acted that way and I spent many precious time wondering, worrying and feeling hurt. I got so much happier when I finally decided not to care. I don't think she has nothing to be jealous of, but than I never knew her that well and she isn't my type of person, I would never hang out with her if wasn't for the fact we had similar age children in the same village and friends in common.
For a long time I thought there was something wrong with me, than decided to move on and be myself.

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 14/02/2013 14:25

OP, I cannot really tell if you have been dumped. But it does seem as though Sandra is not as interested in the friendship as she once was.

But you sound like a kind and thoughtful person. Not needy. Just concerned to get things right. That is how you are. There are many many other people who will appreciate those qualities.

Laura0806 · 14/02/2013 14:26

Sorry to hear that SweetestB, I think similarly I got too close to a my ( ex ) friend because we had children all of the same age, pregnant at the same time etc but ordinarily we wouldn't have been close. Like you I have spent soo many hours and evenings going over it all and it really hurt me and it is still very tricky with the mutual friend thing as our lives are so entwined and its all so awkard. I am hoping time will make things better and she wont spread anymore crap about me. Glad youve been able to move on.

sweetestB · 14/02/2013 14:35

I'm glad your friend came OP and you had a good time

sweetestB · 14/02/2013 14:43

Laura try not to say a bad word about her, this will make you feel happier within yourself and proud of your good attitude, try to change the subject when people talk about her TO you, avoid gossip.
I suspect your Wendy is full of herself and keeps talking about her own life and her kid's achievements, doesn't she. I bet she is full of advice and cheap philosophy, am I wrong?

LittleChimneyDroppings · 14/02/2013 15:08

She doesn't sound very nice. I'd back off, still be polite and don't gossip, but distance yourself from her. And be grateful you have seen her true colours. You dont need friends like that, they are not good for your wellbeing.

wol1968 · 14/02/2013 15:47

Being 'Wendied' - so that's what it's called! Grin

That's happened to me rather a lot. Not sure why - I suspect I just have a mug face or something. The latest is a neighbour with whose sons my DS plays regularly. She used to chat away to me quite merrily on the school run, and I would chat merrily back, but I never progressed to inviting her for coffee or anything like that - she was just a school run acquaintance. Now she won't give me the time of day, unless it's about something practical to do with the kids coming round or not, but I've seen her chat merrily with her other friends, and I'm thinking - did I offend her in any way, and if so, how? Should I have bothered joining in that 3-way conversation about nothing much that took place nearly 3 months ago seeing as I wasn't really part of that circle after all? Have I overdone the early-morning moans about getting the kids ready? Did I share too much about myself when she talked about her dad? And why in hell's name is such a stupid inconsequential small-minded slight taking up so much of my headspace? Confused

I can't pretend I've got this sorted but I'm pretty sure it's about nothing. It's hard not to let it get to you, because let's face it, such behaviour is rude and hurtful, and more about the other person than you, but I do have to stop myself thinking it's because of my behaviour. She's the rude and selfish one, I remind myself. I have done nothing wrong. And, OP, nor have you.

Fairenuff · 14/02/2013 16:14

Where did the phrase 'being Wendied' come from?

Laura0806 · 14/02/2013 16:30

ha ha sweetestB , not so much the cheap philoosphy and advice but def full of her great social life, how fully booked she is etc amazing husband thats everyone supposedly loves and how her chidlren are the most popular in the school! I mean to be frank I dont care if they are or not but the one upmanship and sly comments get me down !shes very attractive and knows it aswell xxx

Laura0806 · 14/02/2013 16:32

sorry Wol1968 that its happened to you aswell. I would be tempted if I was the OP to invite everyone she invited last time apart from Sandra but is this childish?!!!

sweetestB · 14/02/2013 16:48

Oh yesLaura I forgot the amazing social life and popularity of all the members of her amazing family.
Maybe mine was full of crap advice and philosophy because we were in the same working field too....obviously she was better

sweetestB · 14/02/2013 16:52

Some time ago, a lovely mumsnetter wrote a thread similar to this one here, but she called her friend Wendy instead of Sandra.
The thread evolved with lots of mumsnetters sharing their own experiences with this kind of "friendship"
And the term being wendied was born

Laura0806 · 14/02/2013 16:59

ha, love it wendy! thats good. SweetestB , of course she was better than you??!!! was there a trigger do you think, did you achieve something that she didn't at work or did one of your children? That was the trigger I think for the downturn of our friendship. This thread is good as its made me feel better about it all. Hope it has for the poor OP whose thread I have Hijacked!!

Laura0806 · 14/02/2013 17:04

last question, how do you react when you see her now? Im ok when in passing at school, I just say hi and walk on but we are sometimes in the same small room at parties and in the waiting for for clubs etc to finish and that is more awkward aaahhhh!!

sweetestB · 14/02/2013 17:13

I have no idea Laura about triggers. When I see her now it is small talk and fake smiles. But I avoid her a lot as now I found her so boring and sad and so is her crew.

KeepCoolCalmAndCollected · 14/02/2013 17:36

Laura0806
I would be tempted if I was the OP to invite everyone she invited last time apart from Sandra but is this childish?!!!

Definitely - give her a taste of her own medicine, it's what she deserves, and if she mentions it, just say I am so sorry I totally forgot about you!

She sounds very selfish and self-absorbed to me.

sweetestB · 14/02/2013 18:45

So are the people who confirmed playdate at OP's house but went to soft play with Wendy Sandra.....
I would want to have very little with all of them tbh.

Hassled · 14/02/2013 18:50

People are fucking weird. Not you, OP - you sound sane and reasonable and lovely. But other people - the sort of weirdos who think this is an OK way to treat someone. It's just not.

If it helps, I've been dumped by someone I like and care about and I have no idea a) why or b) why I care so much. It does suck.

Cornflowerdreams · 14/02/2013 19:12

I can imagine how you feel, especially if your sons were good friends too. You do not sound suffocating or needy at all. Just a normal mum trying to keep a friendship.

Something similar happened to me with a baby group's mum I met when my son was a baby. Her DD and my DS got so well together. They looked quite similar so everybody thought they were twins. The friendship was rather light, but we shared a lot of laughs together and with the little ones. I thought she was very clever and understanding so I also told her some personal stuff that now I absolutely regret.

Suddenly, one day, she didn't reply to my invite to meet over the summer. That really hurt me. I thought it was rude and thoughtless, as you can always text to say you can't make it or that we can confirm later.

She texted nearly a year later to casually invite me to her DD's birthday. I grabbed the opportunity to ask what happened but she brushed it off by saying that times just flies.

I decided to cut it off and not to bother with people like that. As we were both back at work, we didn't have another chance to meet via groups or other people.

I was so sad, not so much because of me, but because our children had shared so many moments together.

The main lesson I learned though was to be careful about who I consider a "good" friend in the future. I think there's a lot of potential situations like that in the mums' world, and we just have to be prepared to cope with them so as not to find them so debilitating and demoralising.

Laura0806 · 14/02/2013 19:19

you're right sweetest, some of the other people followed the OP to the soft play so yes not worth bothering with either. SOmany people have had similar experiences and it is wierd , for me it felt like the end of a relationship with a partner, it still takes up a lot of my thinkking time hence on this thread but its not about upset any more just more interest and Im determined to not put my eggs in one basket again and to really think about the friends I have and to be wary of certain traits and characteristics

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