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How to respond to this message? Not sure what to do about this friendship.

148 replies

1981m · 05/08/2018 22:02

I have posted about this before and was pretty much told to leave things with my friend but there has been developments since so posting again.

Basically, I had a friend I considered my best friend since uni, so 15 years now. We were close at uni and went out regularly and this continued once we left uni as we lived 45 mins away. Our dh s got close too and we spent holidays, nye abs birthdays together. I wasn't her bridesmaid but she kindly explained why but she was mine.

Anyway, As the years went by the friendship became very one sided, or so I felt. All the effort was made by me and the periods without seeing each other got longer. I would ring with no call back but she still seemed keen to meet up on my suggestion and we got on like there had been no time between meet ups when we did.

Once she had dcs it got worse. Her replies to text messages were abrupt and no enquiry about what's going on in my life. I felt like she didn't care. When I tried to arrange visits was told she was busy. It turned into yearly meet ups at her ds birthday party, she couldn't come to my ds birthday. There was no call when I had my dcs and no suggestion of a visit when I had dd (2015) until I asked her to come. When she did it seemed reluctantly. No birthday cards or presents exchanged for years.

I decided to let the friendship go but it was very hard for me. I began to accept she didn't value me or see our friendship as deep as I had. I was very upset but knew I needed to stop making all the effort as her responses were making me feel like shit. When we met she would always say we should meet more, she values our friendship, would hate to loose touch- but I felt it was all words. No effort made on her part to ensure this. Birthday message sent by me just simple thanks, message to say found out sex of dd was that's nice reply.

Out the blue we were invited to a special occasion. I was unsure about going but did. This was a huge realisation of where I stood in her life. I wasn't expecting to have a role in the event but rightly or wrongly was shocked and upset by her choice of person who was involved. Someone she had told me she hadn't spoken to in a year, hadn't had as much contact with as me. I also realised she had had every friend involved in significant events in her life except me.

I decided to totally stop contact and let the friendship burn out. I was not willing to carry on with it being so one sided, don't see the point of seeing each other once a year and realised I meant little to her. Declined an invite for another special occasion for her, honest reason couldn't go, which she wanted to know exact details why and that's when said didn't want to loose friendship etc.

Not heard from her since March. Out the blue message today asking to meet up as in summer hols now. No asking how I am or kids or anything, just fancy meeting up.

What shall I do?

OP posts:
1981m · 14/08/2018 21:14

So send #1

OP posts:
Fireworks91 · 14/08/2018 21:21

In that case just say "you know how it is, busy busy."

SandAndSea · 14/08/2018 21:25

OK. How about...?

I was surprised to get your message tbh as it's been a while. Sorry, I'm fully booked for the holidays now. x

You don't need to reply further though I'm guessing she will chase you for more of an explanation.

(The problem with being breezy at this stage is you might have to follow through with meeting up or change tact and seem like a fraud. Also, your DH might out you to her DH.)

1981m · 14/08/2018 21:34

Problem is my breezy messages have been followed up for an explanation by her. Think some of you may have missed her most recent message, which reads;

Whats wrong? Been trying to get in touch, your replies are curt like you're not bothered.
I’d rather you just said if that’s the case please.

I am going to have to answer the question what's wrong somehow or just overlook it?

OP posts:
SandAndSea · 14/08/2018 21:41

@1981m - I think we keep crossing in the ether.

I'm thinking the best tone to use will be like you would use with someone you hardly know. Maybe imagine you're messaging a mum you met at the school gates last year who has suddenly messaged for a play date. It's kinda light, definitely polite but also well boundaried.

allmymistakeslaidendtoend · 14/08/2018 21:41

The thing with replying is that you put the ball back in her court again and give her all the power. If she doesn’t reply you’ll feel shit. If she does reply then you just perpetuate a situation that makes you feel shit.

I had this with a friend a few years ago. Very close, regular contact, pretty much weekly ‘proper’ conversations, despite major time zone difference. I was the only one who knew about some really significant stuff in her life.

Anyway, she then got really into blogging and twitter it turned out she didn’t want a friend, she wanted an audience, and I’d been replaced. In the end I thought i’d stop initiating contact to see how long it took her. More than two months later I had an email saying she and ‘t Heard ,cub from me and a load of her news. I replied and said it was because I felt I was making all the effort. She replied and basically said yeah I though it was that - no apology, no acknowledgement that it might be hurtful. She initiated a meet up and then spent the entire meal talking as fast as possible lest I might raise the difficult topic of her lack of contact. At the end of the meal, she muttered something about not leaving it so long. I decided to wait for her to follow up. Took her four months. I just didn’t reply. I had been so hurt and angry but not replying made me feel like I had some agency again and I’ve felt much better ever since!

Also have realised since that I never missed her at all because she was a shit friend!

Fireworks91 · 14/08/2018 21:42

I would just overlook it. She hasn't given you answers in the past, you don't owe her anything.

allmymistakeslaidendtoend · 14/08/2018 21:42

Typo - saying she hadn't heard from me

allmymistakeslaidendtoend · 14/08/2018 21:46

Also, hilariously, the response from two other friends of mine who’d met her, when I told them what happened was “thank god we don’t have to sit through another meal where she talks about herself the whole time”. They both said it separately. Made me realise I’d overlooked how self obsessed she was.

1981m · 14/08/2018 21:50

Allmymistake- a very good response to your non-friend from you, well done. Glad you managed to break the tie.

You're absolutely right. If I tell her how I feel we could round in circles and have an argument and all the power back in her court and I am upset.

I am going to send a breezy reply.

OP posts:
Gemini69 · 14/08/2018 21:52

I'd send her a self explanatory Fuck Off.. but that's just me Grin

1981m · 14/08/2018 22:00

Gemini- Grin

Was thinking more like;

No, everything is good here. But I seem to have over booked myself over the summer holidays. Think it's best we leave it. Enjoy your summer. X

OP posts:
Waitingforsleepagain · 14/08/2018 22:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LexieLulu · 14/08/2018 22:04

I like your suggested response, also shows (to her) you have more friends you'd rather spend time with. Make her a tad jealous hopefully xx

Waitingforsleepagain · 14/08/2018 22:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheMonkeyMummy · 14/08/2018 22:37

Perfect response. Hope she takes the hint!

simplepimple · 15/08/2018 05:36

I think you are exactly right that she will go on the defensive with the second.

Perhaps amend the first one to this?

Everything's ok here, just super busy. Enjoy the holidays

By taking out the don't worry bit it makes it less engaging so she is more likely not to respond but if she does just send exactly the same message again.

simplepimple · 15/08/2018 05:38

oops... things have moved on ... i forgot to refresh the thread! Hope it all went well op.

Llareggub · 15/08/2018 06:04

Honestly what a drama over nothing.

AndTheBandPlayedOn · 15/08/2018 13:34

I agree with pps who say she wants it all on her terms. She can blank you for ages but won’t accept that dynamic from you, que shaming and lip service “lesson” on friendships (which you have experienced to be insincere).

Don’t complain, don’t explain.
“Full schedule” is the right way to go.

Ruddygreattiger2016 · 15/08/2018 15:36

'Yeah, you are right, I'm not bothered about meeting up anymore. Take care.xx'
Might be a short, very clear reply seeing as she asked if you were bothered?

She may well get her kniçkers in a twist but who gives a shit, block and spend your time with people that matter.

Weepingangels · 15/08/2018 18:33

If you haven't sent your message yet then i would amend it slightly to

No, everything is good here. I am very busy over the holidays. Think it's best we leave it. Enjoy your summer. X

IllHaveALargeGlassOfRed · 15/08/2018 18:42

I've not RTFT but would it not be better to be clear about why you're ending the friendship? So nobody is in any doubt about where they stand. She'll the know it's because of XYZ behaviour and won't keep texting to see if everything's ok. You then won't be anticipating enquiring texts.

I was frozen out by 2 mutual friends and I never found out why. If they told me it was because of XYZ behaviour, I would learn from it. It's left me wondering for 4 years now what it was I did wrong.

Maybe she genuinely doesn't realise what she's like?

1981m · 15/08/2018 19:02

Weeping- that's exactly what I sent.

OP posts:
TheMonkeyMummy · 15/08/2018 20:08

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