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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

AIBU 6 years of friendship down the drain - should I message...

31 replies

motherhen2014 · 04/02/2019 17:57

AIBU...
6 years ago when pregnant with my first child i met a fellow kindred spirit with whom I struck up a friendship with - we spent much of our maternity leave hanging out and had a good laugh...but she began to change, constantly referring to how great her life was and how brilliant things always were (marriage, lots of money, perfect kids etc 'insta perfect projections!)
Of course I was happy for her but never felt I could be real about whether or not I wasn't having such a great time..and there were times when I dreaded meeting up which is, I know, not how you should feel in a friendship.
Anyhooo..we used to meet up loads as families and as individuals, she often referred to me as the sister she never had.
I was asked to be godmother which was lovely as i have many god children and take that responsibility very seriously and in turn when i had my second child I asked her to be God mother.
When my 1st DD was little (I'm talking age 2) she hit said friends younger child, as toddlers do -- whilst I do not excuse it or condone hitting it was most definitely a phase... I was made to feel like I was a bad mother to let this happen, on what she referred to as several occasions.
I am strict but kind and loving with my kids who are now 8 and 5 and are both a delight.
Anyway, she decided that our bad parenting was a reason to stop meeting up as families but didn't tell me..
The friendship carried on for a couple more years, when we did meet (evenings with wine) we did have fun but i could definitely sense a sea change and we certainly were not as close. I felt sad as both my kids are lovely but she kept us as a family at arms length -- whenever we were over there for dinner she would show pony her 'perfect kids' and almost get them to perform as if to prove a point.
We continued to invite them for dinner and nice gatherings and then she went quiet, unfriending me on facebook and instagram but without uttering a word -- around swung my godson's birthday and i sent a nice message asking what he might like and hoping all was well and this was the reply:
'it has become incredibly complicated to see you. We have not seen you with the kids for 3 years because you continually allowed A to hit B. And then after you told C (my husband) of our conversation, it has become very uncomfortable to see him too. I don't know why anyone would ever put friends in this horrible situation but this is what you have chosen to do.
It is not our responsibility to tell other people how to behave, or question their value system they are your things to manage'

I was shocked and stunned. 6 years of friendship and the fact we were godparents to each others children, I was told over text! not even over a cuppa or wine which is what I would have done. I felt hurt, and cross that this was all because she was judging me as a mother. To put this in context, I have many wonderful lifelong friendships, my husband and I are what you would consider normal - decent careers etc loving parents and in a happy marriage. I have never fallen out with any friends before -
The thing that irks me is that despite this, i left a Christmas gift for my now ex godson , on the doorstep -- she didn't even acknowledge it.
I saw her in Tesco and she literally turned on a sixpence and ran the other way to avoid talking to me! how pathetic -- we're grown women!
Am I unreasonable to think her rude and arrogant or is it me that's the problem? I hate the idea of bad karma but i am so angry and upset still...
I know i will bump into her again sooner or later as we live in a small town so it is inevitable...what should I do/say if I see her??!! and am I unreasonable for the above.
Thanks Mumsnetters
xx

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 04/02/2019 18:40

Sorry but I can't read loads of text when you've used strikeout.

Mayonayse · 04/02/2019 18:43

So your child kept hitting her child? What did she want you to do about it, and what did you actually do?

No judgement here btw. Some people are very odd about parenting.

Merchantgirl · 04/02/2019 18:47

Some people are just twats

bibbitybobbityyhat · 04/02/2019 18:47

What conversation did you have with her husband? or have I misunderstood and was it your husband? Anyway, what is she referring to?

Gazelda · 04/02/2019 18:48

What conversation was she referring to, that you shared with your DH?

How often did your DD hit? How did you deal with it?

And, although you no longer have a friendship with her, how does that mean that your godson is now ex-godson?

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 04/02/2019 19:00

The OP said the conversation was with her own (the OP’s husband) - perfectly normal to share this type of situation with your OH especially as it involved their DD.
OP also said it was a phase her DD went though when she was 2 - a phase that presumably ended.

OP your friend sounds nasty. I personally wouldn’t reply to her unpleasant text or if I did just be dignified and genuine and say something like “I’m sorry you feel this way- I had valued our friendship and while I’m so sorry about the hitting incidents these things happen when raising children and I’d hoped it wouldn’t come veteeen is. DD was only little at the time and didn’t understand what she was doing. I shall miss our friendship but respect your decision and will remember with fondness the good times we shared.”
Or something like that.

You sound nice and sensible while she sounds very silly and self absorbed.

Friendships come and go and we can sometimes get attached to people who work for us on the short term but not the long term. I’d let her go.

TinTinBanana · 04/02/2019 19:01

I think sometimes friendships need to end and you need to move on. I don't think it matters who is at fault. Maybe neither of you are fault it is just that you don't have the bonds that you used to

A similar situation has happened with me and my friend of over 30 years. We are very different people now we are parents and we tried to keep the friendship going but it became really awkward until one of us got angry and we haven't spoken since. It will be incredibly awkward when we eventually see each other somewhere, no idea what I will do

I think you just need to move on. What else can you do?

Dermymc · 04/02/2019 19:04

Sounds like your kids were out of control and she didn't want them to mix with her kids. Understandable if you are all earth mother aren't they hilarious type.

What's the husband bit about?

gamerchick · 04/02/2019 19:04

Fuck her OP. Honestly you've done nothing wrong. Toddlers hit, they grow out of it. At least you didn't have a biter.

PloddingOnwards · 04/02/2019 19:05

Hmmm that's a really bizarre excuse of hers kids are kids I have a toddler who likes to hit but seriously what was she expecting you to do ? Whack your child one back ? It doesn't work like that does it, presuming you have a firm "NO that's not nice" I'm not sure what more she wanted. However it seems the issue is more to do with the conversation, depending on what that was about maybe she felt betrayed?

motherhen2014 · 04/02/2019 19:15

She's referring to me talking to my husband about it - I was upset and tell him everything - I think she thought he was frosty with her as a result - he wasn't - he's a typical bloke and just thinks she's not worth bothering about!
I was firm with my DD and I've always tried to make sure they are kind and considerate but she was so young and it really was just a phase.
I am just angry that she was hoping I wouldn't notice that she had unfriended me and when I made a nice gesture of buying a little Christmas present for my god child that she didn't even have the manners to acknowledge it.

OP posts:
motherhen2014 · 04/02/2019 19:17

Sorry - new to the message board - I think/hope I just posted an explanation Grin I'm a bit clunky on this xx

OP posts:
motherhen2014 · 04/02/2019 19:20

Agree - good advice .I'm just nervous about when we inevitably bump into each other and how to react.
We have a few mutual friends - interestingly none of them are particularly close to her and have independently commented that she doesn't make a huge effort In the friendship and that it's very superficial .
I know what you're going to say, that I shouldn't be bothering with someone like that anyway but I can't help feeling aggrieved for some reason.

OP posts:
GrimSisters · 04/02/2019 19:29

She sounds horrible, you're well rid! Normal 'mum friends' (and mine have become way more than that) have an unspoken pact that we won't let our little darlings' behaviour towards each come between us. Ours are secondary school age now and whilst our children don't always get on, we make sure we mostly roll our eyes and let them get on with it.

She sounds way too precious and rather weird. Sorry you're so upset, it's shitty behaviour and you sound like a nice person - no wonder you feel so dreadful. Flowers

Michellebops · 04/02/2019 19:30

Personally I don't think you have done anything wrong.

Something tells me she's had enough or your friendship especially if you're not impressed with the showing off etc and she's using the hitting as an excuse and judging your parenting which if a true friend you wouldn't do. Us mums should support each other.

I'd move on and try not to let it bother you too much, I know it's difficult in a small town but she's the one with the problem not you.
I'd bet she's done it before to other friends.

littlemeitslyn · 04/02/2019 20:56

What onemore says xx

zebakrheum · 04/02/2019 22:03

We were friends with a family whose dd went through a biting phase - we kind of cooled visits for a few weeks, but she eventually stopped doing it, and I certainly didn't judge my friend for it.

Sorry you find yourself in this situation, and I hope that you are able to move on.

ittakes2 · 04/02/2019 22:35

I think she’s behaved oddly but if child kept hitting my child I would stay away from them too - so sorry I also think it’s odd you just saw the hitting as a phase rather than teaching your child not to hit.

motherhen2014 · 05/02/2019 06:49

I did tell DD not to hit of course - I have always been firm and have never condoned hitting or any other lashing out - as a result both my kids are now a delight, they’ve grown up as kids do and they most certainly know right from wrong.
I think I didn’t make my point clearly enough - the thing that upset me was this ghosting having been so close and the very fact I had to weedle it out of her - personally I would never stop contacting a close friend without some form of conversation, especially given we are god parents to each other’s children - it hurt and felt so callous. And again, to be judged on a small snapshot of motherhood is just wrong - I would never ever judge anyone’s parenting skills - ever , it’s not my place to. I support and love my friends through thick and thin, shame she couldn’t do the same.
I think I am going to completely ignore her if I see her out and about - you’re all right, not worth it. Whilst I do not want to reinstigate the friendship and clearly neither does she, I guess I felt like it was unfinished and that I wasn’t in the wrong. But hey, one can fantasise about getting aplologies that will never come I guess!
Angry

OP posts:
onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 05/02/2019 07:38

You are doing the right thing motherhen - anyone who can send a text like the one she sent you and as you say be so judgy, you are better off without. And you won’t ever get an apology off her - she’s not sorry.

Sometimes friendships don’t last, you connected at a time when you were both going through the same big life change and that was great. But in the broader scheme of things you have different ways of being in the world and different values. You sound lovely - it’s her loss. You are right to just ignore. In a little while you’ll forget all about this and put it all behind you.

SnuggyBuggy · 05/02/2019 08:08

It's hard to say without being there, I get that small children hit and it's normal but I'd be bothered if it kept happening and mum wasn't making much effort to prevent it.

motherhen2014 · 05/02/2019 09:18

I did make an effort to prevent it and it didn’t happen every time x

OP posts:
NicoAndTheNiners · 05/02/2019 09:26

She sounds awful and I think you're well rid.

If she felt that she couldn't see you as a family while your little one was going through a hitting phase then fair enough. But that's no reason for why she's now dropped you as an individual friend which you'd managed to carry on doing for some time after. What's her reason for not seeing you one on one?

Though to be honest with the boasting and trotting her kids out, etc I'm not sure why you'd want to see her.

And yes, she's rude to run from you in Tesco and not acknowledge the present, etc. But that's her showing you her true personality. She's not very nice.

Lookingforadvice123 · 05/02/2019 09:27

FGS to all the people going on about the hitting, are your children perfect?!

My DS is 3 and has never been a fighter so luckily I've never been in that situation - yet - but he's been on the receiving end of friends' children attempting to bite or scram. The mothers stop and tell their children no. Surely what else can they do?!

OP YANBU, but I agree with a pp who said she may well be using the hitting as an excuse, especially as your children are quite a bit older now and are clearly past the hitting stage! Be the bigger person (which it sounds like you are) if you bumped into her face to face be civil, but leave it at that. Life is too short, and some people enjoy ongoing conflict.

motherhen2014 · 05/02/2019 10:52

I also think how rude to not even say a cursory thanks for the gift - what a lack of manners.
Just annoyed with myself for investing so much time and effort into the friendship in the first place - it’s strange isn’t it that sometimes it feels like you’ve been dumped by someone ! There’s a sense of injustice that I can’t seem to swallow!
I’m in my thirties and yet I’m letting myself get upset like a school girl.
Yes I’m an idiot but it’s damn cathartic just writing it on here - I’ve never posted before 😂

OP posts:
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