Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Girlfriend Troubles

5 replies

bluforet · 01/09/2020 19:43

My friend of 30 years has always been a bit pushy as far as I'm concerned, but I've never told her I see her this way. Mostly I go along with her demands, because I strongly dislike conflict, I'm generous, and know she would react badly if I gave her a direct 'no' to anything she wanted. I tend to steer her gently if I don't like the direction she's going in.
She came to stay for a few days recently, and I noted the lack of offerings when she arrived - I'd have liked a bottle of wine or a bunch of flowers or some tasty snacks, but she brought nothing but half a bottle of gin, which she drank most of herself. She then went round my garden and eyed up all the plants she wanted and the fruit she wanted to pick off my trees. She did not ask my permission for the fruit nor did she say how much fruit she wanted. I tried to steer her as usual by saying the fruit was unripe and that the same could be found in the nearby hedges, but she went on and started helping herself anyway, leaving me little choice but to confront her about it. She took umbrage, told me there was loads of fruit to go round, and that I was being mean, and stomped off to her car. When I tried to explain to her that I would like to be treated with more respect on my own property she said she didn't want to talk about my 'strange attitude', just wanted to leave. She was even crying.
AIBU to feel resentful about friends who come to stay, who bring nothing, do not help with the cooking or the washing up, and resent me for not wanting to share my things sometimes ( 95% of the time I do share, I am generous and easy going) - and who get huffy if I speak plainly to them (no swearing, just straightforward ) ? Why do people often react this way when confronted? What are friendships for?

OP posts:
Ludo19 · 01/09/2020 19:48

Do all your friends treat you like this??

The one you're describing is not a true friend. Turn your back on her!

SmileyClare · 01/09/2020 19:49

I would attribute a lot of her awful behaviour and tantrumming down to the half bottle of gin she necked when she arrived.

I hope she didn't drive home? Confused

Don't invite her to stay anymore. She's probably best in small doses on neutral ground.

SmileyClare · 01/09/2020 20:08

Why do people often react this way? They don't. Making a big drama, saying you're not her friend and crying in her car? It's an unusual reaction unless they're 3 or have some sort of personality disorder.

chuffedasbuttons · 01/09/2020 22:29

So my friend visited at the weekend.

She bought me a bottle of wine. Some tonic in case I wanted Gin.
Crisps.
Sweets for my son and slipper socks for my daughter. All carried on the train.

She visits regularly. Usually doesn't 2 days.

I cook an extra portion at each meal time for her and she's vegetarian so I adjust our meal to accommodate.

She does the washing up. She flits through the bathroom so as not to upset the children's routine.
We chat and do puzzles or walk together.
We admired the growth in my garden together.

I sent her home with tomatoes from the garden. A portion of apple crumble and a dozen carrier bags she uses for the rubbish.

The woman that visited you is not a friend. Don't ask her again. Tell her you're busy when she invites herself.

chuffedasbuttons · 01/09/2020 22:30

*stays 2 nights

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread