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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

Do I tell my friend to end their relationship?

3 replies

Hallo12345 · 07/11/2020 22:04

Name changed for this one and also not sure if I’ve posted in the right section, but couldn’t find a ‘friends’ sections.

A very close friend has recently had a baby. Was only with the dad for less than a year before getting pregnant. I have met my friends partner a couple of times and both times I didn’t like the way he spoke about her. First time she was heavily pregnant and he kept proclaiming she was so big, not in a nice way at all, hard to explain but almost berating her? second time asking me personal questions about her that I said to him were her decision, why is he asking me. Again hard to explain without giving too much detail but I didn’t like the way he asked me for my opinion about something which is solely up to her, not up to him or up to me.

He’s not a good dad at all. He’s selfish, he puts himself before the baby. He swears at the baby. I don’t want to disclose to much detail so I’ll make up a similar example, so for example he will take a shower after he sees the baby has been sick and leaves the baby in sicky clothes to have a shower. He’ll do things that show a lack of basic care for the baby.
I’m not sure if this is an abusive relationship. But I don’t like the way he acts to baby or to her. It’s made me really upset as she’s a good close friend, but I don’t want to make her more upset if I tell her I think she should end the relationship, and I think my role here is primarily to be a support and a good friend. I’ve already said to her that it’s not normal and not acceptable and she should speak to him, and that maybe she could stay with family for a few days. But I don’t know whether to go further.
So my question is, should I tell her my opinion?

OP posts:
Bunnymumy · 07/11/2020 22:24

I think you've made your opinion of him clear enough. You're best just letting her know you are there for her if she needs to talk. I think you dont want to make her feel like you are angry at her for not listening. She probably knows herself he is no good. But ppl dont leave until they ae ready to go...and with a new baby I suspect she wont be ready any time soon sadly. Just be her pal. I.sure she is more grateful than you know to have a friend right now.

Sunflower1970 · 08/11/2020 00:52

I think I would continue being a good friend.
She won’t thank you for interfering even though what you describe sounds terrible. She knows you are there but you have to let her make her own mistakes and hopefully she will see that’s it not a good relationship and make her own decision to end it xx

NiceandCalm · 08/11/2020 09:54

What has she actually told you about the relationship, if anything? Unless she's specifically asked for your opinion, please don't give it! Just be a good friend. Does she have any family she could turn to for help?
He sounds absolutely awful and I don't blame you for wanting her to get out, but it's up to her.

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