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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

To try and stop my friend from getting married

51 replies

H3h2h1 · 31/07/2021 11:53

Hi all,

NC for this obviously,

I’ve known my friend for about 10 years and we’re quite close, although we live a few hours apart. She is kind and sweet but she has issues stemming from her childhood with bullying, lack of parental support, etc, and she can be extremely negative and egocentric. She always talks about herself and her problems and rarely asks about mine, as I’ve also had a child with special needs recently and gone through hell with an abusing ex, although I try to be supportive as she doesn’t have many friends bar me.

She found a man, moved in and had two children in a very short space of time (born in the same year but not twins). She often shares intimate details of their relationship issues, which are several, but at the same time she agreed to marry him and is planning a winter 2023 wedding.

Their issues include him being addicted to cannabis and growing this in their shared home. He smokes every day. He drives the car with the children whilst high (she says not noticeably). He risks his job as they do random drug testing. He doesn’t contribute to bringing up their children and spends most of his free time smoking weed. She tells me various details on other relationship issues which seem more “normal”.

As I said, all whilst this is going on, one minute she is complaining about drug use and him being an absent dad, next minute she’s planning the wedding cake and dress. It’s driving me mad. I’ve tried to hint at the various problems including the risk to her children/social services, to no avail really. What can I do to make her listen? Or should
I even bother?

OP posts:
Marmitemarinaded · 31/07/2021 11:57

You live hours apart
How often do you actually see one another?

H3h2h1 · 31/07/2021 11:58

Thanks for your reply, I see her about once or twice a week as my dad lives in her town, I’m often there.

OP posts:
Marmitemarinaded · 31/07/2021 11:58

2023?

If it lasts that long then…. Perhaps it does have legs!

Either way. Don’t bother
Whatever you say won’t make any difference

Marmitemarinaded · 31/07/2021 12:00

You live a few hours apart and see each other once or twice a week? And you have children? How does that work?

Twoforthree · 31/07/2021 12:00

What do we get from this friendship?

Echobelly · 31/07/2021 12:01

No, all you can do is be there for her when it goes to hell, sadly. Trying to push people apart never works, especially as they have children already so it's not like it's not been a while.

Motnight · 31/07/2021 12:01

You need to let social services know the circumstances that the children are living in

Myfriendthechocolatecake · 31/07/2021 12:02

.

Cattitudes · 31/07/2021 12:04

If his job requires random drug testing then he is presumably not only a risk to himself but also to others. I might feel obliged to share that information with his employer. Is her home owned by her/ him / landlord/ council? He is taking substantial risks.

Marmitemarinaded · 31/07/2021 12:05

Your focus is completely wrong

You are aware of child abuse op

And you’re worried about a wedding

Social. Services. Now.

AustinPowerful · 31/07/2021 12:08

The wedding is not the issue here.

The issue is that kids are living with and being driven around by a man on drugs and there are drugs in the home.

That needs reporting to SS.

Marmitemarinaded · 31/07/2021 12:09

The op won’t be back

H3h2h1 · 31/07/2021 12:17

Thank you everyone,

She has been very adamant on me to stay silent on the drugs issue to anyone I know (I’m the only friend that knows). I know it’s the right thing for her small children to report this. But I want to be clear about it to her and give her a chance to perhaps leave him first. Thank you.

OP posts:
H3h2h1 · 31/07/2021 12:17

@Marmitemarinaded what do you mean?

OP posts:
Marmitemarinaded · 31/07/2021 12:19

About what?

I mean one thing really.

You are aware of child abuse
You need to do to social service

Marmitemarinaded · 31/07/2021 12:20

@H3h2h1

Thank you everyone,

She has been very adamant on me to stay silent on the drugs issue to anyone I know (I’m the only friend that knows). I know it’s the right thing for her small children to report this. But I want to be clear about it to her and give her a chance to perhaps leave him first. Thank you.

You’ve known about it for years.
Marmitemarinaded · 31/07/2021 12:20

Why the heck haven’t you been “clear about it to her” before?

H3h2h1 · 31/07/2021 12:21

@Marmitemarinaded I just meant your comment above? I reply as soon as I can, sorry if i wasn’t quick enough.

Thank you for your reply and advice.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 31/07/2021 12:24

Just keep out of it. She knows his faults by now. I don't know if cannabis use would be an issue which would need to be reported to social services. She is in deep. I don't think much you can say now will make any difference

PurpleDaisies · 31/07/2021 12:26

@H3h2h1

Thank you everyone,

She has been very adamant on me to stay silent on the drugs issue to anyone I know (I’m the only friend that knows). I know it’s the right thing for her small children to report this. But I want to be clear about it to her and give her a chance to perhaps leave him first. Thank you.

You “giving her a chance” to fix it is leaving those children is a bad situation You need to report this situation now.
Marmitemarinaded · 31/07/2021 12:26

Because I think we are aghast you haven’t reported child abuse

AbsolutelyPatsy · 31/07/2021 12:27

i think you owe it to her to tell her not to marry this geezer

AbsolutelyPatsy · 31/07/2021 12:30

surely as long as your friend is a responsible adult there is no need for social services, they will do nothing

H3h2h1 · 31/07/2021 12:31

@Viviennemary Thank you for your reply. I have been quite in the thick of it with my own issues as explained in my first post. I probably should have been tougher on her from the beginning but to be honest I have had a lot to deal with being in an abusive relationship for years and just starting to piece myself together now. I was thinking as you Vivienne that I’m not sure cannabis is “serious” enough but I think when it’s around the children it’s a definite serious and dangerous issue.

OP posts:
reighn · 31/07/2021 12:31

She clearly has no care int he works for your feelings or life. So I wouldn't give her the time of day. When things go tits up she will come running and you will then apply the " I told you" you get on with your life make sure you and your children/child is happy:)