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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 accept friendship is over?

20 replies

lauribec · 04/01/2026 23:24

Grown up with this lady, inseparable as children and honestly felt more like sisters. We’re early 30s now, I’ve 3 children and she has none. She kind of goes off the radar whenever she’s in a relationship.

DC3 was born when she got into her current relationship, I didn’t so much as receive a card in the post (she did congratulate us on FB) and she didn’t meet DC3 until around 7 months old.

This is where I’m going to sound utterly pathetic now - once my baby was born I felt like I was going through a friendship breakup it was the strangest feeling. I desperately wanted contact from her, for her to check in on us I guess, to feel like she cared? I would sit and check when she was last active on WhatsApp and it would break my heart that my messages would either not be opened or would be left read and not replied to. She will sometimes go months without responding.

A couple of years prior to DC3 being born she got a new job in a very male heavy industry. I sent a congratulations package - card, chocs and kept checking in on her during training. She ended up sleeping with the man training her who was twice her age and also married! She’s gone on to sleep with a handful more of these guys, one of which she’s happily admitted to be in regular contact with outside of work, going for food etc. In total honestly I think her ego has blown up massively.

I actually asked her to be one of DC3s godparents, I remember vividly taking photographs on the day and when it came to the godparents one I offered her my baby to hold to which she declined and laughed it off saying she’d never held a baby.

She works 5 days a week and is home by 4pm, when she does speak she often has stories from when she was at the spa etc. I can’t help but feel if she wanted to she could spare a couple of minutes to text. We live a 20 min drive apart and when I wasn’t available to meet for her to give me a birthday gift I just didn’t end up getting it (not about the present at all just an example!) yet I’ve made that drive with kids in tow to leave her birthday gift in her garden.

Fast forward to now and her sister is having her first baby this year, moved to Australia and my friend was making plans to go out and visit for 2 weeks when baby arrived. They’ve since come back and my friend text to ask what useful baby items she could buy her sister. From what she’s said she’s bought a load of unisex clothes but when I asked what sort of things she’d got she just said they were already wrapped as though she didn’t really want to tell me.

I took DC3 round to drop their Christmas gifts off and we were chatting, she was saying how great it is her sister is back with her friends so they can check in on her and make sure she’s getting out the house, meet for coffee etc. She said how she and her partner will happily babysit for a few hours so she can get some rest etc.

I know she’s her actual sister and I’m really pleased she has such great support but also equally a bit heartbroken that I was so cast aside. I would have loved nothing more than some support and I guess had she wanted to be she would have been there? Even just a text. Perhaps it’s because she is someone I’ve known all of my life pretty much I’m finding it so hard to come to terms with her not being bothered about me anymore. It’s just hurt. I don’t have a friendship group. Should I just let it fizzle out?

OP posts:
ThatJadeLion · 04/01/2026 23:29

You sound like a great friend. It sounds like life took you in different directions and she drifted away from you. Keep her in your contacts and perhaps with time you will grow closer again.

spidersenses · 04/01/2026 23:37

I know it’s so hard and it’s breaking your heart, but I think it is time to focus on growing other friendships and trying to invest there. Keep her as a friend, if you can, because realistically this may cause you more hurt and pain in the long run, but less of a special friend. You would have to come to terms with the fact you can’t rely on her and she doesn’t think of you in the same way. You seem to loving and too sensitive (in a good way) to keep investing in this friendship with her. Perhaps break might be best? She can’t be who you need her to be right now ❤️

INeedAnotherAlibi · 04/01/2026 23:41

She’s sending you a clear message that she doesn’t prioritise your friendship. I had a friend like this. Disappeared into relationships for months or years, to the point I thought it was gone for good, only for her to message randomly, say 28th December saying she had my Christmas present. In the end, I stopped contacting her and didn’t tell her when I changed my number. Waiting to hear from her was letting her control the situation and she’d never have understood or accepted me directly ending the friendship.
In retrospect, I think she had some narcissistic tendencies. I missed her for a while but I didn’t miss the drama.

SBGM247 · 04/01/2026 23:44

Sack her off.

Travelfairy · 04/01/2026 23:58

I would take a step back from her..still stay on friendly terms but honesty you sound like a lovely person, she sounds self absorbed. I would invest in other friendships/try make new friends. I am in a similar situation myself and I took a massive step back and putting time into other friendships which is working well x

SkaneTos · 05/01/2026 00:09

It's difficult when a friendship is not what it once was anymore.
Perhaps your lives are too different now?

Do you have a spouse/partner that can support you with your children?

Keep your old friend as a friend, but match her energy, and focus on finding new friends and investing in other friendships.

lauribec · 05/01/2026 07:02

ThatJadeLion · 04/01/2026 23:29

You sound like a great friend. It sounds like life took you in different directions and she drifted away from you. Keep her in your contacts and perhaps with time you will grow closer again.

Aww thank you! I often think I must do something wrong as I don’t have friends. One that I text with but don’t see often, she’s lovely and I’m very grateful for her but I wouldn’t say we have the most natural close relationship if that makes sense? I often wonder if maybe things would become closer again once she has her own children (she’s wanted this for a long time and apparently this year he’s agreed to try)

OP posts:
lauribec · 05/01/2026 07:10

spidersenses · 04/01/2026 23:37

I know it’s so hard and it’s breaking your heart, but I think it is time to focus on growing other friendships and trying to invest there. Keep her as a friend, if you can, because realistically this may cause you more hurt and pain in the long run, but less of a special friend. You would have to come to terms with the fact you can’t rely on her and she doesn’t think of you in the same way. You seem to loving and too sensitive (in a good way) to keep investing in this friendship with her. Perhaps break might be best? She can’t be who you need her to be right now ❤️

I think this is another reason why I find it so hard, I just don’t have any other friendships to try and invest in 😅 we live very rurally and I don’t fit in really, always pleasant to people but I don’t have friends. Sounds harsh but there’s a lot of two faced behaviour that goes on here and I think I’d rather be lonely than have friends like that!

I did promise myself I would take DC3 to a playgroup in another localish village this year, for their benefit and also mine.

You’re right though, I need to accept she isn’t the special friend I hoped for her to be but I do also agree I couldn’t not be friends at all. You’ve also hit the nail on the head, I am very sensitive 😂

OP posts:
PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 05/01/2026 07:18

How do you know all about work stuff, the men and spa?
is she not responding to the things you message and just tells you about her?
definitely try the new baby group!

lauribec · 05/01/2026 07:20

INeedAnotherAlibi · 04/01/2026 23:41

She’s sending you a clear message that she doesn’t prioritise your friendship. I had a friend like this. Disappeared into relationships for months or years, to the point I thought it was gone for good, only for her to message randomly, say 28th December saying she had my Christmas present. In the end, I stopped contacting her and didn’t tell her when I changed my number. Waiting to hear from her was letting her control the situation and she’d never have understood or accepted me directly ending the friendship.
In retrospect, I think she had some narcissistic tendencies. I missed her for a while but I didn’t miss the drama.

Oh absolutely, my last text has been left unread for over a week 😅 as a mum of 3 I can genuinely not find the time to reply sometimes but she isn’t in the same boat in that sense. I think she just views me as the lesser option.

Funnily enough I’ll get similar around birthday/Christmas and I did used to think it was nice of her to remember me but perhaps it’s not really for the best. I can also recall a conversation where she was talking about how her mum can be quite selfish but it feels like in her own way she can be a bit too. I guess it’s not proper closure when they keep popping back up randomly!

OP posts:
lauribec · 05/01/2026 07:23

SBGM247 · 04/01/2026 23:44

Sack her off.

I don’t think I have it in me 😂🙈

OP posts:
lauribec · 05/01/2026 07:28

Travelfairy · 04/01/2026 23:58

I would take a step back from her..still stay on friendly terms but honesty you sound like a lovely person, she sounds self absorbed. I would invest in other friendships/try make new friends. I am in a similar situation myself and I took a massive step back and putting time into other friendships which is working well x

I think you’re right, I couldn’t cut her off completely. She’s been the person I’ve been able to speak to about everything in my life. Although I’ve noticed she seems to like bringing things up that I’d rather were left in the past and thinking about it I’m sure she just tells her partner everything so maybe I need to learn not to be so open 😂

I’m glad it’s going well for you 😊 I think I’ll push myself out my comfort zone and take little one to a group a little further from home. Sadly I don’t really have any friendships to really invest in.

OP posts:
lauribec · 05/01/2026 07:35

SkaneTos · 05/01/2026 00:09

It's difficult when a friendship is not what it once was anymore.
Perhaps your lives are too different now?

Do you have a spouse/partner that can support you with your children?

Keep your old friend as a friend, but match her energy, and focus on finding new friends and investing in other friendships.

Edited

I’ve really suffered with it, not so much now but it still hangs over me to a degree. If I had other friends I probably wouldn’t think about it so much. I had a really rough 18 months after DC3 was born and she wasn’t supportive at all. Too wrapped up in her own life I would say really. I guess that’s an answer in itself 😅

I do think it’s me having children that does it, she’s never been hugely interested in them and I’ve not had the same spare money or time to do things like she has.

Im with the children’s dad but he’s not the hands on type, so I rarely get a chance to be child free. He also thinks baby group it a waste of money 😅 but then he also doesn’t understand my need to have a friend haha.

OP posts:
WednesdayAllTheWay · 05/01/2026 07:42

This sounds very familiar OP, just like an ex friend of mine. I think as PP said you need to accept she isn't interested, her behaviour is hurtful and thoughtless, if not deliberately cruel. Just stop contacting her. I doubt you'll hear back. And please please invest in other friendships, it sounds really hard with 3 DC and living rurally but think outside the box. You sound lovely. X

lauribec · 05/01/2026 07:43

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 05/01/2026 07:18

How do you know all about work stuff, the men and spa?
is she not responding to the things you message and just tells you about her?
definitely try the new baby group!

She’s told me, it’s funny I feel like we can talk about anything and be honest about things. The men talk was more so before she got with her current partner and I would hear from her more. She has mentioned a specific male colleague since (she tried to be with him but he only wanted a casual thing)

When she responds she does reply to anything I’ve said, e.g the kids. She doesn’t seem keen to meet up at all just her and I (plus child or 3 😂) anymore. She will try and bring her partner into it too, which kind of feels then like I haven’t really gotten to see her properly.

Will definitely force myself to try the baby group 😊

OP posts:
Seaoftroubles · 05/01/2026 08:13

I agree with a pp who said match her energy. Also put the ball in her court and wait for her to contact you first.That should stop you feeling upset that she hasn't replied or has left your text unanswered.
It seems you are at very different stages in your lives and up to now she's had no interest in children and is too self absorbed to be bothered to make an effort to chat about your family.
I think you'd be best to accept this is her and lower your expectations. She's showing you quite clearly where her priorities lie.
Of course it could all change it she decides to have a baby with her new partner and then l bet you'd hear from her a lot more! It's not easy living rurally but for now try to concentrate on making new friends, join the baby group and go from there.

Mary46 · 05/01/2026 15:39

Great advice here match her energy. Please dont chase her op.. I had a friendship with cousin got dropped as quick. Lesson learnt match energies/keep them at arms length. Maybe its different life stages too

Allthegoodonesareg0ne · 05/01/2026 16:12

Long friendships go through peaks and troughs, much like longer relationships.
It sounds like your lives right now are quite different.
You sound lovely and the effort you've put into making your friend feel special to you is amazing and I'm not surprised you're feeling hurt its not reciprocated but if you truly value her then try not to hold it against her.
My most valued friendships are 30+ years old and with people who live far away from me. Sometimes we have barely managed a few whatsapp messages in a year but I know if I called and said I need you they'd be there.
There is something to be said for friendships that don't have expectations or require too much effort when you're low on time and energy.
Our lives have been busy at times and not always at the same time so it's not always balanced.
If you can, it's worth trying to carve out a girls weekend once a year. Whatever is in your lives (busy jobs, new relationships, young children) step away from and just enjoy hanging out together Away from the day to day.

BadgernTheGarden · 05/01/2026 16:18

You have just drifted apart. Accept the friendship as what it is now, it's just not as it was, your lives are very different now.

Travelfairy · 05/01/2026 22:59

lauribec · 05/01/2026 07:28

I think you’re right, I couldn’t cut her off completely. She’s been the person I’ve been able to speak to about everything in my life. Although I’ve noticed she seems to like bringing things up that I’d rather were left in the past and thinking about it I’m sure she just tells her partner everything so maybe I need to learn not to be so open 😂

I’m glad it’s going well for you 😊 I think I’ll push myself out my comfort zone and take little one to a group a little further from home. Sadly I don’t really have any friendships to really invest in.

I dont have many either, more acquaintance but there was a couple of mums from school who separately had been v friendly with me so I decided to invite for coffee etc and am messaging them more frequently. I would love the whole close girl group like in SATC but I dont think it will happen for me. My friend is the same as yours, hasn't time to meet me but has for other friends but yet confides in me and not them. I feel a bit used tbh

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