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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

What to do about a friend?

12 replies

Deemented · 02/04/2009 21:32

Bit of a long one, but please bear with me.

Roughly 6 years ago i became quite close friends with a lady i'd met on a support group on the interweb. We were both childless at the time and undergoing fertility treatment. She didn't live all that far away from me, and we met up a few times, and got on very well. We grew incredibly close, and then i got pregnant with my boys. At the same time, her fertility treatment didn't work, and she and her husband decided not to have any more, despite having funds available to do so - they said they couldn't cope with the emotional turmoil of it anymore,which was fair enough.

Anyways, she was there for me all through my pregnancy - it was very difficult, started out as a triplet pregnancy, we lost a baby at 10 weeks, and then when i was 14 weeks we were told that one of our remaining babies was likely to die soon after birth. I then went on to have them at 28 weeks, and Ciaran lived for an hour and forty two minutes.

During my pregnancy, my friend and her husband had moved quite a way away, but despite this, they came to the hospital after i'd had them, and were there for hubbs and i when we needed them. We asked them to become Boyo's godparents, and they were delighted to.

I knew how much my friend was hurting that she never had children of her own, and i tried to be there as much as i could be for her, but i always got the feeling she was a little resentful of the fact that we'd had boyo whilst she remained childless.

When Boyo was eighteen months old, Pat and i decided to try fertility treatment again to give Boyo another brother or a sister. When i told friend, she went absolutely mental, asking what the hell i wanted another child for, and could i not wait until Pat had died to have a baby with someone else as it was so easy for me to get pregnant? I never ever told Pat she'd said that. She also asked that i not discuss out fertility treatment with her any further. I was obviously hurt, but agreed, and i guess from there we sort of drifted apart. That treatment didn;t work btw, and i txted her to tell her and she replied that perhaps it was for the best.

After that our calls to each other grew infrequent and we stopped seeing each other. When i got pregnant with Brogan i didn't really want to tell her, but happened to bump into a mutual friend of ours who noticed my obvious bump, and i thought it'd be better if she heard it from me, so i rang and told her, and she immediately said she couldn't deal with me now, and put down the phone.

I did let her know that Pat had died, and got a short note back saying that she was sorry but couldn't make it to the funeral.

That was that until this afternoon - i was on MSN and she messaged me asking if we could talk.The general gist of the conversation was that basicly i had hurt her deeply by not understanding her feelings, that i had ignored that she was grieving over the fact that she had never had children, and that she felt she had given everything to me, but had had nothing back. I tried to explain to her that at the time she'd stopped treatment, i had been in deep shock and was grieving over Ciaran - that i had buried my baby and yes, i may have been self centred, but all i could see was the fact that my baby had died and i was hurting so much. Apparently it was my fault that she felt she couldn't come to Pats funeral - it would have been 'too awkward'. She did say that she had distanced herself from me and could admit that, but apprently 'i have closed my heart to her and her needs'

She signed off before i had chance to try and respond much. I'm left feeling awful - even more awful then i have been feeling of late - and i don't know what to do. She was such an important part of my life and i do miss her, and i'm sad that Brennan doesn't know his godparents (That's my fault too).

So what do you think i should do? Is it worth persuing this type of friendship? My heads in a bit of a tiz atm and i could do with some perspective, please.

OP posts:
shabster · 02/04/2009 21:49

What about writing a letter Dee? That way you can get everything down and get the chance to read through it and change it etc etc. I think that text messages and msn messages are a little bit 'flat' and quite hard to read emotions in them.

xxx

Northernlurker · 02/04/2009 23:24

Tbh I'm not sure you could ever get this friendship to a place of mutual benefit anymore. That's not her fault and it certainly isn't yours either.

Looking at from what I think is an objective view - her inability to conceive was a tragedy for her but it is not possible or reasonable to expect others to live their lives according to another's sensitivities. It seems that the coldness she has displayed to you comes from the fact that that was in some way exactly what she did want - and of course you could not live by that. I suspect she knew this and hated herself for wishing it.

I suspect that there is part of her that wants to be exactly the friend you need. You've lost two sons and your husband. Caring for you as she does this must weigh on her soul too -but her own loss is with her even more than yours and I think it is quite simply crippling her. It is the overwhelming nature of that grief which makes her think she needs you more than you do iyswim. That being so - I'm not sure what way there is here. You cannot sacrifice what little energy I imagine you have left, trying to heal what cannot be helped for her, and she cannot do that for you either.

But what can you do? You cannot regret or undo the actions which have made you the mother you are. She cannot change the decisions they have made and neither of you can reverse the terrible tragedy which has been visited on you. A close and mutually supportive friendship is too much to ask in these circumstances I feel - but they are your sons godparents and you are bound together by the life changing things that have happened to you both. I would write if you have her address as Shabster suggested. Tell her why you chose her to be the godmother, say what you hope your son's relationship with her could be, tell her you know it must be painful because you have pain in your heart too BUT you would like to build something new. It won't be what it was. Maybe it won't be anything at all - but keep the door open.

lilacclaire · 02/04/2009 23:47

I don't think there is anything to be salvaged here.
She sounds very angry with you for having children and cannot get past that.
You have lost 2 children and your husband and she still cannot extend a hand to you, I really would walk away.

goodnightmoon · 03/04/2009 02:25

friendship needs to be unconditional sometimes - especially when involving tragic events. She has failed on this count. move on.

Deemented · 03/04/2009 07:37

Thank you for your honesty folks. I think i've realised that i need to step away from this for a bit now, if only for the sake of my own sanity. I have so much to deal with already and can't take this on too. I think i will write her a letter, and see where, if anywhere, we go from there.

OP posts:
Pheebe · 03/04/2009 08:36

TBH she sounds like a selfish, self centered cow. The MSN episode just sounds like another opportunity for her to vent against you, she clearly 'blames' you for her infertility - wrongly of course but it seems you've become the focus for all her loss. That being the case you'll never be able to salvage this 'freindship'

Whatever she's gone through friendship is about supporting each other through the bad times and being happy for each other through the good times. If she cannot find any empathy within herself for you for the loss of your children and partner then she is no friend. Many many couple have fertility problems, me included, to my mind there's no excuse for the level of self absorption your 'friend' has and continues to display.

If I was you I would write her a letter expressing your own feelings and bringing the friendship to a firm end while wishing her all the best for the future. If she insists on being so self destructive there's nothing you can do.

TotalChaos · 03/04/2009 08:47

I'm sorry you have been through so much bereavement. Your friend sounds to be suffering so much that she is unable to consider anyone's needs but herself - so unable to offer you anything other than her resentment. I wouldn't try and follow up this friendship further if/until she is in a better place. Her comments with regard to your partner are absolutely unforgivable IMO.

Uriel · 03/04/2009 09:03

Agree with TotalChaos.

I think you should distance yourself. You've been through an enormous amount of pain. You don't need to be hurt by her as well.

Sorry for your losses.

warthog · 03/04/2009 09:35

i'm so so sorry for what you've been through.

i agree that i think you should not pursue this any further. your friend is unable to see past her own situation and understand what you are going through. i think you absolutely do not have to deal with her as well.

i think her behaviour is quite shocking and i certainly don't think you should entertain her diatribe a minute longer.

if you want to get your side across, write a letter, but then burn it, because i don't think sending it would make anything better. anyone who can't see that losing a partner and child is all-encompassing is the most insensitive, self-centred and selfish person, and in no way a friend.

Bumpety · 03/04/2009 09:57

Completely agree with warthog - your friend is not the sort of person you should be around - she will drain you rather than be of any help or support

You've been through so much already and honestly don't need someone so bitter and twisted in your life.

prettyfly1 · 03/04/2009 10:00

Firstly can I say how sorry i am for your losses. To looe children in such circumstances is awful, to lose a partner is shocking.

I hope you have many friends looking after you and helping you get through this and I am so glad for you that you and your partner had two lovely little ones, which will keep him alive for you.

I have had major trouble conceiving and have lost babies late on and I would never, ever be so cruel as to not be there for a friend facing as much as you have. She isnt a very nice person and I think you should not only close the door but slam it, double bolt it and put furniture in front of it so she can never get back in. She is nasty and jealous and right now you dont need it.

Have you got plenty of rl support - are you coping ok.

KimiWantsAnEasterEgg · 03/04/2009 10:19

Poor you.
I think you need to block her from MSN and shut her out of your life.
She chose not to have more treatment but she is venting at you, she has said some vile things to you.
You are much much better off without her in your life.

Also you can have her replaced as godparent to your child, you just speak to your priest and tell him she is not meeting the requirement and you can have her replaced.

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