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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

friend 'issues'

17 replies

hatesponge · 21/05/2010 13:19

In brief, I have a group of friends I have known since school (we are all late 30s). I am the only one with children. We have all kept in touch, and when we all lived locally used to see each other weekly - over the last few years since I moved away this increased - or decreased - to every couple of months. However we still email, phone and facebook in between times.

Normally when we meet up for a weekend, it will be for sat and sunday ie we meet up on Sat evening, either go out for drinks, or one of us will cook, or whatever, then we stay the night at the house of whichever one is hosting, and on sun, leisurely breakfast, go shopping or do stuff, then home late afternoon. it takes up most of the weekend hence why we dont do it that often now I have DCs.

Anyway, this weekend 3 of us (me, A and B) are going to a school reunion. the reunion is local to B, A is about 30 mins away by car, and I am about 1.5 hours by public transport (I dont drive) . I had assumed the weekend would pan out as above, and have organised child free time accordingly (which is not easy for various reasons).

A and I are staying at B's house. B called me yesterday and was telling me she hadnt heard from A (although A had told me she was coming). B also said she and A had been invited to other friends 2 weeks ago, and A hadn't gone and been very evasive about why she couldnt, then given different stories etc as to why she couldnt make it. B and I suspected this is because she is seeing someone. A tends to follow a pattern of being very secretive, semi-losing contact with us for a few months, being 'busy' every time we ask, then it all goes wrong and suddenly she is asking to come round, meet up etc. and so the cycle goes on.

So B and I though this was what was going on....also she has put stuff on her FB about a man, but not said anything to us directly.

this morning I get an email from A saying she's still coming but she (probably) wont stay the night at B's as she's busy on Sunday. I replied and said that we had hoped to see more of her, but she obviously had somewhere better to be (bit cutting I know)

I then get a reply from her saying she's going to the cemetary (its a family anniversary this week which I wasnt aware of) and how her family bereavements are more important than me, how unreasonable I am, and in essence that I need to grow up.

Normally I would talk this over with B, but she cant take calls at work so am on my own!

I do feel a bit bad, but am still not sure this is the whole story - the cemetary is 5 mins from Bs house (35 mins from A's), so would surely make more sense for her to stay over? also A has been off work all week on annual leave.

I didnt know about the anniversary. I would have approached it differently if I had, but I don't think I'm being childish in what I said...or am I? Part of me is wondering whether our friendship has run its course.......and it's making me wonder whether I even want to go tomorrow or not now. Should I just let it go? Do I need to apologise (btw, I never apologise so that would be a first...maybe i am childish )

OP posts:
hatesponge · 21/05/2010 14:05

anyone...

or has the length of the post (sorry i didnt realise it was THAT long!) put everyone off?!

OP posts:
WombFrootShoot · 21/05/2010 14:17

Sorry, but this does seem a bit childish!

DuelingFanjo · 21/05/2010 14:21

it all seems like a storm in a teacup to me.

AndieWalsh · 21/05/2010 14:22

This seems incredibly petty.

  1. Your friend said she had other plans on the Sunday so she wouldn't be staying over. She didn't cancel on you.
  2. Perfectly reasonable. Your remark about 'having somewhere better to be' was uncalled for.
  3. So what if she has got a man, and doesnt want to tell you or your other friend?! She is a grown up. You don't have a 'right' to know everything about her life.

I think you are being childish and bitchy.

AndieWalsh · 21/05/2010 14:22

'perfectly reasonable' should have come under 1) not 2)

WombFrootShoot · 21/05/2010 14:27

And that's what you get for showing off, with your fancy BULLET POINTY THINGS andie.

colditz · 21/05/2010 14:29

She's right, you do need to grow up.

AndieWalsh · 21/05/2010 14:35

lol!@Womb

hatesponge · 21/05/2010 14:38

Andie, I see what you're saying, however part of the reason our friendship has lasted over 30 years (and has ended up with us feeling more like family than friends) is that we do tell each other pretty much everything, or at least we used to, A not so much any more.

Yes she doesnt have to tell us about her man - but she has told other people via FB etc. and also she will be in contact with us as soon as there are any problems or it finishes etc, so why not tell us when its going on rather than when we are picking up the pieces?

Also, she has cancelled in a sense, not the Saturday evening party (which is going on for about 3 hours) but the rest of the weekend. If it was me, I would have said sorry I cant make Sunday because I'm doing [insert activity] not that I was busy.

I guess thats me told I'm childish though. At least I didnt put this in AIBU.....

OP posts:
posieparker · 21/05/2010 14:42

some people like to share eveything, me me me, and some don't. Some of my friends say things like....'I'm meeting a friend on Friday'...I would say 'Jane and I are going to the Thai on FRiday.' All right, but different.

notthatfunnyreally · 21/05/2010 14:45

Just apologise for not knowing about the anniversary and let it go.

WombFrootShoot · 21/05/2010 14:45

"so why not tell us when its going on rather than when we are picking up the pieces?"

um...

bran · 21/05/2010 14:55

So, these are friends that you've had since school. Do you think that you might still have a slightly 'teenage' friendship rather than an adult friendship. My friends live their lives and I live mine. When we meet up it's fun, and we're always willing to help each other out but we don't have to explain ourselves to each other. I certainly wouldn't dream of feeling offended if a friend chose to do something else over spending time with me.

Perhaps friend A just feels a little claustrophobic sometimes.

toomanystuffedbears · 21/05/2010 15:06

"she obviously had somewhere better to be" was probably your mistake (if it was one ?)

I think if people are good friends a comment like that would not be offensive-it would induce conversation. But it is a little passive/aggressive manipulation to force someone to tell if they are not inclined to be chatty about what they are doing. And I think it is ok to not be so chatty about relationships and family berevements-gets kind of boorish if you are on the receiving end.

A simple "What's up?" would be better and then let her tell you to mind your own business (she'd be the rude one).

That offense was taken is a clue about your relationship which you sensed, thus the thread.

Since you have been what I would consider as close friends for so long, it is surprising that you would not know about this berevement anniversary. It is possible it is a line of bs to still hide her relationship.

I wouldn't apologize for it. If you two just don't click anymore and she starts asking what is wrong, you can bring up the berevement anniversary and say you wouldn't want to be too jolly around someone so striken with grief (maybe add: that she couldn't share it with old friends). But say it very sincerely, not sarcastic, because it could be actually true.

As friendships dwindle, does the politeness factor correspondingly increase?

I'm not so sure about talking about her behind her back, either. I'd suggest stop answering for her to your other friend and otherwise give indefinite/evasive responses. Time and distance and a shift in the dynamic of communication with her might indicate that you really do not know what is going on with her. This would be offering her basic respect. If you can't do that, then maybe the relationship is toast after all.

Go, of course, go. The reunion will have so many other people to focus on that you may forget this circumstance instantaneously. Hope so, have fun.

toomanystuffedbears · 21/05/2010 15:11

Also agree with bran, good post.

DuelingFanjo · 21/05/2010 15:38

"but she has told other people via FB etc"

so she's not one of your facebook friends then?

hatesponge · 21/05/2010 17:06

we are FB friends. However the comment was made on another friends wall (so not directly to me, iyswim)

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