I feel like I'm in junior high...I have thought long and hard about a friend of mine--let's call her M--and I have decided that I need to end the friendship, for my sake and for difficult child.
M and I have been 'friends' since difficult child was about a year old. She has a son the same age as difficult child and our younger children are the same age. I think she has always thought we were closer friends than we really are. I haver never felt particularly close to her since a lot of our values just are not in sync. But, having kids the same age and being involved in similar activities has kept us together.
Now, however, the boys are in first grade and we are no longer involved in any of the same activities. So, I want OUT. She has been very judgmental about difficult child's behavior and just is not supportive. I don't like the way she speaks to difficult child and I don't like the behavior her son is learning from her. I have many other reasons why I need out of this friendship, but the issues with her behavior towards difficult child are the really big reason.
So, how does one go about breaking off a friendship when everyone involved is well over 21? I have declined every invitation to get together since September, yet she still calls me. I have even stopped returning her calls, but she still calls. Sometimes she catches me at home, but usually she has to leave a message. I had hoped she would take the 'hint,' but that hasn't happened. I think I'm going to have to be more direct. Is e-mail a cowardly way out??? And, how would that go..."Dear M: I don't like you and I never have." Hmmm...maybe too harsh. OK, just writing that made me feel better.
Seriously, I'm thinking about this too much.
M and I have been 'friends' since difficult child was about a year old. She has a son the same age as difficult child and our younger children are the same age. I think she has always thought we were closer friends than we really are. I haver never felt particularly close to her since a lot of our values just are not in sync. But, having kids the same age and being involved in similar activities has kept us together.
Now, however, the boys are in first grade and we are no longer involved in any of the same activities. So, I want OUT. She has been very judgmental about difficult child's behavior and just is not supportive. I don't like the way she speaks to difficult child and I don't like the behavior her son is learning from her. I have many other reasons why I need out of this friendship, but the issues with her behavior towards difficult child are the really big reason.
So, how does one go about breaking off a friendship when everyone involved is well over 21? I have declined every invitation to get together since September, yet she still calls me. I have even stopped returning her calls, but she still calls. Sometimes she catches me at home, but usually she has to leave a message. I had hoped she would take the 'hint,' but that hasn't happened. I think I'm going to have to be more direct. Is e-mail a cowardly way out??? And, how would that go..."Dear M: I don't like you and I never have." Hmmm...maybe too harsh. OK, just writing that made me feel better.
Seriously, I'm thinking about this too much.