This woman lives in a small neighborhood of ten houses. Last month, new neighbors moved in – a couple in their late twenties with four small children. The woman went to introduce herself and bring them a pie, but she didn’t really like their vibe. She tried inviting the wife, Molly, to things, but things quickly went downhill.
A Nice Community
The woman hangs out with two of her female neighbors who are a similar age to her own. They go on walks, have lunch at each other’s houses, and generally enjoy each other’s company. However, when she invited Molly to lunch at her house and a walk/hike with the group, things didn’t go as planned.
A Non Childproof Home
Molly assumed she could bring her kids to both events, which didn’t sit well with the woman. She turned Molly away from lunch at her house because she didn’t want four rowdy kids under the age of six in her not-childproof house. Molly was upset because she had no one to watch her kids, and she couldn’t come without them. The woman allowed Molly to bring her kids on the walk, but the stroller made it impossible to go into the forest, which was the original plan.
She Was Persistent
Since then, the woman has been avoiding Molly, but Molly has been persistent in trying to befriend her. She’s invited her over, asked to come over with her kids, and even asked her to watch her kids so she can have a break. The woman feels like Molly’s behavior is inappropriate and that she’s not picking up on social cues.
They Were Caught
Today, the woman and her neighbors went for a walk in the forest, and Molly saw them go. She texted the woman to ask why she wasn’t invited, and the woman explained that they didn’t want their plans to be altered by her children. Molly went on a rant about how it takes a village and called them all jerks.
Turning to the Internet
The woman is torn between feeling like she’s excluding Molly and feeling like Molly is being unreasonable. She asks an online forum for advice. Many people reply, telling her that she’s not obligated to be friends with someone she doesn’t like and that Molly’s behavior is inappropriate. They point out that Molly should have made it clear that she wanted to bring her kids to the lunch and that she shouldn’t have expected the group to change their plans for her.
Avoidance is Key
The woman decides to stand her ground and continue to avoid Molly. She realizes that she doesn’t owe Molly anything and that her own needs and preferences should come first. She also acknowledges that Molly’s situation is difficult, but she shouldn’t expect others to cater to her needs at the expense of their own enjoyment.
Reflections
The woman reflects on the situation and realizes that it’s important to set boundaries and communicate them clearly. She decides to be upfront with Molly and tells her that she’s not interested in being friends. She also reminds her that she needs to respect other people’s plans and preferences and that it’s not fair to expect them to change everything for her.
She Was Upset
Molly is upset by the woman’s response and tells her that she’s being selfish and unkind. However, the woman stands her ground and refuses to back down. She knows that she’s not being mean or unreasonable and that she has the right to decide who she wants to spend time with. The woman has chosen to be child-free right now and doesn’t want to hang around small kids. She doesn’t feel like it’s mean to decline hanging out with Molly when her kids are always there.
Boundaries
In the end, the woman learns that it’s okay to say no and set boundaries, even if it means disappointing others. She also realizes that it’s important to surround herself with people who respect her and her preferences and that she doesn’t have to be friends with everyone in her neighborhood.
The Internet Responded
This commenter wrote, “Now, you clearly saw that the woman had 4 young kids and the husband is a truck driver. When you invite her to go places, where else would the kids be? Come on now.”
More Internet Comments
Another person said, “The world doesn’t revolve around SAHMs or parents. You shouldn’t assume everyone knows the finer details of what being a SAHM entails. I don’t go around assuming everyone knows my work schedule and level of responsibility at any given point in the day. I’m the jerk if I don’t communicate that to other people.”
This person responded to the previous comment with, “The only part about being a stay-at-home mom is you stay at home being a mom. There are no finer details to work out. It’s literally in the name.”
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