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View Full Version : Baby Christening (it's complicated)



frugalone
7-18-12, 2:00pm
I have a close friend whose daughter just had her second child. I am invited to the christening this coming weekend.

Here's the deal. I grew up with this friend. We were best friends for two or three years in grade school, though we've known each other since age 6. In high school we drifted apart, then got back together when she married her first husband and had two children. She was my bridesmaid 25 years ago. Since then, she got married a second time, moved away, moved back. Her daughter had a daughter two years ago. I've never met the granddaughter though I have seen plenty of pictures of her on Facebook.

"Sally" and I don't get together. There's a couple reasons for this. She's always busy with her family. Also her husband and she don't have a great relationship so I'm reluctant to go their home. For two years she's been saying "you have to come and meet my granddaughter" but we've just never set anything up. Also, when her daughter was pregnant, I was invited to a shower that was HORRIBLE. I was ignored by the other guests, not seated with the family (who were the only people I knew there, BTW) and I walked out. Sally emailed me later to ask if I was ill, and apologized profusely. That's the last time I saw her.

In the meantime, we email each other on FB a lot, and I tend to think of her as my Best Friend Forever. However, I'm not sure how realistic I'm being. I mean, I haven't seen her in two years. What does that say?

I'm finding that this week, I'm pretty wiped out after the events of the past few weeks (if you read my posts, I have been through the death of three pets, my mother's hospitalization, surgery and release, and an earth-shattering email from my DB). I don't particularly enjoy children and I don't have any myself. I don't find people's grandkids interesting, to be brutally honest. I kind of don't want to go to this event.

The funny thing is, I emailed her on SAturday to tell her my mom just got out of the hospital, and to tell her we'd like to attend. She hasn't acknowledged my email. I wonder if part of it is because I told her some very personal stuff recently about some issues I had with DH, and she's thinking, "Now she wants him to come to the christening?! I don't want him there!" Yes, I know I am speculating...but she's been on FB and never said one word about my mother! She has known my mother since 1971, and frankly, I am hurt.

Is there any polite and acceptable way I can get out of this event? Would it be proper to send a card and my regrets? Would she never forgive me for not attending?
Should I reexamine my relationship with her?

Thanks for listening to this long-winded tale.

nswef
7-18-12, 2:42pm
I would just email that I'm unable to attend. No long explanation, just that I am sorry I am unable to attend. You have no obligation to go. If she never forgives you for not attending, then her loss.

Mighty Frugal
7-18-12, 4:16pm
I'm not quite exactly sure why you are friends with her? Is it just because of the length of time? Do you have other friends or confidantes?

I too would send a short note that I can't make it and leave it at that. Really, why would you want to go? Kids aren't your thing. You and 'Sally' don't get along. And she is always busy with her family. The last event you were totally ignored

This sounds toxic at worst and boring at best. Give it a miss.

mira
7-18-12, 4:54pm
If you aren't too enamoured with children, perhaps a christening isn't the best type of event to attend in order to catch up with a friend you haven't seen in a couple years. Most of the talk will probably be about the baby...

It's maybe worth seeing her at least once on her own (if possible) again before deciding whether or not to give up on the friendship. Could you maybe offer your apologies about being unable to attend the christening but invite her over for dinner/out to lunch etc so you can reacquaint yourselves?

iris lily
7-18-12, 6:46pm
Some people (like Sally?) see invitations to their incredibly boring family events as a nicety, doing you a favor. This may be her way of extending a peace offering for the business of the baby shower gone bad.

Don’t go if you have no interest in the event*. A short message declining the invitation is all that’s called for. We can’t know why she didn’t acknowledge your email. Perhaps she’s just busy, perhaps there is more but if you blabbed inappropriately, well—Man up. A consequence for over-sharing might be a pull back from her, so accept that.

Regardless, how she takes your communications is her business. If you let her reaction bother you, or if you try to control her reaction, you are in deeper than you need to be. From another thread this quote from The Four Agreements also applies:


..."There is a huge amount of freedom that comes to you when you take nothing personally."— DON MIGUEL RUIZ


*It really is that simple.

frugalone
7-18-12, 11:12pm
Thank you! i'm feeling better now about not going.

We are still friends largely out of nostalgia, I think. I do have other friends, mostly online at this point, but I see them more frequently. We've been trying to get together for dinner for ages...I don't really understand why it hasn't worked out but maybe I do need to re-think everything. I don't think I would formally end the relationship; it's just going to be a back burner thing.

I like that quote, Iris Lily.