How To End A Friendship

Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy

Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy

What started as an innocent on-line baby book to chronicle Jill's stay-at-home days with her children, (Lily, Ben, and Evan) quickly transformed into a vibrant community of parents, brought together by a common theme: Parenting doesn’t have to be perfect. Learn more here.
Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy
Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy
Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy

Latest posts by Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy (see all)

Remember the good old days? The days when you could actually lose touch with the people you wanted to lose touch with? Sadly, those days are gone.

 

Once upon a time, you could leave a job and rest assured that if you never wanted to hear from those cubical mates again, you wouldn’t have to. Old neighbors would receive holiday cards for a few years until the communication fizzled out and expired friendships were allowed to simply fade away. It was a natural part of the cycle of life. Relationships come and go and that’s how it always was and is supposed to be.

 

Until Facebook. Thanks a lot, Mark Zuckerberg.

 

A few months ago, I heard from an old acquaintance. She was the type of person who you know for a brief period of time and never hear from again. Except that she found me on Facebook and lived not too far away. Would I like to meet for lunch? I could barely remember who she was, but I accepted. What did I have to lose?

 

Turns out, a few precious hours of my life. Within minutes, I remembered exactly who she was and exactly why the relationship should have died a quick, painful death. Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to agree. Before the meal was over, I was somehow roped into a double date for the next weekend and invited to her kid’s birthday party. I’m really not even sure how that happened.

 

I rushed home and called Jeff. Normally, when I meet potential friends and we take that big step of a double date, I give him a speech about us needing more couple friends and to be on his very best behavior. No crude jokes. No inappropriate stories. No third glass of wine. This time, I did the opposite. We need to get out of this friendship now, I told him. You have my permission to be offensive. Be obnoxious. Do all of those things I would normally kick you under the table for. Be your worst self ever.

 

And, he was. He told jokes that only belong at bachelor parties. He was loud and brash and didn’t think twice about inserting his unwanted opinion. He was horrible. It was perfect. We never heard from her again and the pending Facebook request was cancelled.

 

And that, my friends, is how you end an unnecessarily resurrected relationship.

Around the web

{ 182 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Kaycie Christine June 5, 2011 at 7:36 pm

That. Is. Hilarious.

I am definitely going to have to keep this in mind!! If only there were some way to do this with in-laws as well….

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2 Diary of Secrets June 6, 2011 at 1:28 pm

Can I add exs too!

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3 Nicole June 5, 2011 at 7:36 pm

LOL such a good idea!

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4 BalancingMama (Julie) June 5, 2011 at 7:39 pm

Ooh, I so want to do this! Maybe it’s time to invite my most annoying Facebook friend to a couples brunch? Mwahahaha…
BalancingMama (Julie) recently posted..Part 1- DESERT

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5 Laura June 5, 2011 at 7:39 pm

I LOVE this!!! I used to mentally add people to a list in my head that some day I would never have to see them again -and yes, now those days are gone (although I wonder if people feel the same way about me.)

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6 Jerry Smith May 12, 2012 at 9:42 am

Is sounds like she had a good night; that said, couldn’t she after discovering the friendship should have died and quick and painful death, do just that at lunch?

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7 Sara @The Football Wife June 5, 2011 at 7:41 pm

And now that you’ve posted about it, you’re *definitely* off the hook. Good work, Jill. Good work. ;)
Sara @The Football Wife recently posted..A Note From the Dog IV dogcollarcharms

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8 Scary Mommy June 5, 2011 at 9:34 pm

The nail in the coffin. We’re DONE.

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9 Chelsie June 5, 2011 at 7:41 pm

That, ladies and gentlemen, is what one calls a well-earned victory. (And really, whose husband doesn’t want the chance to air his untamed, fratboy alter ego once in a while?) Awesome. Sauce.
Chelsie recently posted..As God is my witness- I shall never again speak of what transpired tonight

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10 Scary Mommy June 5, 2011 at 9:35 pm

I think it was his favorite night out ever.

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11 PattiH June 5, 2011 at 7:42 pm

He’s a keeper for sure!
PattiH recently posted..Technical Difficulties or not

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12 btchygirl2 June 5, 2011 at 7:43 pm

had to read…you got my attention! this is sooooo frickin funny!and true..I have many I’d like to can

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13 nic @mybottlesup June 5, 2011 at 7:47 pm

Hot.
Hope Jeff got some that night.
;)

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14 Scary Mommy June 5, 2011 at 9:39 pm

You expect me to sleep with that asshole? Pfft.

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15 Jennifer Ford June 30, 2011 at 3:08 pm

ahahahhhahaha Best response, ever.

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16 h8myMIL June 5, 2011 at 7:48 pm

Hahahaha that is awesome!
h8myMIL recently posted..My kids love everyone but me at least thats what grandma thinks

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17 Making It Work Mom June 5, 2011 at 7:52 pm

Maybe Jeff could give classes. I feel like my husband would freeze under pressure. Naturally he is totally obnoxious, but on command I feel like he would get stage fright. Kind of like that pee thing guys have.

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18 Scary Mommy June 5, 2011 at 9:41 pm

Hmmmmm… we might have to do that. He really was inspired.

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19 Autherine@BoysRising June 5, 2011 at 7:55 pm

Omg! Is this true? See that I am not the only one who gives the “talk” before parties. You are brave; I would go the avoidance route.
Autherine@BoysRising recently posted..A Random Act of Unkindness Inspires 14 Words of Wisdom For My Boys

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20 Scary Mommy June 5, 2011 at 9:40 pm

Avoidance just wasn’t going to cut it, I needed to call in the big guns on this one.

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21 Dawn B June 5, 2011 at 7:56 pm

For some strange reason I thought you were going to say that she still wanted to be friends with you after that. haha You husband rocks.
Dawn B recently posted..no wee-wees or pee-pees here

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22 StephanieinSuburbia June 5, 2011 at 7:58 pm

Excellent! My husband and I have all sorts of great codes for when we want to get out of something. Luckily he gets a lot of work “emergencies.”
StephanieinSuburbia recently posted..It Amounted to a Hill of Beans

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23 Hope75 June 5, 2011 at 9:57 pm

My husband and I have codes too. Neither of us like his best friend’s wife, so when she joins the three of us occasionally we choose a new “escape” word. The last one was “fruit cake.” Half-way through dinner, my husband began talking about that really great “fruit cake” he had for lunch.

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24 edgyapronstrngs June 5, 2011 at 8:12 pm

I love your “go ahead and be the worst ‘you’ that you can possibly be, honey.”

And the fact that it worked is brilliant!

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25 Distracted Daddy June 5, 2011 at 8:13 pm

Nice. I can imagine he enjoyed this. I know I would.

Hopefully during that awkward meeting, you never mentioned your blog that she might be reading right now…
Distracted Daddy recently posted..Toddler or Star of Glee

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26 Scary Mommy June 5, 2011 at 9:42 pm

Unfortunately, I think I did. Hopefully she was turned off enough never to visit.

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27 Kris June 6, 2011 at 1:01 pm

Eh, let her read it. That just means more insurance that she won’t be contacting you again. Unless she makes it her life’s mission to make you like her. In that case, good luck!

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28 vanillasugarblog June 5, 2011 at 8:14 pm

ummm is Jeff for hire?
would LOVE to borrow him.
promise to feed him too.

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29 Kid Id June 5, 2011 at 8:19 pm

I was seriously in wincing for you reading about the encounter but BRAVO for finding a way to end it. Beautifully executed! I just always use my kids as an excuse for why I can’t continue being involved with something.
Kid Id recently posted..Kindergarten Orientation

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30 Lisa June 5, 2011 at 8:29 pm

That is TOO funny! Genius!
Lisa recently posted..Busiest weekend ever!

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31 Stephanie June 5, 2011 at 8:33 pm

LOVE this!! Have to remember that trick, my Jeff would be perfect at something like this :)
Stephanie recently posted..The Great Vaseline Incident of 2011

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32 Anthony from CharismaticKid June 5, 2011 at 8:46 pm

Your husband = Your secret weapon
Anthony from CharismaticKid recently posted..Teach Your ADHD Kid To Control Himself With This One Simple Trick!

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33 Life with Kaishon June 5, 2011 at 8:51 pm

Thank you for this tip : )
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34 Alexis June 5, 2011 at 8:55 pm

I almost feel like you are throwing down the gauntlet. I can lose that friend in 2 hours? Well I can lose that friend in 49 minutes?

Key strategies include (but not limited to):
- Uncomfortable Oversharing “Henry insists we have sex regularly although the co-sleeping makes me a little uncomfortable.”
- Medical Talk “It ooozes AND itches but I think it’s OK. Can you take a look at it?”
- Potty Talk “I didn’t poop for 2 weeks and was really worried but amazingly didn’t get hemorrhoids so it all worked out OK!”

And the clincher…
- ASK FOR MONEY
Alexis recently posted..Baby Swings Work and I Can Prove It

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35 Scary Mommy June 5, 2011 at 9:43 pm

LOL.You might win. I don’t think he uttered the word “oozing.”

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36 Gigi June 5, 2011 at 9:08 pm

HA! Perfect!

Now, if I could just get Hubby to act like an angel or an ass on cue I’d be golden.
Gigi recently posted..I should probably write a post so you wont think Ive fallen off the face of the earthsigh

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37 coconuts June 6, 2011 at 4:07 pm

I can get mine to act like an ass on cue. The angle part were still working on.

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38 Beadzoid June 5, 2011 at 9:13 pm

Haha. So brilliant. Alas, if only I had an ‘other-half’ who was anything but devastatingly charming when required to play the disputable rogue. He and I are so overly polite (e.g. British) that it takes us at least 5 years to lose a friendship once we resolve to do so.

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39 MeditatingMom June 5, 2011 at 9:20 pm

This was SO funny. I would’ve never thought of using my husband as a secret weapon to get rid of an unwanted relationship. Is Jeff available for hire?

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40 Nancy Davis Kho June 5, 2011 at 9:34 pm

Wow. You and I come from different families. My mom once told a hairdresser she was moving out of state rather than tell her she was no longer needing her cut n’ curl services. I probably would do the same thing before I’d involve my husband in the act…or I’d tell her my husband was agoraphobic. Actually I think I’d go there first.

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41 OHmommy June 5, 2011 at 9:59 pm

Where can I Rent-A-Jeff?
OHmommy recently posted..About the strawberry hemangioma birthmark

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42 Love Barnett June 6, 2011 at 3:55 am

IKR ? My husband would draw up like I asked him to assasinate someone if I asked him to do that… He’s one of those ‘what will people think’ types. Wait, why are we together again?….
Love Barnett recently posted..Consider These Extras to Boost Your Website Activity

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43 Love Barnett June 6, 2011 at 3:57 am

Hey what? No, I didn’t recently post that !

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44 Melissa E. June 5, 2011 at 10:10 pm

Your post made me giggle. I wish I had the guts to do that!
Melissa E. recently posted..A Pretty Good Birthday

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45 Jen June 5, 2011 at 10:21 pm

Awesome!

So that is what husbands are good for.
Jen recently posted..Safety First

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46 Emily June 5, 2011 at 11:06 pm

Truly ingenious and awesome!

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47 Christina Simon June 5, 2011 at 11:22 pm

So funny, I can’t stop laughing. I can picture you guys at the table with your horrified friend. Perfection.
Christina Simon recently posted..Reader Question- Should I Feel Guilty About Leaving A Preschool-6th School After Preschool

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48 Crystal June 5, 2011 at 11:24 pm

OMG how did I never think of that? I love my hubby but he can be an absolute ass if I don’t make him behave sometimes! I’ll have to give this one a try! Brilliant!

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49 Craftwhack June 5, 2011 at 11:43 pm

That must have turned out to have been a really fun night for you both- at least one you won’t ever forget. I think I need to start acting out like that in general…..
Craftwhack recently posted..I just freaking got so talked at

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50 Jenny June 6, 2011 at 12:15 am

Thank you for making me smile! I wish that I could be so bold.
Jenny recently posted..You Spit On It- You Buy It

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51 The Magic That Is Janis June 6, 2011 at 2:35 am

Damn Gurl!! I like your style – good work.
The Magic That Is Janis recently posted..New Blog – The Magic That Is Thrift

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52 Busymama June 6, 2011 at 3:20 am

I have a bad habit of being nice to the wrong people. More than once my hubby has referred to a ‘friend’ of mine as “CrazyHorse” or “That WhackJob” LOL. I am positive however, that if I asked him to help me in a plan like yours, he’d be the sweetest date ever…LOL
I am like the only person I know who has less than 20 friends on facebook. I send anyone else to my blog pages… ;)
Busymama recently posted..Karma Bites You Back- But Only If You Bite First

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53 Jessica June 6, 2011 at 3:21 am

That is hilarious. I’m going to remember this if I ever get roped into this situation.
Jessica recently posted..A Weekend with the Family

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54 Non-Stop Mom June 6, 2011 at 3:35 am

I am so going to have to remember this…..except that I don’t have a significant other to use as the pisser-offer. Damn. Another reason why I should start dating.
Non-Stop Mom recently posted..Happiness is

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55 sweet_archangel June 6, 2011 at 3:38 am

Of this I approve. Great job *two thumbs up*

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56 Martha Ann June 6, 2011 at 3:48 am

Too Funny! Very clever way to handle it.

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57 Love Barnett June 6, 2011 at 3:53 am

Brava ! Brava ! Thanks for the inspiration ! I have a few I’d like to disentangle myself from, but I didn’t want to be ‘the bad guy’. YAY !

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58 Glass Princess June 6, 2011 at 4:02 am

Fabulous!
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59 MIL victim no more June 6, 2011 at 4:29 am

This has worked with my In Laws! She refused to work with us on daughter’s diet safety needs until hubby got balls and threatened we won’t visit (dang). Such a b***h, i finally said hell with it i can play her game. Only comes to visit when I’m not here score. Love the post.

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60 RachelJoy June 6, 2011 at 4:41 am

So basically we leave it up to our husbands…haha. Wouldn’t it be easier to fake amnesia? At least it saves you the trouble of having to show face, coz’ you supposedly don’t remember having to show up!
RachelJoy recently posted..They Like Me- They Really Like Me

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61 Lynn from For Love or Funny June 6, 2011 at 6:00 am

Yep, Facebook has definitely changed the landscape of friendship! I kinda wish I was a fly on the wall when you went on your double date! :)
Lynn from For Love or Funny recently posted..Why I’m terrified of going on vacation…

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62 christy June 6, 2011 at 6:29 am

You are freaking brilliant! And hysterical!

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63 SaucyB June 6, 2011 at 6:53 am

oh that’s funny. way to go Jeff!

SaucyB recently posted… Make Me Laugh Monday

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64 Rebecca @ Unexplained X2 June 6, 2011 at 7:03 am

This might even get me more mileage with Husband then actually having sex with him! He’d enjoy it immensely!

It is so hard to break up with friends now…seriously!
Rebecca @ Unexplained X2 recently posted..Makes My Monday – Sick Dog and Can You Guess

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65 myevil3yearold June 6, 2011 at 7:23 am

I need to lose one that is single. I wonder if that would still work?
myevil3yearold recently posted..Where the hell have you been

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66 Skinny Mom's Kitchen June 6, 2011 at 7:28 am

OMG that is freakin hilarious!!! I would have love to been a fly on the wall in that place..or at least the waitress!
Skinny Mom’s Kitchen recently posted..5 Ways to Sabotage Weight Loss

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67 From Belgium June 6, 2011 at 7:50 am

I bow before thy greatness.

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68 Handi Mandi Face & Body Art June 6, 2011 at 8:15 am

Omg, so perfect! Multifunctional solutions are the best. Smart thinking mama! :)

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69 Amanda June 6, 2011 at 8:17 am

The funny part of this post is that in my marriage, we’re the opposite. My husband is the “proper” one, and I’m the one that when I can see things are going to drag on forever I end it. It’s our good cop, bad cop routine. I don’t mind being the bad cop.
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70 Brittany at Mommy Words June 6, 2011 at 8:18 am

Ross would love to do that for one night. I bet Jeff had fun huh? And hey – then you followed up with a hefty bit of we are not friends on the internet. Bravo my dear, she is gone.
Brittany at Mommy Words recently posted..Covered by Bubbles and Channeling “The Jerk”

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71 Elena June 6, 2011 at 8:24 am

I love that you were using your husband to get you out of the friendship – genius idea. Facebook does sometimes bring weirdos out of the woodwork!
Elena recently posted..Mommy Knows Best

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72 Jennifer June 6, 2011 at 8:49 am

WTG Jeff. I always give David the be on your best manner speech as well. I’ve never considered that it could work in the opposite direction for me.

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73 Eve June 6, 2011 at 8:49 am

You have much knowledge, oh wise one.
Eve recently posted..Wordless Wednesday- My Baby One Year Ago Today

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74 Natasha June 6, 2011 at 8:56 am

I recently had someone to request to be my friend on FaceBook. I just denied them.

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75 angelica June 6, 2011 at 9:04 am

I heard the correct etiquette is to accept (which they see) and then delete (which they don’t see). You are welcome.
angelica recently posted..a safety net

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76 Not a Perfect Mom June 7, 2011 at 8:09 pm

I accept and then hide them in my newsfeed
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77 Lori Stefanac (Lola) June 6, 2011 at 9:03 am

LOVE this! I had a similar experience with a “new” friend who I met at the health club. We met for a GNO (Girl’s night out). I had never seen her “dressed” for a night out before and when I tell you? She looked like a Hootchie Mama to put it mildly! No, she looked like a full-on Whore. She told me she thought dressing “sexy” might get us “sponsors”. I asked if we were walking for Komen. She said “No, Silly! We can get men to buy us drinks!” The evening lasted for about 45 minutes and I had to get the hell out of there. We haven’t spoken since. However, I DO think of her… whenever I watch porn.
Lori Stefanac (Lola) recently posted..My New Digs

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78 Bipolar Vixen June 6, 2011 at 9:21 am

LMAO
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79 angelica June 6, 2011 at 9:03 am

you should be like a facebook consultant or something….
angelica recently posted..a safety net

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80 Amber June 6, 2011 at 9:03 am

Perfection. I think I love, Jeff. :)

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81 Alison@Mama Wants This June 6, 2011 at 9:04 am

Brilliant. I should probably employ this method for everything I want to get out of as a family. Thanks Jill for the great idea!
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82 Cindy S June 6, 2011 at 9:05 am

That’s AWESOME! My husband would have loved every second of the chance to do that at some dinner I’d dragged him to. Hilarious.
Cindy S recently posted..“The Last of the Firsts”

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83 krista June 6, 2011 at 9:06 am

LOVE THIS!! I was thinking the same thing the other day, how it used to be so nice that certain friendships would just fizzle and then you could just forget about one another. Not anymore!

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84 SammiSue June 6, 2011 at 9:15 am

Mine is not obnoxious, he just tells stories that have no point and are only funny to him… There is no cure for that!

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85 MamaBennie June 6, 2011 at 9:16 am

Well, my husband is a crazy redneck with a lifted truck, and I am the bitchy lady with the piercings so only people we actually like talk to us haha. Score for me that I have no problem telling people they suck.

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86 Bipolar Vixen June 6, 2011 at 9:19 am

LMFAO Nicely done!! I received one of those requests for someone my husband worked with a few years ago whom I never cared for. The man is a sexist pig with a wandering eye, even in front of his wife. The term “douchebag” is too kind to use. I let the request sit for 2 days, then clicked to say I didn’t know him.
As for the people who have been stationed here that we knew in other states, we are very careful about who knows our address and numbers. Some people are just better left in the past.
Bipolar Vixen recently posted..No Names- No Pics…Why

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87 HappyHomeMommy June 6, 2011 at 9:20 am

LOL Love it!! Definitely the laugh I needed this morning!

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88 ChiMomWriter June 6, 2011 at 9:28 am

I love this – and will refer to this important guide the next time I’m working on a “Facebook purge.”
ChiMomWriter recently posted..Monday Morning Misadventure- Night Chaos

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89 Dani June 6, 2011 at 9:33 am

Does this chick know you have this blog? ‘Cause this post surely would be the nail in the coffin. Props to you for actually going on a double date. Dying to know why you didn’t like her in the first place :)
Dani recently posted..Top 10 Reasons It Was a Bad Idea for Cory to Allow Me to Plan a 1st Birthday Party In Our Backyard

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90 Kate Coveny Hood June 6, 2011 at 9:38 am

That’s hilarious. I’ll have to remember this as I think Chris would be really good at scary unwanted friends away (I’m too much of a wimp).
Kate Coveny Hood recently posted..Monday Links on Tuesday

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91 Mom on a Line June 6, 2011 at 9:39 am

This is smart. It would have saved me the facebook guilt I blogged about a couple of days ago.
Mom on a Line recently posted..Special Ed

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92 Cassandra June 6, 2011 at 9:41 am

LOL that is perfect. Another way is to tell them why you don’t want to be friends with them. I did that with the little sister of an ass hole I dated who then cheated on my with my new boyfriend. Uh, why would I want to be her friend again. Duh.

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93 Ally June 6, 2011 at 10:01 am

Another downside of facebook! I’m such a wimp, I’d have suffered through and been miserable at the next even and then I would have started making up excuses… Love the way you handled it!
Ally recently posted..Public Lady Business

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94 Diary of Secrets June 6, 2011 at 10:01 am

Freakin’ GENIUS!!!

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95 Christi June 6, 2011 at 10:02 am

Oh how funny! I find that unwanted Facebook friendships are best left ignored. Just never respond to them and maybe they’ll think you have an unattended and forgotten FB account. And if you ever happen to run into them and they ask why you never responded? “oh, I NEVER check my FB account. I’m just too busy to keep up with it.” :-)
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96 Kim June 6, 2011 at 10:43 am

Brilliant!
Kim recently posted..Yes- I Said That- Too

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97 Mami of 2 June 6, 2011 at 10:59 am

That’s really funny!! I thought I was the only one that had to keep my honey in check like that. Love this

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98 Jennifer June 6, 2011 at 11:43 am

Wow, I love your moxy!

My husband can easily offend, problem is, he’s so charming and friendly that he makes friends without even trying!
Jennifer recently posted..Crazy Dream

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99 Twinisms June 6, 2011 at 12:16 pm

Awesome. Finally, a task I can give the husband that will be followed through on 100% with no complaints!
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100 dollimama June 6, 2011 at 12:24 pm

Oh man, that is great!

I give my husband the same speech, except I think I’m the one who usually turns people off…
Or the behavior of our children…
Friends are over rated! :)
dollimama recently posted..A Rare Gem- Sitting with Mama

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101 Jack@TheJackB June 6, 2011 at 12:33 pm

Watch, you’ll find out that she is VP of Marketing for that company you hoped would sponsor the blog. ;)
Jack@TheJackB recently posted..The Best Thing My Father Ever Said To Me

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102 tracy June 6, 2011 at 12:38 pm

Does this work with in-laws? Brilliant. So so funny! xo
tracy recently posted..How to Garden if you hate worms

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103 Kay June 6, 2011 at 12:42 pm

You are my hero! I wish I was gutsy enough to try something like this.
Kay recently posted..Puddytat

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104 Lotus Blu Mama June 6, 2011 at 12:45 pm

Classic, love this! And I’m sure your hubby was loving every single disgusting moment of his obnoxious behavior :)
Lotus Blu Mama recently posted..End of the School Year- End of my Sanity!

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105 Katy June 6, 2011 at 12:49 pm

Now why did I never think about using my husband? Seven years in the Marines has given him a mouth & jokes that would make a frat guy blush.
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106 Tayarra June 6, 2011 at 1:00 pm

Oh my gosh! That was awesome! I have no ill feelings ignoring people’s requests on facebook. It’s quite shocking behavior coming from me! Love how you handled this! Too funny!
Tayarra recently posted..Six Words

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107 Marianne Trana June 6, 2011 at 1:34 pm

I LOVE YOU! You are HILARIOUS!

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108 liz June 6, 2011 at 1:37 pm

This is awesome. I never would have had the guts to tell my husband to do that, but I’m a big believer that there are good reasons for some friendships to die.

I just stumbled this.
liz recently posted..It&8217s All About the Sugar Shake

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109 OHN June 6, 2011 at 2:14 pm

Oh my gawd. This is nothing less than brilliant. I will be deploying my belching, raunchy husband the next time I want to breakup with a “friend”.
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110 jo June 6, 2011 at 2:37 pm

This is exactly why I don’t do facebook – there are numerous people that I have no desire to be in contact with from way back when. Didn’t like them then why would I want to be friends with them now – if I even remembered who they were.

You were a brave woman to do a meet up and even braver to go into it with a straight face knowing full well how dh was going to behave.

Congrats on the both of you in getting out of that one.

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111 Angie June 6, 2011 at 3:35 pm

I’m going to file this one under “BRILLIANT”! And I love that your husband went all out for you :) I wonder how I can make this work with a few clients who are on the chopping block but limit the collateral damage…..
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112 Julie June 6, 2011 at 3:51 pm

I. Love. It. and I totally have the husband that goes with this scenario! SCORE!
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113 Johanna June 6, 2011 at 4:20 pm

I hold Mark Zuckerberg fully responsible for the fact that I now have somewhat regular correspondance with the girl I played with when I was four and haven’t seen since. What do we have in common? NOTHING! It’s a zombie friendship, ie totally unnatural!

Glad you found such a great way to extricate yourself from yours :)
Johanna recently posted..Busytown

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114 Corine June 6, 2011 at 6:37 pm

haha I LOVE it. I give my hubby the same speech when we’re going on a double date. Good Couple friends are hard to find.
Corine recently posted..An Unconventional Welcome Home

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115 The Flying Chalupa June 6, 2011 at 6:48 pm

This is perhaps one of your best posts, Jill. Some relationship definitely deserve to fade away. Which makes me happy that I’m still not on Facebook. And that I really want to go on a double date with you and Jeff. F-to-the-U-to-the-N.

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116 Poppy June 6, 2011 at 8:11 pm

I just ran into someone yesterday who let me know they were going to find me on Facebook. Awesome. She already saw me so she knows I’ve gained weight, what the hell else does she need, confirmation that her kids are cuter? Duh. If she invites me to lunch, I’m calling your husband.

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117 Not Winning Mom of the Year June 6, 2011 at 9:31 pm

Love it, you married quite a gem there. I was going to give you advice to burp and fart rudely at the table, but looks like your guy handled it beautifully.
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118 Nicole @MTDLBlog June 6, 2011 at 11:05 pm

My husband would be fabulous at this type of “assignment”. He knows how to take humor to the inappropriate leap-of-a-cliff level….of course, thats just his norm….so….. ;-)
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119 Mommyfriend June 6, 2011 at 11:19 pm

You are a genius, and married to my husband it sounds like.
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120 Tea June 7, 2011 at 9:04 am

I’m pretty sure I’m my relationship’s Jeff, since Man is often giving me the “play nice” or “be yourself” cues.
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121 Kristi June 7, 2011 at 5:04 pm

Oh except if that was me and my husband you went out with, we would have gotten along fabulously. It sounds like our husbands have a lot in common. He can very rarely “be himself” around people we don’t know well. We have to make sure they don’t offend easily first. I remember this trick next time we want to get out of being friends with someone. :)
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122 the mama bird diaries June 7, 2011 at 11:10 pm

Well done. Do you rent out your husband? This is why I like Twitter. No one really asks me to go to lunch.
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123 Pam June 8, 2011 at 12:46 pm

Holy Beans! You need to lend your husband out to scare folks away.
I still get random messages from guys that had a crush on me how they still miss our close relationship from high school. Ewwww! Ewwww then and Ewwww now!
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124 Carol June 8, 2011 at 7:44 pm

I absolutely loved this!

It came at a time when I was just talking to a friend how FB has changed “friendships”, and the meaning of.
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125 Nina June 8, 2011 at 9:33 pm

Jill–so, so, so funny. And true. Actually, twitter has introduced some odd facebook requests too. My FB account is still a personal one so I’m not crazy about accepting those requests. And yet, it’s awkward to let the requests hang out there. I don’t have an FB on my blog, nor do I ever put a link to it on Twitter. Weird.
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126 Fine Life June 8, 2011 at 10:00 pm

Just so you know you’re not alone, I curse Mark Zuckerberg every other day. He has removed posts on my page that are critical of facebook. He stalks me! ;).

This plan of yours is so perfect, that I’m going to have to bogart it. Not like we can’t be really obnoxious around here, but we’ve never planned ahead. Next time, forethought!

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127 mommy gem June 9, 2011 at 7:56 am

Maybe I could use this trick to one of my super dooper bragger friend! You know the type of facebook friend who will post everything, her designer bags, her engagement ring, her photoshooped body in two-piece. Maybe I will invite her over and let my kids and hubby do the work. :)
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128 Stasha June 9, 2011 at 11:35 pm

Pimping out your husband. I like it. Jill may I just point out; seeing a pattern here. You need to stay away from Facebook for a bit. You were bitten a few too many times in the past few weeks.
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129 Emily June 10, 2011 at 3:52 pm

Never would of thought of that. Very clever!

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130 Vicki June 11, 2011 at 9:37 pm

Good post.. hadn’t really thought about it but it is sort of hard to get lost today. Just found your site and adding it as a keeper!

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131 amy June 12, 2011 at 6:31 pm

Hilarious! Your hubby is a saint!
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132 Aileen June 13, 2011 at 6:07 pm

OK, I recognize that this is a funny story…BUT it seems a bit passive-aggressive, and a bit cowardly. A man would never find himself getting pulled into a friendship he didn’t want… Why couldn’t you just say “no” to the double date? It seems like a lot of time and energy spent to end a friendship you didn’t even want…

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133 Scary Mommy June 13, 2011 at 6:26 pm

Because I suck at saying no. Plus, she was REALLY pushy.

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134 AlexandraZ June 18, 2011 at 5:48 pm

Priceless!

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135 Marta June 24, 2011 at 12:57 pm

Hilarious. You should write a book titled that, we all know people we wish we didn’t!

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136 Elisa June 29, 2011 at 1:56 pm

Good on Jeff for playing along! I think my husband is too much of a goody-two-shoes to do that, and then being obnoxious falls entirely on my shoulders. But then again, it does come natural.

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137 Claudia August 8, 2011 at 11:37 am

Jill, this is hilarious! I can just see Jeff coming through in the clutch in this way. I look forward to hearing some of those successful jokes – hopefully this fall. Congratulations on your book deal! xox Clauida

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138 tracey - justanothermommy August 9, 2011 at 5:55 pm

You are truly brilliant. And your husband is a saint!

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139 Jessica Brown August 9, 2011 at 10:13 pm

Oh, Jill, that is so awesome. You know, my husband’s name is Jason…we’re another J and J couple, and my husband could have taken Jeff’s place at that dinner table admirably, based on what you described. Priceless blue bachelor party jokes included. My husband would’ve told the one about how his best man hired a stripper to give Jason a lap dance, and how the stripper’s stilettos left some VERY odd bruises on the tops of his thighs that were rather evident on our honeymoon. Everyone on the cruise ship asking, “Wow, what happened to your thighs?” And he’d have to choose: tell the truth and make a pina colada come shooting out of their nose, or make something up about running into corners. A lot. Sigh. Glad your man rescued you from the horrible potential “friend,” mine would’ve done the same. Isn’t that one reason we love them, because they do the things we need done but don’t have the guys for–squishing spiders, fending off robbers, and scaring away stalker former acquaintances. ;)

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140 Jessica Brown August 9, 2011 at 10:15 pm

I meant “guts” for…grrr…sticking keys!!!!!!

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141 @StayAtHomeMaven March 29, 2012 at 3:40 pm

I know I’m coming the party late, but I couldn’t pass up a title like this one (featured in your most popular posts). That is a high calibre husband you have there. Genius move on your part and excellent execution on his. I tip my hat.
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142 Lala Mama April 13, 2012 at 8:37 pm

That was awesome – your hubby is super-cool!

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143 Marie April 17, 2012 at 9:35 am

That is brilliant! The roles would have been reversed with my husband & I. I would be the one telling the inappropriate jokes, stories and the like. My husband would have died a thousand deaths of embarrassment but in the end would have been happy I severed the “potential friendship”.

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144 Manisha April 17, 2012 at 10:40 am

Wait. No 3rd glass of wine. Oops! I sure hope I didn’t make a fool of myself on our last outing with another couple!

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145 dumb{squared} April 17, 2012 at 12:57 pm

You should meet with Zuckerberg and the rest of the Facebook team and offer this as a new Facebook option.

Also, should you ever find yourself in this situation again. pull out a box of wine from a bag and ask “Who want’s to shotgun this sucker or should I be the first?”
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146 Flodo April 17, 2012 at 1:25 pm

Over the past decade, I’ve gotten very good at decluttering friends that I deemed no longer worth keeping (like the toxic ones). Even though, I Facebook, Twitter, and email – when I’m done with a person, I just don’t communicate with them anymore. They eventually take the hint. I’ve never had to explain myself to them. They get it. Warning: some take longer than others. Decluttering friends that are no longer worth keeping (like the toxic ones) is as good if not better than decluttering your garage or basement. Try it. You really do feel cleansed.

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147 Shauna @ Balancing Bites April 17, 2012 at 1:37 pm

This is great. I will have to remember this one. My husband would definitely do this too.

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148 Sweety Darlin April 17, 2012 at 2:17 pm

WOW! This is why I am all super secret agent man on the interwebz. I was myself ONCE and the people that came out of the woodwork looking for me and wanting me to send them crap for their dumb games made me want to just run into oncoming traffic.

Therefore I am all super secret agent man now. I only make contact with people that I actually like, and if they fall out of favor they get blocked so they can’t stalk me!

Of course I am offensive usually just being myself. I even manage to offend people when I am trying to be good, so there are not a lot of unwanted invites in my world.
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149 bree April 17, 2012 at 2:48 pm

LMAO. My husband will be thrilled with this new idea!

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150 Mary April 17, 2012 at 3:31 pm

Hilarious! My husband and I had dinner Sunday night with some people we hadn’t seen in years. The husband was a boor – completely rude, patronizing and macho-man gross. Now I’m thinking – perhaps they were trying to tell us something???? Well, I’m on to them! I’m gonna call them right now and invite them over for dinner! Thanks for the heads up!
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151 Kristin @ What She Said April 17, 2012 at 3:33 pm

Or? You could just blog about her. ;)

Seriously, I recently vented about a frienemy on my blog in what I thought was the broadest way possible. I even made my husband read it. “Do you think she’ll pick up on the fact that I’m talking about her,” I asked. “Uh… YEAH,” he answered. “I don’t think so,” I replied. “I was very broad.” “Uh-huh,” he said. “We’ll see.”

Turns out, he was right, I wasn’t as broad as I thought, she picked up on the references, and She.Got.PISSED. We had it out and that was the end of a friendship that had honestly driven me bonkers for nearly two years.

There is a land called Passive Aggressiva, and I am their Queen.
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152 Kristin Shaw April 19, 2012 at 3:47 pm

I nearly did that myself recently. A needy friend I’ve had for 12 years decided that she was going to beat me up via FB message and told me that she was hurt that I didn’t ask her more often for advice and that I didn’t need her more. Husband told me to cut her off – he doesn’t play. Sometimes it is better to cut the cord on a relationship that isn’t doing anyone any favors!
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153 Corey Feldman April 17, 2012 at 3:55 pm

I have to say that is actually

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154 Jack@TheJackB April 18, 2012 at 1:30 am

Great googly moogly- this is the kind of order that every husband dreams about because we hate some of your friends just as much as you hate some of ours.
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155 Alexandra April 18, 2012 at 8:23 am

Now that you’re published, and on NBC TODAY, and on the radio, and in newspapers, and magazines: they’re going to come out of the woodwork.

So, yeah, keep it up, Jeff.

xo
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156 Heather April 18, 2012 at 10:48 am

Well played!

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157 IASoupMama April 18, 2012 at 12:58 pm

Too funny! I’ve also found that integrating every possible opposite political opinion into an awkward situation like that works well, too. The other person thinks you’re looney (they’re probably right) and you get to exercise some good ol’ American judgemental-ism, which feels good in the right situation. Attack values! Attack candidates! Attack anything you want and everyone will leave you alone, very, very alone…
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158 Maricris @ SittingAround April 18, 2012 at 7:38 pm

This is hilarious! It reminds me of that movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

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159 Sean Bianca April 19, 2012 at 12:13 am

Here’s a tip, if one does not wish to have the mean girls and dorky High School Boys find them from long ago then do not put down where you went to High School or College info on Facebook!

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160 mouthymama April 19, 2012 at 2:44 am

Just found your blog and read the first entry…I’m hooked. You are hilarious.

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161 marni April 19, 2012 at 8:14 am

this hit home! i never thought of the obnoxious husband strategy but hey, i guess you showed that it worked!
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162 Christine @ Quasi Agitato April 19, 2012 at 12:43 pm

classic. can you vlog a re-enactment? in your spare time? you know, the time jeff saved you by ridding you of that time sucking bitch?
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163 imperfectmomma April 19, 2012 at 3:25 pm

Ha! That is freaking genius! Why didn’t I ever think of that?
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164 Kristin Shaw April 19, 2012 at 3:48 pm

Jill, my husband is dreaming of the day I will give him that order. Brilliant.
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165 Office Crush April 19, 2012 at 4:25 pm

I don’t think either my husband or I could do this (we were raised repressed, obedient children), but that’s why we have rude, farting, nerf-bullet-shooting children.
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166 Linda Roy April 19, 2012 at 10:58 pm

I have got to use this! Brilliant! And my wise ass Hubby would enjoy the hell out of the opportunity to offend some people. He’d start with religion and end with politics and in the middle he’d just go for the jugular.

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167 Mod Mom Beyond IndieDom April 19, 2012 at 11:10 pm

That’s a riot! My hubby would enjoy this. He hates having to go on those man playdates anyway. If it’s someone we don’t mind parting ways with eternally, what an opportunity to trot out the offensive behavior!
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168 Jen @ Ginger Guide April 20, 2012 at 10:10 am

Oh holy crap, I need to do this for high school “friends”. We weren’t friends in high school because you made my life a living hell, not sure why the hell I accepted your friend request on facebook, and no, I do not want to have a play date with our kids.
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169 Charisse April 20, 2012 at 10:34 am

EEEK!!! Facebook has basically allowed our anonymity and friendship ending days to be numbered. Over. Zip.

I don’t always like it. I am with you. When someone finds me that I wish they hadn’t I cringe. Deeeeeep inside.

Thankfully, I live nowhere near anyone that I used to know, ever. *WHEW*

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170 Holli Metz April 20, 2012 at 1:57 pm

Hilarious! Laughing my ass off!

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171 the muskrat April 22, 2012 at 8:06 pm

This might be even better than my standby of shoving a banana in the tailpipe.
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172 DT @ Dead Trees and Silver Screens April 23, 2012 at 6:03 pm

So funny! Can I do with my inlaws? No? Damn it!

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173 Christy April 30, 2012 at 5:30 pm

So funny! Thank God for husbands that love us enough go along with all the crap we get ourselves into!!

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174 Amy McCollum June 6, 2012 at 4:04 pm

{{{ GREATNESS!! }}} Thanks for the laugh!! (and the tip)

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175 Tamie June 22, 2012 at 8:21 pm

I like it! I’ve reached out to people from my past. Some people have willing reconnected and some have not. It did take me a moment to realize why the latter didn’t want to have anything to do with me. Time doesn’t always change people, but sometimes it does. It was good that you tried, but better that you ended it.

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176 kelly September 7, 2012 at 8:31 am

That was funny and great! thank you for all the “tips”

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177 Tiana October 10, 2012 at 3:15 pm

I seriously just laughed out loud and my boss looked over and asked me if I was feeling well. Apparently he thinks I’m a lunatic who likes to look at my computer screen laughing all day! Thanks SM!!

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178 TexasMommy2SAR October 29, 2012 at 12:13 pm

Huh, My husband acts like that on ALL our double dates…no wonder I can’t keep a friend. Truth is, my husband hates all my friends- and naturally- they hate him. He’s an ass.

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179 Danielle November 5, 2012 at 8:32 am

What a team the two of your are!! Awesome.

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180 Shirley @save the shrink November 6, 2012 at 9:35 pm

I don’t know your reasons for ending the friendship but I’m uncomfortable with burning bridges. So there’s quite a lump at my throat while reading this. But then again, that is your call. It’s just awesome that your husband is a cool bean to back you up!
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181 Lu November 12, 2012 at 5:35 pm

And the best part about that story is that you can blame it on your husband! They can really come in handy sometimes. Way to go Jeff! Hahaha! Great post!
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182 Nj P May 23, 2013 at 5:06 pm

Immature crap. All she had to do was just decline the invitation at the start. She wasted the time of the woman who was kind enough to make a gesture of friendship and then subjected her to boorish behavior. Time to put on the “big girl” panties and be authentic. It could start with a simple, “Thank you, but I’m not able to do that.” (Not able to accept the original invitation.) No further explanation needed, and can be said kindly.

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