Jealously or something else

Anon Imperfect Mum

Jealously or something else

Hi fellow sisterhood, so I'm feeling a little jealous and not sure how to stop. Sorry hoping this wont be too long!
Hubby and i own a business, we have clients and one particular client (female in her early 40s) we have become friends with for the past 3 years. She has no kids or partner and at first she was always buying my kids stuff, from lollies/chocolate on a weekly basis which was fine. Then small pressies for bday, Christmas etc and just recently for the past year amd a half has gone to spending $100-$200 on them for occasions. We have told her she doesnt need to but she says she has no kids, so she likes to spoil them. She also was spending roughly $100-150 on my partner and my bdays also. For the past 5 months she has really stepped it up. Christmas came and my partner, kids and i went away and she gave my partner $1000 spending money which she said was a gift for the whole family (I didn't know until we were away). When we got back I told her it was too much and my partner agreed. We thanked her but said money isnt going to make us like her anymore, we already like her just as she is. Then my partner started collecting a particular sports collection (cards, memorabilia etc), out of no where she keeps adding to his collection (doesnt collect herself but says she like opening cards). Ok if these were just packets id be ok with it but shes buying a box a month ($200-400). Then we had our workplace anniversary amd she bought him a $600 memorabilia piece (she also only found out in the morning it was the workplace anniversary and by evening she bought it). Then 2 weeks ago i had a conversation with her which her about my partners bday coming up and had told her I was buying him the $300 memorabilia piece as I can't afford the more expensive one she just bought him.
This is where im not sure where my jealously actually is. I'm upset she has now bought him the best present (for not a big occasion, we didnt celebrate the gym anniversary apart from social media appreciation posts). My partner thinks im jealous because the present was more for him even though it's both our business (which we both work equal bit different roles, he is mainly with clients where i do bookwork and all computer stuff). I also didnt tell him what I was planning on buying for his birthday. Am I being silly and jealous for no reason? I feel like I cant ever buy my partner and kids what they really want because she beats me too it or goes above my budget. My partner thinks it's because since i told her that $1000 was too much as a gift she hasnt gifted me anything (she only ever has bought me birthday and xmas gifts) where I feel like it's not that and that's its shes out gifting me.. Sorry seems kind of petty writing it down but i cant help the jealously or whatever it is im feeling.

To add: She has explained she likes to spend money on her friends and extended family as she doesnt have a family of her own. She is naturally a generous person. She has alot of money, well paid job etc. We returned the $1000 and have tried to set a limit and only b days and Christmas as we buy her gifts for these also. We consider her more as a friend than a client these days even though she uses our services. We do lunches, dinners etc all the time and i don't feel she means to overstep. I just cant help feeling that i will never be able to match her gifts or get my hubby something as good as she has given him and my kids now ask her for stuff if they think I won't get it (her niece is the same but her sister does take advantage of her generosity which I don't want to do either).

Posted in:  Relationships & Marriage

10 Replies

Anon Imperfect Mum

The entire thing is weird! Sorry, alarm bells would be ringing for me too.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

I don’t think I’d be jealous, more perplexed as to why she’s spending so much money on gifts?! Did you return the $1000? I’d be putting a cap on all family gifts - no more than $20 - $50 and perhaps say you don’t feel comfortable with the excess money being spent.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Also you don’t have to accept the gifts - new work policy!

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Anon Imperfect Mum

She has explained she likes to spend money on her friends and extended family as she doesnt have a family of her own. She has alot of money, well paid job etc. We returned the $1000 and have tried to set a limit and only b days and Christmas as we buy her gifts for these also. We consider her more as a friend than a client these days even though she uses our services. We do lunches, dinners etc all the time and i don't feel she means to overstep. I just cant help feeling that i will never be able to match her gifts or get my hubby something as good as she has given him and my kids now ask her for stuff if they think I won't get it (her niece is the same).

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Gosh I would be thinking it's like fatal attraction or something 🤣. She wants your life! Or she's just really rich and generous. You need to ask hubby to get tough and say no more, it's unfair to say this is jealousy as it is a bit strange.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Poster here, It is a case of shes rich and generous which is why i think on my part it's a bit of jealously as since I've said no more she has accepted that for me but keeps going with with hubby and kids. And just the fact that o feel like I cant compare to her presents when i buy hubby a bday pressie. Shes a lovely person and we all het along great apart from the subject of gifts

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Then put a stop to the gifts and go on with the friendship 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Weird .. cut that cord before hubby gets use to being shined on .. this is odd .. I'd be like we dont need it give it to an organisation that does we ain't no charity

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Being a good friend is sometimes about recognising when you are making your friends uncomfortable! She is not being a good friend. She knows it makes you uncomfortable but chooses to continue to make you uncomfortable.
Sorry this is not a good dynamic.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Very weird. Are you sure she isn’t having a fling with your husband.? If not tell her the expensive gifts need to stop. It’s making you uncomfortable and it’s way too much money. Strange they are for your husband and not you. Nothing to be jealous about if I was you. I’d be more worried about her intentions or if anything is going on with him and her.??

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