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Feeling let down and disappointed

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Seaside

Member since
July 2022

558 posts

Posted Thu November 10, 2022 3:41pmReport post

After we had the knock I told a very close friend what had happened- obviously they were shocked but assured me that they were supportive of me.

I emphasised at the time and several times subsequently that I would completely understand if they wanted to walk away and that I had valued their friendship and was again assured of their support.

Anyway I asked earlier this week if they would be prepared to write a character reference for my person and was then told that they were not going to do this.

This is someone who has known my person for over 30 years and who I have supported through a number of serious problems.

Of course I respect this decision but can't help feeling very hurt and let down by them.

This journey is so very hard

Upset mum

Member since
June 2020

2385 posts

Posted Thu November 10, 2022 5:30pmReport post

Seaside

Totally understand how you feel x

My sons best friends turned their back on him but we have to respect there decision to do so

They knew and loved him for 14 years and it's all gone

I know how much that hurt him :-(

I understand completely but I just wish they could remember him before this

Me and my daughter did a referance for him and the judge acknowledge that in court

It's a crappy journey we are all on but we do cope as hard as it is



Hugs xx

Seaside

Member since
July 2022

558 posts

Posted Thu November 10, 2022 5:41pmReport post

Thanks Upset hugs sent to you too.

Yes it really does hurt especially as this friend knows the struggles my son has had over many years and the real person behind what he's done.



I guess you find out who is there for you on this journey don't you ?

Upset mum

Member since
June 2020

2385 posts

Posted Thu November 10, 2022 5:56pmReport post

We do indeed hun x

You been there for your son outweighs anything in this world

Try not to let it upset you honestly you have enough to cope with

People that are not in this situation really do not understand what it is like , that's why this forum is so important as you will only ever receive support xx

How is your son?

Smile through tears

Member since
September 2021

2538 posts

Posted Thu November 10, 2022 7:45pmReport post

So true - it hurts SO much that the previous personality of a person just evaporates and they just see the crime.

I soon learnt to respect others views and move on - it's just SO exhausting to take it all on board and no good for your sanity!

Bitterbean

Member since
December 2021

634 posts

Posted Thu November 10, 2022 8:29pmReport post

Seaside

I an totally understand your disappointment. I blame the media for the way they demonise offenders and normalise their rejection by not only the general public, but friends and family. Its not the way a civilised society should operate.

Seaside

Member since
July 2022

558 posts

Posted Thu November 10, 2022 9:35pmReport post

Upset, Smile and Bitterbean,

thank you all for your wise words-I think the main reason I am feeling so upset is because I know that this friend has supported someone else ( who I don't know personally) who committed far more serious offences so this feels like a direct rejection of both myself and my son.

I have only told 2 people and nobody in my family knows anything at all so it's very difficult having to carry this on my own but I will support my son until my last breath.

Jayjay

Member since
December 2021

695 posts

Posted Thu November 10, 2022 10:00pmReport post

I understand Seaside.
Same happened with our ex friends. Refused character reference, said they would be supportive, then turned their backs on me when I needed them.
I think they said they were supportive to 'get the gossip' then once they had it they told more of our 'friends' out of pure spite who also turned their backs on me / us.
I don't know how many times I've said I just feel so let down by people.
Even certain family members, I thought they've be there for me at the very least, we haven't done anything wrong!

BECCY

Member since
May 2021

61 posts

Posted Thu November 10, 2022 10:22pmReport post

Hi Seaside

I can sort of understand how your friend wants to support you but isn't comfortable writing a character reference. They may be so horrified by the nature of the charges ( and aren't we all?) that they don't think they can do this. Or possibly they don't want their name associated with the court case and are scared it will hit the media.

Supporting you is different than helping him. I have a few close friends who have supported me unbelievably but I don't think they would have supported him (we're not together so it never arose).

Have you asked your friend for their reasons? It seems awful to loose a friend when you need all the support you can get.

Xx

Webb89

Member since
July 2022

436 posts

Posted Thu November 10, 2022 11:15pmReport post

Losing friends is so hard. A close friend of 30+ years turned her back on me. My OH was arrested and sentenced in three weeks. After the first week my ex friend said she would support me but not him. This i understood. But a few days later bedore he was sentenced she said she did not want anything to do with me as i was talking to him and she could not cope with that. I was talking to him as he was on remand and i needed to pay bills with money in his name! She deserted not just me but my kids who are in their 20s but were really close to her. I just could not believe this and have found things very hard without this true( or so i thought) friend. When i and my kids needed her the most she bailed on us.



i did read somewhere that if you wrote a charactor reference you could be called to give evidence in the case. Perhaps that was the reason.