A friend I hadn’t seen in years invited me to her baby shower after moving back to town. Since it was a small event with about 15 guests, we all volunteered to help with different tasks. I offered to cook Filipino food and contribute to the decorations. I even sent money for decor and began prepping enough food for around 50 people to be safe. Everything seemed set after the mother-to-be approved our plans.

I took a whole day off work to cook and arranged childcare for my baby since I didn’t want to bring her along while catering. I was excited to help and be part of the celebration. However, the night before the shower, the mom-to-be messaged me saying she had to uninvite me but still wanted me to drop off the food. I was shocked and explained it didn’t make sense for me to deliver food to an event I wasn’t invited to.

She accused me of being hateful when I refused to drop off the food, and some mutual friends sided with her while others supported me. I felt hurt and confused because I had invested time, money, and effort based on our agreement. This experience made me rethink boundaries, communication, and the importance of trusting my instincts when dealing with difficult situations.

In the end, I stood my ground and chose not to enable unfair treatment. It’s important to set clear expectations and respect personal boundaries, especially in friendships. Sometimes prioritizing your own wellbeing means walking away from situations that don’t honor your contributions or respect your feelings.