Here’s a little backstory: This friend is a helicopter friend. She’s very kind and I do love her, but she wants to be in every single aspect of my life.

For instance, when I first found out I was pregnant she said: “You BETTER be inviting me to the hospital when you’re in labor, I WILL be there. “

She also insisted on being at my appointment when I found out the gender of my baby.

She also has a bit of a savior complex. For instance, I lost my parents when I was in high school. Now, for some reason she thinks i have no other friends or family and therefore refers to herself as my family.

Now, she’s insisting on being at my graduation. I am graduating with my doctorate’s, and I am so excited. I want to be surrounded by the people who have supported me throughout this journey. Which is my family. Of course, this friend was insistent on going to my graduation too.

It was the norm with her “I WILL be at your graduation”.

I really just wanted to be surrounded by my family because it took me so much to get to this point in my life. I lost both of my parents, I barely graduated from high school, and I’ve struggled with my mental health my entire life. So this is huge for me.

So I told this friend that I already filled my 12 allowed seats for guests.

She started off my saying “I WILL call your school. I’m going to be there”. THEN she texted somebody who knows somebody who is graduating with me, and got a ticket to my graduation that way. I can’t explain how frustrating this feels for me.

Finally, I just said “I don’t want you to be at my graduation”.

She basically told me that she’s supported me this entire time and has been such a good friend to me and doesn’t understand why I don’t want her there.