Do You Have a 'Friend' That Believes She Can Do No Wrong & Loves to Point It Out

I have a single, childless friend who is the almighty expert at everything...including child-rearing, marriage, and balancing work & motherhood (LOL!!) It used to bother me but now I just take it with a grain of salt. She's trying to feel in control and make sense of life when really she is probably unhappy. Telling you how it's done makes her feel like she has it more "together" than the married mother she probably wishes she could be. I just feel kind of sorry for my single friend now and I let her comments slide.

There is nothing you can say.

Be the better, bigger person and keep your mouth shut.

She is only putting on this perfect facade and putting you down because she lacks the self-esteem necessary to feel good about herself. Pointing out her awesomeness makes her feel better about her inadequacies.

Stop having lunch with her and avoid talking to her.

Personally, I don't keep "friends" like that.......

not anymore! When I turned 40 I got rid of all negative people and things in my life and have not looked back! Good luck!

Good luck trying to change a "know-it-all." I wouldn't waste my time. Decide how much your time with her is really worth.

Could you take a walk and call a friend during your break? Maybe it is worth doing that a few times a week and just sitting with her on the other days?

Maybe put an email out there to find others who want to walk for exercise during your break and find a new confidant while getting some exercise?

Not a fun situation, but I don't think you can change her. :(

It is a lost cause. She is a narcissictic ego maniac. Im sure she has had problems with social skills her whole life, and one conversation from you is not going to change her. She needs help, but she thinks shes perfect so she will never seek that out. Shes the crazy old cat lady.

Bring a book or trashy gossip mag to lunch, that will be way more fulfilling

Oh my, life is too short to put up with people like this, especially when you don't have to.

You work for a large company. There must be other women out there to have lunch with, you just haven't found them yet. Think of ways to meet them, go use the bathroom on the other side of the building, find excuses to run errands to different departments, keep your eyes open, be friendly, make a nice comment about the cute baby picture on their desk. You may find a lifelong friend or mentor in a coworker. Good luck!

It does sounds like she is unhappy with her own life, and probably envious of yours. It can be hard to be a single girl out there when most people you know are married with kids etc.
But that doesnt give her the right to be critical of everything you do. Have you tried firmly, but nicely telling her that what works for her is not going to work for you? I'd gently point out that you have very different situations, so there's bound to be alternative answers.
Then maybe every once in awhile tell her how "great" it must be to be a single girl out there catching different fish :) So she doesnt think that you think YOU know it all! lol

Nope... I don't have friends like that b/c they aren't friends. They just nag and nag and nag and suck your energy dry and leave you feeling lifeless.

It's fine to be cordial, but I would keep your relationship with her very brief, cordial and professional. No talking about your husband, your kids, your bills, your shopping habits... she can't offer 'advice' if you don't tell her whats going on in your life outside of work.

Look up Narcissistic personalty disorder, which isn't a disorder anymore but that isn't the point, and find yourself another friend.

We have one at work and she sucks the happiness out of a room. There is a reason she is available, no one wants to be around her.

I HAD a friend who thought she could do no wrong;-)

doesnt sound like a friend, sounds like you two are just competing, both of you, or it wouldnt bother you.

Sounds like a toxic friendship. Google "toxic friendship". You'll find a lot of helpful material. On a quick search, I found this article that I like.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melanie-gorman/toxic-friend...

I agree with MR. Not worth your time or energy.

I work in a small office & there is only one other woman here & she is like that. she constantly tells you how there's nothing someone can do, that she can't take & make better. She knows the perfect way to give constructive criticism. She just know everything & the way she does things are the best. She knows how to be a good executive assistant (and of course, the way I do things doesn't qualify). The worst part is there is a severe age difference, so it's even worse because she is older & therefore thinks us young people know nothing. She would go to my boss & tell him good things about me,but then come back to me & say mean & nasty things, like she only hired me because my resume is lame & she didn't think I would be able to catch on. Anyways, I have been here for 4ys & have started eating lunch at my desk or significantly cutting down my breakroom time. I miss the casual bs conversations, but it got to where the conversations went more towards how great she was & negative things about the office & I decided I didn't want that type of conversation anymore. It really sucks, but I am a more to myself person anyways (this is why I am that way), so I can deal with it plus we are allowed to check our personal email & minimal facebook time on our lunch, so sometimes I use that as a break, but I do know what you mean about wanting away from your desk & the computer screen! I've actually thought about trying to find a class on how to deal with people like this & appropriate ways to redirect them.

There are plenty of people like this.
Sometimes they know what they are doing and sometimes they don't.
My supervisor nit picks me to no end and all I can do, in such a situation is just agree with her and tell her she's right. I mean, there is no point in arguing with her. HER supervisors think I'm awesome.
Many people who try to convince you that they are perfect or put you down for every little thing are actually quite insecure with themselves.
You either have to understand that and try not to let it drive you crazy or just cut your losses and stay away from them as much as possible.
Don't discuss personal things with her! That's just opens you up for her opinions and you already know you aren't going to like them.
She can't judge what she doesn't know.
Have lunch if you can't stand having lunch alone. (That could be an issue in and of itself, no offense since you're already feeling put out), but
you either have to let what she says go in one ear and out the other, distance yourself so you don't even have to deal with it, or tell her that you practically feel sorry for her having to be so perfect all the time.
There are only so many ways this can go and you are the one in control of all of them.

LIke I said, you can't get judged for what isn't put out there.

Best wishes.

Oh my goodness, that same girl works in my office and she is my 'friend'. heehee She is a high maintenance friend, but as you point out they don't have a family so they don't have many ppl to chat with. I just go with the flow of stuff and in one ear and out the other. And also give my opinion or advise too when we don't agree. It is hard work but we all need friends and she is just your co worker and you get to go home in the afternoons to your family and she goes home to herself. And another way I look at it, my friend might just think I'm the high maintenance one. It all depends on how much you want to put up with. Good luck girl, :-}

You may be doing her a favor if you gently point out that you do not want to be critisized anymore-nor do you want to hear anyone else be spoken of in a derogatory manner. Tell her you want to be her friend and as such, you expect her to be a friend-someone who is kind and supportive. Ironically-she probably feels very insecure-and is boastful about herself as a result. You would be a great friend to have!