How do I distance myself from a coworker friend without seeming rude?

[Babyseal23]

Basically, I’ve been keeping my distance from this women because there have been quite a few things over time that have changed how I feel about her. It isn’t one particular incident, it’s a build-up of things, especially things involving her relationships and the way she’s handled certain situations with her children. I’ve also come to feel that she can be quite a user. I often feel like she looks for sympathy, attention or help from people when it suits her, but doesn’t always give the same back. I also find her quite lazy and feel like she expects other people to pick up the slack for her. She’s also constantly off sick from work, which has added to my frustration with her.

I’m on maternity leave at the moment, but we work together, so I’ll inevitably have to see her again when I go back, and I sometimes see her around town too. I’m happy to be civil and say hello, but I don’t want to be close friends anymore or have her heavily involved in my life or around my daughter.

I don’t want a massive confrontation or falling out because I know that would just create more stress. I’d rather quietly step back and keep her at arm’s length. She’s started messaging me again recently, but I don’t feel any need to rush to reply or go back to how things were. I’m not trying to be nasty; I just don’t want to pretend everything is fine when I don’t feel that way anymore.

Updates

1 d

she's done a lot of shitty things to people but manages to come out the victim everytime. Now she's done something thats so against my values and I don’t want her around me and especially my daughter

Updates

6 h

I waited two days to reply as she's never in a rush to reply to me. She text saying "Hey how's it going " I've just said "good thanks super busy with felicity, hope your well" just keeping it civil. Hope she doesn't ask to meet up

[WhitneySnow]

What did she do that was so bad? Is this the woman who got pregnant to get government benefits?

[Babyseal23]

Yes but its gotten worse. The dad said he didn't want anything to do with her so she decided to abort the baby. Its actually makes me feel sick just saying that.

This is basically what she did to her last baby daddy. Got pregnant so he'd stay but this guy said no so she's using abortion as a form of contraception.

Her old baby daddy is engaged now too and going to be a dad again. All very strange timing and super fucked up.

[Babyseal23]

When i told my husband he said he didn't want this women anywere near are daughter and I respect at. He already doesn't like this women for a number of reasons

[Babyseal23]

I've only told my two closest female friends and my husband about whats she done

[Babyseal23]

Im pro choice depending on the situation but I think its wrong to deliberately try and get pregnant and trick someone into a relationship and then when it doesn't work out to throw a babys life in the trash like it was nothing and it was just a prop in her game

[Paige2006]

Don't do anything with them except business related things

[jaksone2]

I think you’re doing the right thing you don’t have to be rude or have a big confrontation just keep things polite and maintain your boundaries

[strateguy632]

pretend you dont hear her.

[Anonymous]

just stay away from them

[Babyseal23]

Im trying but what am I gonna do when she's waving to me in town or work... when she's in? Or once my daughter becomes more aware and says "mummy there's a lady waving at you"