A friend of mine is also a PT, she's a very nice, conscientious woman who has good intentions and wants to do the right thing. When we first met, before I knew her well, I inquired about personal training and she was eager to sign me up. I specifically asked if this would be a good idea as friends, and she assured me it would be fine.
But it's definitely affecting our friendship, at least it is on my end. In general, she has a very mothering personality in that she treats everyone - of all ages - as children. It's just how she is, I suppose. It really put me off at first; she is my PT and my guide in that area, but she shouldn't be treating me like a child. I'm a professional woman who is successful in her career and home life, so there's really no need to baby me. I did realize later on that this is really, I believe, just a personality trait of hers, so I've been working on not letting it get to me anymore.
Beyond that, there is an ongoing tendancy for her to weigh in on everything in my life. While we train together, she engages in chit-chat with me, and any time I tell her ANYTHING (whether it's a topic of work or home life or mutual friends) she immediately starts doling out completely unsolicited advice-- I am not the one who is coming to her asking for her input on my life - she is asking ME about my life as a FRIEND (you see where the line is getting blurred), and then taking on an advisory position when it was completely unncessary to do so, telling me what I should do. For example, she asks me how my mother's visit was, so I told her it was great, what we did, and how I'd felt challenged in trying to entertain her properly (normal stuff you'd talk about with a friend who was asking), and she immediately launches into a 10 minute lecture about what I SHOULD do and how I SHOULD view these visits (did I ask??) and on and on and on. She does this with absolutely everything I talk to her about, making me not want to answer her questions or engage in conversations with her. So, in my opinion, the line between PT and 'friend' IS getting blurred, but by her, not by me. I'm pretty normal with her.
It's to the point where she will text message me as a friend would, chatting about this or that, and then when I reply, she'll follow it up with "so did you get any cardio in over the weekend?" which makes me want to scream because it's CONSTANT. It's like we just can't keep these 2 relationships separate. I know she's just trying to do what she thinks is right, by asking me and keeping me accountable and checking in, but my instinct tells me she's not going about this the right way. What do you think?
I don't want to end our PT relationship, but I'm starting to like her less and less as a friend because of how over the top she is with this PT/friend relationship. Is this something you think I could talk to her about, and if so, what should I say? I don't want to hurt or embarass her, but she's driving me crazy.
But it's definitely affecting our friendship, at least it is on my end. In general, she has a very mothering personality in that she treats everyone - of all ages - as children. It's just how she is, I suppose. It really put me off at first; she is my PT and my guide in that area, but she shouldn't be treating me like a child. I'm a professional woman who is successful in her career and home life, so there's really no need to baby me. I did realize later on that this is really, I believe, just a personality trait of hers, so I've been working on not letting it get to me anymore.
Beyond that, there is an ongoing tendancy for her to weigh in on everything in my life. While we train together, she engages in chit-chat with me, and any time I tell her ANYTHING (whether it's a topic of work or home life or mutual friends) she immediately starts doling out completely unsolicited advice-- I am not the one who is coming to her asking for her input on my life - she is asking ME about my life as a FRIEND (you see where the line is getting blurred), and then taking on an advisory position when it was completely unncessary to do so, telling me what I should do. For example, she asks me how my mother's visit was, so I told her it was great, what we did, and how I'd felt challenged in trying to entertain her properly (normal stuff you'd talk about with a friend who was asking), and she immediately launches into a 10 minute lecture about what I SHOULD do and how I SHOULD view these visits (did I ask??) and on and on and on. She does this with absolutely everything I talk to her about, making me not want to answer her questions or engage in conversations with her. So, in my opinion, the line between PT and 'friend' IS getting blurred, but by her, not by me. I'm pretty normal with her.
It's to the point where she will text message me as a friend would, chatting about this or that, and then when I reply, she'll follow it up with "so did you get any cardio in over the weekend?" which makes me want to scream because it's CONSTANT. It's like we just can't keep these 2 relationships separate. I know she's just trying to do what she thinks is right, by asking me and keeping me accountable and checking in, but my instinct tells me she's not going about this the right way. What do you think?
I don't want to end our PT relationship, but I'm starting to like her less and less as a friend because of how over the top she is with this PT/friend relationship. Is this something you think I could talk to her about, and if so, what should I say? I don't want to hurt or embarass her, but she's driving me crazy.