To think this doesn't bode well for DS at school?

[Madascheese]

I am fiercely proud of and a bit of lioness about littlemad so will admit that up front.

He starts school next month and there is one mother/child combination at that school that I increasingly dread coming into contact with.

Mother has been a bit standoffish throughout playgroup (not just with me) but is the type who's in the middle of everything and clearly attempting to set an example to the rest of us in that fashion stakes.

Daughter frankly comes across as a bit of a brat,needs to be the centre of attention
(seeing a pattern?)

Daughter has been a bit horrid to littlemad on a couple of occasions most recently accusing him of poking her in the eye.

Now I'd be prepared to accept this as 'oh it happens with kids' and apologise, if I hadn't seen the alleged incident, the daughter was nowhere near littlemad, just kicked off because she couldn't hold the thing she was after (which LM didn't have) then ran off to her Mum (who wasn't anywhere near when this happened I saw daughter with Mum crying and asked if she was ok, to be told littlemad had poked daughter in the eye, I said, sorry don't think so I was there cue bit of back and forwards about how I shouldn't tell lies I should just apologise and me saying, sorry but littlemad didn't do anything there.. FFS

Later at the same event mother came back to find me for another go and to remind me that I ought to practise being a bit nicer to people....and that I certainly shouldn't be so aggressive.. the last thing I could ever be described as is aggressive.

I said, clearly a misunderstanding there sorry you feel that way...

BUT AIBU to think this is going to be a nightmare situation for the next 7 years? I bloody hate stuff like this...

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

Yeah, probably won't be much fun, but not much you can do about it. It'll be the same whatever school you send him to - there's always one!

Or you could home educate! I read so many MN posts that make me so grateful I don't have to put up with all the crap that goes with school!

[wahwahwah]

Avoid, avoid, avoid!

We have some like this and I just plug in my I-pod, put on my sunglasses and jog off after drop off. You need ot develop a thick skin and teach the little ones to do so too (or the Queen Bees - and mini-Bees - will make life miserable for you both).

Also practise saying 'Oh well, some people are just like that' in a light and breezy way. I have yet to come up with a child-friendly version of 'some people are just jerks'.

[mitochondria]

Hmm, tricky. Although I suppose with 30ish children in the class the chances are you will come across parents and children you don't get on with.
I think you've handled it well - don't rise to it. Remain calm, smile and ignore as much as possible.
And hope they're not in the same class!

[Madascheese]

ah, and therein lies the problem...

small village school, only 9 in the year group :(

Queen bee and mini queen bee...loving that - is a perfect description

[muddleduck]

The good news is that it is much easier to avoid at school than in a play group. Just find yourself some friends and ignore then nutters.

[SloanyPony]

I've had worse, in that there at least is no actual violence involved!

If you think she's a dick, many others will too, and it will all resolve itself somehow. Trust in the power of the universe!!!

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

I think you should just go 'Riiiiiiight' with one eyebrow raised and then stalk off enigmatically.

[muddleduck]

you might find this line useful...

"please don't speak to me like I'm one of the children"

[wahwahwah]

Ahhhh the Queen B came from when I worked. It was what I called the one in the office who swanked around as if she owned the place. The 'B' doesn't stand for Bee either!

[mitochondria]

Ah, so no chance they won't have much to do with each other then.
I agree with SloanyPony that you won't be the only one the mad bee-woman is rude to.
Feel a bit sorry for the mini-bee.

[ksld]

Ignore and avoid is the best advice. It is harder when there is only 9 in the Year - but I presume they will be a mixed year group class? So some other Year 1 children to play with?

Any incidents at school - whether littlemad is guilty or not - you just nod calmly and repeat 'as this happened at school I am happy to let the teachers deal with it'.

And just pray Mini-bee doesn't make your DS one of her best buddies...

[Madascheese]

trusts power of universe

Practices eye rolling

adopts Mary Poppins outlook

[Madascheese]

ksld that's actually the thing I'm most concerned about, she will run rings round him and I might have to be friendly for their sakes...