Being spoke down to at work by someone younger

What happened that she spoke to you in that way? For example was it to do with you dealing with a child? Or something else?

Even though she has a higher qualification doesn't mean you can speak to you in an undermining way... some people like feeling superior. Ignore her as best as you can even though it's probably not ideal.

Why does she think you are not competent? Are you?

Perhaps if you spoke grammatically correct English you would command more respect.

That's what I was thinking too. Bet she is not being rude at all but you just don't like that someone younger than you is more qualified.

You're on the wrong thread.

Is she being rude, or are you expecting her to be in some way deferential to you because you're older and a mum? On the surface of it, YABU- your choice to have children and your age has no bearing on your work.

Are you actually being spoken down on or is it that you think that because you have an issue taking feedback / direction from someone that is younger than you and you're blowing it up in your head?

I would do nothing more than contact the dance/activity group now and explain that you will not be taking the child home and if the child is left alone at the group it's their problem and not yours and one of the group leaders will have to take the child home, which if that happens I think you will find the child want be allowed to attend anyway, how does child get to group to start with someone must drop them off

Call it out in front of everyone in a calm way “why do you speak so rudely to me colleague?” “Please stop speaking to me in such a disrespectful manner colleague”

if you keep calling it out in a calm and respectful way, you will give her no where to go and she will be embarrassed

No one should be talking down to anyone. However, you seem to be thinking that your age and being a mum means you have higher status. If she's picking up on this she may think you're not respecting her and her role and qualification because she's young, and may be reacting by putting her big boots on with you. If it were me I'd make a point of ensuring I afforded her all due respect and see if that helps. If it doesn't then you need to keep note if when she speaks to you disrespectfully and if necessary take it through the proper channels.

If you have a problem with how you are being treated then fair enough but you shouldn't consider age unless the other person is being ageist towards you.

If they aren't then ironically you are being ageist

The age is irrelevant. If she's rude that's not great, but makes no difference if shes 19 or 49

As others have said, age shouldn’t have anything to do with it. She shouldn’t be rude at all, regardless of whether she’s higher up than you, older than you, or more qualified. Not even sure why you added thats she’s younger, as it’a not really relevent. I’m 10 years younger than most of the people I manage, I’d never be rude to any of them, but they don’t get automatic respect because they’re older.

Practice your eye rolling skills when she speaks to you in that way 😉

Nobody should be being rude at work. She might be more highly qualified but she clearly lacks maturity.
However, be careful about believing yourself superior based on age and the fact you have reproduced and she hasn't. The whole 'respect your elders' doesn't come into it here. You are colleagues and you should all be respecting each other anyway.

It depends what you mean by speaking down to you. People often have managers who are younger than them who are entitled to tell their staff what to do and how to do things.

Is this member of staff more senior than you due to her qualifications?

This is the poster who works in a nursery and is working with a young woman with childcare qualifications but no children. They OP has children so has plenty of experience and the other woman is lording it over her.

Agree. It does sound like you have a bit of a chip on your shoulder because she is younger and higher qualified. Does she speak to everyone like it ? Maybe it’s her way.

You being a mum has absolutely nothing to do with it. It’s like her saying she speaks to you rudely because she has a Fiat 500 and you don’t.

She shouldn’t be speaking to you rudely but it seems like you possibly have a bit of a chip on your shoulder with the fact she is younger and more qualified than you. Are you sure you’re not looking to feel negatively about her?

You are 28, not 8.
Talk to her. Ask her. Explain how she comes across.
you are both adults.
Act as such.

Have you posted this before? Sounds really familiar!

Have you spoken to her about it? Can you ask to move to another room?

If she is actually being rude. Maybe she is a higher grade and is just telling the OP what she should be doing and the OP doesn't like that.

I disagree that age doesn’t matter - age is tied to experience, both life experience and workplace experience. A 19 has little of either regardless of her paper qualifications.

That doesn’t mean that older people are always right, of course, before the obtuse brigade come out and accuse me of saying something I haven’t, but a 19 year old knows precious little of anything. She should not be spoken down to because of that, but she certainly shouldn’t speak down to others with more experience.

Not sure what you can do about it other than avoid her if possible, and challenge it politely where you can.

If someone is being rude to you address it. The age is irrelevant in a work environment although I can appreciate that would make it more annoying.