Passive-aggressive schoolgate mum....rumours of me having voted Brexit

[NotVeryChattySchoolMum]

Been doing primary school runs for the past 7 years - all pretty good so far. Even when our kids had squabbles, we all had good humour.

Then one of my DS best friend's mum turned sour and stopped all social invites, incl playdates (outside birthday parties) even though the boys were still close friends. About 3 yeas ago.

I felt she was being...awkward. Not neutral/just lost interest. I was resigned and put it down to 'one of those things hearing people' do as they tire of communication barriers with deaf people (me), deaf are used to constant social isolation. All written communication involving children were very civil.

However she was being unpleasant last time our families bumped into each other last time and I decided to text her, what's going on. She fobbed off with 'nothing, I was just tired, please don't take it personally'. I pressed further, 'No, come on, you have been acting so weird way longer than that!'

She said it's to do with me voting Brexit. Apparently my DS told her DS. She said sorry, it is my right to vote whoever I want, and she was trying to be civil but given the profound impact on her life as EU citizen, she can't look at me and not think of me voting Brexit, sorry to have made more spectacle of it than she should have.

Except...I voted Remain. My DS for some reason speculated I did vote Brexit and told his friend (both about 7-8 yrs old at the time). I was blissfully unaware.

So I texted back to that mum: 'Wow, if that's being honest, then I appreciate honesty. I don't generally tell kids who I vote because it's for them to think for themselves who's the best to vote, not copy what their parents or mates vote for. PS. I voted Remain'

She replied. 'Sorry if I got my wires crossed'.

Note - she couldn't resist adding 'if'.

Stone-walled further attempts at open-dialogue and everything I said was picked at worst possible interpretation and deflected badly on me, like I know nothing about Brexit.

Basically she made me feel like I wasn't worth engaging with.

Then I heard from my DS (now 10) that he thought I voted Tories last GE and told his friend. He probably told his mum. Also, not true.

So I am pretty screwed, lol.

No apologies from the mum. She doesn't seem to care.

I wish to ignore this and it seems so ridiculous that she acted on childrens' speculation. Educated 40+ something middle class woman with 4 languages did this. She can't have had that much respect for me to start with.

So it happened. Please tell me how not to be sensitive and feel shit, sigh.

[Veterinari]

I think you need to tell your child to stop wildly speculating about your politics and spreading rumours.

[gamerchick]

Does nobody think that it's a really strange thing for young kids to talk about with their pals... Twice?

I've not met a bunch of kids take much notice of politics.

[DowntonCrabby]

You’ve have had the proverbial Mother of all lucky escapes!!!

[NotVeryChattySchoolMum]

Yep, you heard right, folks, about kids doing politics. My DS was recently doing this "I hope you didn't vote Tories! They are killing disabled people., etc." at adults he meets. It's always "[friend's name, that mum's son] said this and that", when questioned.

(full marks for those who spotted the amazing irony)

[Oneliner]

Brexit's got a lot to answer for.

[Mlou32]

Why have we got to the stage where we think it's ok to treat people with contempt due to who they vote for? People generally vote for who they think will benefit them the most. That's it. We live in a democratic society and folk should be able to vote whatever way they please. If people don't want a democratic society or don't respect the right of an individual to vote whichever way they think is best then they should go and live in the likes of North Korea where democracy doesn't exist. Small minded people piss me off, can you tell?

Anyway, I personally would be glad to be shot of such a small minded idiot and I think she has done you a favour by pretty much ending the friendship. Remain civil but don't go back to her if she tries to rekindle the friendship after discovering that you voted in an 'acceptable' way.

[Scapegoatforlife]

I'd be having a word with my son about lying and shit stirring.

[BritneyPeedOnALadybug]

Yep, you heard right, folks, about kids doing politics. My DS was recently doing this "I hope you didn't vote Tories! They are killing disabled people., etc." at adults he meets. It's always "[friend's name, that mum's son] said this and that", when questioned.

(full marks for those who spotted the amazing irony)

What irony?

Am I the only one that doesn’t get it?

[NotVeryChattySchoolMum]

Sorry, I didn't add information I thought I did.

That was a good lesson to speak to kids about confidentiality of some things.