to think some of the mums at school are really odd?

[vintageteacups]

I've been living in our home town for the past couple of years and previously grew up there (as did DH).

It's a fairly wealthy, snobby town (newcomers are snobby, not locals who have grown up there). I have some okay friends at the school drop offs/pick ups and regularly see them for a cuppaand cake etc.

However, there are a few really odd women, who know my name, DCs names and a fair but about me, yet sometimes, I can walk past them and say "morning, how are you?" and they'll just literally smile/mumble/stare blankly and carry on walking!!

I'm amazed that anyone can be that rude. One lady, who came up and touched me on the arm 2 weeks ago, telling me her dd would love to come to dd's party, actually just walks straight past me and vaguely smiles every other time.

Another woman who usually says hi fairly normally, saw me yesterday, I said "Hi ----, how are you are?" and she did a smile and carried on walking.

Are some people just odd? I would never dream of blanking someone (even a stranger I don't know) in the street if they openly went out of their way to say hi. Weird huh?

[worraliberty]

So you're saying you want words rather than a smile in response?

That's fair enough I suppose, though it's not something that would bother me.

A smile is a nice enough acknowledgement in my view.

[bubblecoral]

I really think you are looking too much into this and trying to see the worst in people.

Maybe hang back a little and try and watch from the outside, I'm sure you will see plenty of people doing this with others that you have seen chatting for ages with at different times.

It's not easy to be smiley and sociable every single time you have to take your kids to school.

I'm sure someone wrote a quote on her once that went 'Never atribute to malice what you can atribute to stupidity'

I like that, and try to remember it because I think it's quite useful in situations like this.

[vintageteacups]

Hmm - the London-not-saying-hi-thing. perhaps that's it.

When the party woman spoke to me she said:

(arm touch) "oh, vintage, dd would love to come to your dd's party - she's very excited about it all".

Yesterday - I say hello, she says nothing but just almost pulls her mouth into a smile but that's it.

As I said before, I don't want (or even attempt to) stop and chat - just a quick hi as I walk past to acknowledge them - isn't that what humans usually do?

[vintageteacups]

Well bubble - they're all stupid then .

Whoever said about the smile and mumble - I meant either or, not both generally. They just seem so two faced.

[vintageteacups]

Perhaps I'll ask a mutal friend or two what they think?

[worraliberty]

Well perhaps party woman had something on her mind yesterday?

[K999]

I'm amazed you even notice tbh! I don't even register the folk who smile or nod back.....I just smile so as not to appear rude and rush out the playground...

[vintageteacups]

What and every other day for months on end?

[vintageteacups]

Okay - maybe I'm just uber-polite then .

[sparklyjewlz]

YANBU: it's rude not to say hi back. Even if you're in a hurry.

[Gooseberrybushes]

Brutally honest? Maybe they think you are a bit full on. Brutally honest response? Snub them. Tis a difficult to acknowledge social fact that people want to be in clubs that don't want them. They don't want to be clung to, drawn in, depended on. You are different and not interested in any social games, just pleasantness. Be rude and wait for them to be nice to you again.

[worraliberty]

Perhaps she doesn't like you anymore?

I don't know..the possibilities are endless.

As I say, it's not something that would even enter my head to be honest. People either smile/nod/mumble or chat. If they're in a hurry or they've got something on their mind they might blank me completely. But really I've got other things to think about rather than the reaction of a few mums on the school run.

[Gooseberrybushes]

And by the way, no, they aren't odd at all.

[vintageteacups]

I wasn't friends with them - they are simply school mum acquaintences.
So many other mums and dads say hi; just some who do the above.

Gooseberry - how is "hi/hello" a bit full on?

Do you all live in London?

Thanks sparkly -another polite person

[vintageteacups]

Gooseberry - I don't quite get your post - I didn't want to be friends with them necessarily.

It's kind of like standing at the till and not saying hello to the person on the till - I'd never do that either.

[Gooseberrybushes]

Well they probably think you do want to be friends with them.

[Gooseberrybushes]

Ok - you are perfect, they are total weirdos.

[K999]

Personally, I think you're over thinking it all.

Not everyone can be arsed to say hi to every single person they meet.....

[vintageteacups]

That's what I thought goosberry

[ruddynorah]

You do sound full on. they smiled at you, why isn't that enough. party woman had a specific thing to say to you that day. doesn't mean she wants chit chat every day.

[vintageteacups]

ruddynora - as stated perviously up the thread, I don't want to chit day; we're literally passing on the path. It's a small market town, not bustling streets of Birmingham or something!

There could nobody else on the path.
Blimey - the whole being polite thing really has gone out of the window!

[vintageteacups]

chit chat - not chit - whoops!

[vintageteacups]

Not wanting to argue but nora how could think that saying "hi" to someone makes me sound 'full on'?

[joric]

Keep smiling and saying hi - if they don't smile back or respond it's their problem , not yours!

[joric]

Do you live in St***d by any chance?!