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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

adult to adult bullying

83 replies

prettystuffedreally · 28/09/2011 16:46

Am not sure where to post this - more a WWYD and have name changed.

We moved here several years ago. It is rural so only one primary school possible, one secondary etc and everyone kows everyone.

I joined the PTA as soon as we arrived and dd started school. I had a disagreement with the lady who ran it - small thing, no shouting or anything. We agreed to differ but it turned out that I was right. Since than not only has this lady refused to talk to me but she tells everyone else that if they talk to me then she will not talk to them (sounds so childish I know but it is true). This has been going on years now. When a new person arrives the lady explains to them that they can eiter talk to me or to her but not both. The oproblem is that this lady is very influential socially locally (they are loaded and throw lots of parties for adults and children, run many of the local village events in therigarden etc) and so no one wants to fall out with her. I make friends but she then drops them from her invite list and actually tells them Shock theat they need to stop talking to me if they want to be "her friend". As this means that their children (as well as them) get left out and so eventually most give up talking to me :(

Has anyone else come acroos this?

OP posts:
kelly2000 · 28/09/2011 17:37

pretty,
If she is getting her children involved by telling other children not to go to the parties, go straight to the school and report her children for bullying, because that is bullying, and it will not get better.

Chundle · 28/09/2011 17:38

Omg what a cow! I'd be sorely tempted to hire someone to take the bitch out - permanently

WishIwereAtTheWiesnProst · 28/09/2011 17:41

Can you and dh try making friends outside the local area? A nearby city? join a group,cycling, hiking.painting, museum,lanuages?

prettystuffedreally · 28/09/2011 17:44

dh does not really socalise - it all revolves around rugby here and he doesn't play (hates it). dd was on the brownies waiting list for so long that she got too old :(

OP posts:
lifechanger · 28/09/2011 17:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

butterflyexperience · 28/09/2011 17:48

Is there a medium in your village who could chair a meeting with you both there an a few other influential people in your viallage?

Contact the local police and see if this comes under some kind of harassment?
Even I the local police fob you off take it higher.
Be heard and play this like a political game. I there a locally newsletter or newspaper that could be willing to cover this story about you plead o this woman to stop destroying you socially and how she refuses to discuss this with you.

I net a million squid that this woman thrives on social status and reputation.

Play it smart and start to threaten what's at her heart she may back down

This is an awful predicament or you to be in and do not deserve such horrid treatment.

Contact your local paper and show them this thread.
Angry on your behalf

hester · 28/09/2011 17:50

My god, that is shocking. How awful for you and your family.

prettystuffedreally · 28/09/2011 17:51

Chundle dh has offered to many times Grin
dh and I do have friends, and I have joined clubs etc - most of the time I am fine and sort of get on with my life and forget it. I talk to the grandparents picking up at school and/or the few people who do talk to me. Also the children are pretty selfcontained (we have several) and so it is not bad. It is just that it really gets to me every now and again when something crops up (like today - another party that everyone is going to except me :( ). I know rationally that it doesn't matter, and I know that I have got some really good friends etc but it still really hurts everytime there is another "incident". I like the vicar idea though - hadn't thought of that (we do not actually have a vicar (too small for a whole vicar to ourselves :) ) but we have a really lovely reader who I think that i may talk to about it. The lady concerend does not go to church but some of the others locally go to the children's services each month

OP posts:
butterflyexperience · 28/09/2011 17:52

Bah loads of spelling mistakes!

I want to write to your local paper for you.
Anyone know if this can be civil case? Any lawyers around?

prettystuffedreally · 28/09/2011 17:54

this woman thrives on social status and reputation she does but oddly she also seems to lack confidence (I'm assuming - lots of cosmetic surgury for things that no one can see a problem with before she has them done etc .). I think that this is part of the problem - ie she needs her frined to constantly prove that tehy like her by doing what she says (ie ignoring me).

OP posts:
butterflyexperience · 28/09/2011 17:54

Op. Please contact your vicar and ask vicar to act as a medium and have another meeting where you, this woman and several other influential village people are.

Also get some local news interest going.

Will really shame her

butterflyexperience · 28/09/2011 17:55

Insecurity usually does fuel peoples nastiness

prettystuffedreally · 28/09/2011 17:55

Anyone know if this can be civil case? they are too rich for us to begin to do anything like that.

OP posts:
toptramp · 28/09/2011 18:20

Oh gosh try not to move because of this bitch even though it may be tempting. Just go up to her and tell her to stop or you will go round telling everyone the true story. If people are ignoring you because she told them to then they are sad and not true friend material anyway.

Yourefired · 28/09/2011 18:25

I'm so sorry for what you and your children are putting up with. I have seen this happen at our school, albeit on a much reduced scale. The family involved ended-up moving their child to a neighbouring school where things have improved greatly. I know this is not an option for you but just wanted you to know that others have also been through it.

I don't think that confrontation or competition will help. I think that approaching the head, church reader and other village elders is a better option. They will have a better view of the nuances at play here that us lot and can I hope find a way forward. Unfortunately there are some very unkind people in this world.

toptramp · 28/09/2011 18:28

Do you really want to party with these twats anyway? Do you want your kids to party with these twats too?

Hardgoing · 28/09/2011 18:39

If you have some friends, and your children have some friends, then I think you have done all you can do. You can't make people want to invite you to their party (and how do you know everyone else is going, there may well be other excluded people). I have been excluded from parties, as I said, before by one particular mum at the school, but it hasn't ruined my life as there are usually plenty of people to go around.

What is it stopping you doing that you would like to do (apart from going to her/others in her group's parties and why would you want to go to them anyway)? Is it inviting a particular mum for coffee? Is it having a pizza night for your daughter? Find out what it is that you want to do and then just do it. I get the impression it all feels a bit hopeless.

kelly2000 · 28/09/2011 19:09

Why do you not get involved in the church too. They normally have children's parties, and a social side too.
Alos as she has no confidence, i think gently challenging her in front of people in the way I described earlier is the best way. Bullies do not normally like having to explain or justify their behaviour. so long as you stay calm, and approach it the "I heard this awful rumour about you, is it true" type way then she cannot easily try to claim you are being nasty to her.
Also report her children for bullying.

Meteorite · 28/09/2011 19:25

Agree with kelly2000.

SnakeOnCrack · 28/09/2011 19:26

I can't believe adults listen and obey these sorts of orders from someone! Is she telling them you murder kittens or something or do they know the truth? If they do, they're a bunch of wankers.

If only we could someone recreate the scenario in never been kissed where one of us could infiltrate the 'inner circle' and keep telling them how cool and nice you are until you're accepted and you can oust this bitch from the group..

What makes it even sadder though, is that this is real life, not an American high school film.

carabos · 28/09/2011 19:36

This is just awful - she sounds like she has Narc tendencies and that means keep well away on every level. Cultivate your other friendships and don't give her anything that might be regarded as "food" for her narcissism. I feel for you.

deburca · 28/09/2011 19:42

OP i feel for you, havent had experience of this myself but knew a very unscrupulous friend of a friend of mine who did. Herself, her dp and children were all ostracised by this one super bitch who basically ran the school social scene. She constantly pushed and picked, snide comments - in jokes etc etc.

The final straw came when she commented quite nastily on my friends choice of clothes for her dc. My friend told her that she was sure that she didnt mean to sound so nasty but that she was an older generation than my friend and therefore couldnt be expected to understand why some of the children were dressed more trendily than others, cue a systematic onslaught of nastiness, sending to coventry etc etc.

Friend approached her, asked what the issue was - was told she was common and not the sort of person that "one wished to mix with". It all escalated, friend's children ignored at lunch time etc, anyway - friend lost all reason, went to police, said she was getting dodgy calls etc (dont think she was), said that this lady had threatened her (again untrue from what I hear) etc etc and basically got the police to go to her door and speak to her.

Friend told all the playground what had happened and the school, local cub scouts, girl guides, vicar/parson etc. Nasty lady was apparently apopleptic with rage but couldnt do or say anything as it would prove friend's point!

Nasty lady backed off, friend smiles sweetly and asked local vicar to give sunday service on forgiveness and accepting people with all sort of health issues, ie mental health.

Honestly would not mess with this lady! lol - it worked though!!

sausagesandmarmelade · 28/09/2011 19:45

she sounds like an absolute cow....and, quite frankly, anyone who allows her to dictate what friendships they form isn't worthy of your friendship.

spiderpig8 · 28/09/2011 19:55

yes i have seen this happen,village life can be the pits.
I really don't know what you can do escept move, as she holds all the cards

kelly2000 · 28/09/2011 19:59

deburca, love it. My now police can tell if you have had calls or not so might backfire now.

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