Everybody loves my friend's daughter - aargh!

[BoundandRebound]

According to my friend, every conversation about what her 8 year old is doing from music lessons to drama to school to walking into a restaurant involves the phrase "they absolutely love- adore x in there"

It's nice

But wearing

My child of course is just background noise

I remember saying to DH, when DS1 was at pre-school, how it is amusing that we all think our child is better, nice, handsomer, cleverer than everyone else's.

I mentioned, as an example, shamefaced, that "I often find myself thinking that DS1 must be their [the pre-school staff's] favourite, but I know that's stupid and I only think that because I'm his Mum."

DH looked horrified. He said "Well of COURSE he's their favourite. You can tell he is."

I said "Er no, DH, you just think that because you're his Dad."

He said "But he MUST be. He's so sweet!"

And DH is the most sensible, rational man you could ever meet.

TBH if pre-school staff, restauranteurs, teachers etc make parents think that they love their children, then they are doing a bloody good job.

littlemog I started pointing out a few years ago that IMO a lot of professional golfers have . . . how shall I put this tactfully . . . stupid names. DH refutes this and I must admit in recent years golfers' names seem to have become more sensible. However I was beside myself with delight to see a Mardy Fish on the leader board.

He said "But he MUST be. He's so sweet!"

:o

Yes! Mardy Fish! I knew I had heard the word before and I think it must be that.

Love the story about your husband btw.

. . . there is also Sean O'Hair

My sister sat in a Doctors waiting room feeling ever so sorry for the mum sat opposite her. She thought the other mum must be feeling so jealous when she saw my sister's beautiful baby girl, when she had got lumbered with a great fat ugly lump of a boy for a baby. My sister really felt for the other woman so much.

She came to her senses after a while, and realised the other woman was probably thinking the same about her, hence her telling me this story. But I think some people never do come to their senses and remain deluded.

Mardy Fish is a tennis player. Surely there can't be two professional sportsmen with that name!

Just grin and bear it. We have over the years. Worst things in life to worry about.

Spot on ZigZag

She sounds intensely irritating. Out of interest, what do you think of her DD? Is she particularly likeable, adorable etc or is she just ordinary? ie is her mum simply boastful or boastful and deluded?

People who work in restaurants and shops often show interest in customers children - it makes good business sense. If someone thinks you adore their child, (even if you secretly think 'Violett Elizabeth Bott' every time they come in) they will spend more money.

She's not doing her DD any favours. My DS seems to have a mesmerising effect on people. He's only 12 but middle aged women seem to go bananas for him. One total stranger approached us and said "Oh God, he's like a young David Essex". We make a point of ripping the shit out of him so he doesn't get too big headed

Yanbu. I have a friend a bit like this. Her worst habit is to gushingly recount completely run of the mill things her dd has said, as though they are the funniest and cutest thing a child has ever said. If I don't respond in a fashion that is charmed and impressed enough, she will tell me again a bit more slowly just to be sure that I get it. I did the first time, and having a dd the same age, know it's exactly the same sort of stuff my own daughter says, but which I realise is interesting only to me, and therefore I don't make an "oh guess what dd said to x the other day?" anecdote.

Of course, like your friend's dd, everywhere my friend's dd goes, she is adored and loved and everyone gushes over her. My friend does not realise that my daughter, along with everyone else's kids, gets the same treatment in the same places and it's just down to people being nice. She really believes her dd is singled out for specialdom.

It is tedious to bear. I hate the way she tries to force me into enthusing about her too, as though I don't have my own kids to be charmed (quietly) by. As she is a terrific pal in all other ways, I just grimace inwardly...but I do know exactly what you mean OP.

We all think our children are the best thing ever, the danger is when we expect others to feel the same way. They don't.

That's exactly it. My friend is so caught up in her dd's adorableness, that she expects that I should feel the same, hence feeling the need to repeat dd related anecdotes until I respond in a way that is suitably charmed and impressed, even though they describe stuff that is not noteworthy in the least. It makes me feel so awkward, and I really wish she wouldn't do it. It's so deluded.

mardy doesnt mean wimp here-it means sullen, sulky

I know some people go on about seeing these kinds of updates on their fb, but at least you can hide them, and the friend can get in (a partial share of) their quota of enthusing without directly bothering anyone face to face

Bumble - quite. I don't know how to respond to her stories without appearing either false or rude. It makes me feel so cornered and put on the spot.
She always follows quoting her dd's run of the mill slaver, with cackles of delighted laughter, while looking at me and wondering why I'm not rosy cheeked with pleasure over her dd too. So she repeats it because she thinks I can't have got it the first time, seeing as I don't seem all that tickled.
Of course, I smile and say 'aw' or something, but that's not good enough...

Really really really wish she wouldn't do it. Even my dh comments on it and says how bonkers and deluded it is.

I've known someone like that in the past; I actually met her on a parenting forum but did meet up with her a couple of times and she was even worse in person. Her Facebook was always full of statuses about what her son had said, which to be honest was just normal everyday toddler stuff, and she posted photos constantly of her son which everyone was expected to gush over.

YANBU - its nothing to do with the child, whom I sure is totally adorable. But its just bad manners surely?