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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WIBU to just say what I'm really thinking?

62 replies

MolotovCocktail · 03/12/2013 16:01

I'd appreciate some perspective and honesty with this, please.

So, I have 2 dds, aged almost 5yo and 19mo. Both are tall; dd1 is slender, dd2 not so much - just normal toddler chubbiness. Not overweight.

There is another mum of a girl who is in my dd1's class who is nice enough and does comment on how cute my dd2 is. Her children (age 5 and 3) are very small - at the other end of the spectrum to my dcs.

Lately however, since returning to school in September, she makes a lot of comments re my daughter's sizes and about dd2 in particular. I usually bite my tongue and let it pass but I have to admit, its getting right on my tits.

I carried dd2 on my hip to the school gates today and the latest gem was 'God, I bet she weighs a ton!' I answered 'No, not at all. She's just a normal weight'.

Biscuit

I think the other mum comments because she has an issue with her children's small statures. There was a time over the summer when she commented on my dd2's foot size (she was only a 5 at the time!). Her 3yo was a 5 and I said 'you mean he's still in toddler shoes?!' It stopped the conversation.

WIBU to, next time she comments on either of my dd's heights/weights, say 'Every time I see you lately, you're making comments about her weight. Why do you keep going on?'

I don't really want to make issue, but like I say, I'm feeling irritated.

OP posts:
ItsDecisionTime · 04/12/2013 11:11

Oh dear. Obsessive mums comparing their kids to make themselves feel better.

MolotovCocktail · 04/12/2013 11:30

Not really, Decision. I'm just a mum who is tired of another mum keep making comments about my youngest dd's height/weight. If you look at the op, I wondered whether it would be reasonable to confront her.

OP posts:
ItsDecisionTime · 04/12/2013 11:39

If I encountered any of this playground malarkey, I'd just stay away from her. She'll soon get the message.

Goldenbear · 04/12/2013 11:50

Most white English kids are blond and blue eyed - are they? I'd be interested to know the statistics?

poopadoop · 04/12/2013 12:05

hi goldenbear - i said many are, at least in the area I'm familiar with. The main point is that the OP's comments smack of a beauty contest between toddlers and it seems a bit pointless to go down that road. All children are beautiful to their parents and it seems weird to think of kids as conforming to western ideals of beauty or whatever. I don't know why she can't just politely ask the other mum not to comment on her dd's appearance and be done!

MolotovCocktail · 12/12/2013 10:44

Just to update: the mum came up to me this morning at the school gate to say that she had been worried that what she'd said the other week was offensive; that the 'she must be heavy' comment seemed to suggest something she didn't mean.

I just brushed it off very casually, said not to worry, that all is fine.

OP posts:
cornflakegirl · 12/12/2013 11:32

Oooh - do you think she's a MNetter?! Guess she picked up on your annoyance one way or another, so hopefully you won't need to say anything.

BaconFrazzles · 12/12/2013 12:33

Just avoid her.

I don't engage with people like that. If you see her in passing and she mentions your daughter's weight/size/height/shoe size just ignore her comment and be 'terribly busy' and rush off.

DontmindifIdo · 12/12/2013 13:40

I'd put money on her being a MNer!!! (I do have the fear I'll recognise myself in a AIBU thread!)

MolotovCocktail · 12/12/2013 14:12

Oooooooh, who knows - she might be a MNetter!

When I reflect back to last week, my reply to her comment wasn't exactly said in an arsey way, but I was a little abrupt; maybe it was an exasperated tone. I guess she could have picked up on that, or just realised how out of order she'd been.

OP posts:
SinisterSal · 12/12/2013 14:21

You could say something like

'Yes and yours are just the opposite! they're all so cute aren't they - they come in every variety'. laughter

It kind of brings her own dc into the frame, as well as being suitable and reassuring for any little ears that might be about. keep saying it and she'll shut up whether it's PA or just gormlessness

Echocave · 12/12/2013 15:08

Well she's either paranoid about her own children's size or unable to think of any new conversational topics with you.

I don't like subjective comments about other people's children unless they are unambiguously complimentary (such as'what a gorgeous smile!' Etc) so I don't think YABU to be a bit irritated.

I would probably try v hard to avoid her for a while, tricky though that may be....

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