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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be sick of this situation with school mum not liking me?

176 replies

WatsonCat · 22/09/2018 14:48

DS is in year 5. Within his first few days in reception another mum from his year decided that she didn't like me. I don't know why. I'd had no interactions at all with her and DS wasn't even in her DS's class.

I'm not particularly bothered if she doesn't like me; I've got plenty of friends away from the school gates, and have become friends with some mums of DS's friends over the years.

But what does bother me is her behaviour. She is a bully/ringleader type. She has said many a time to her friends as I've walked past them or been standing near to them "I can't stand her", and sometimes bitches about me loudly. People put it down to me and her 'not getting on' but I've never really even engaged with the woman, and I'm not really the type to want to get into confrontations or feuds with people. She has also told her son that she doesn't like me, who has told my DS at school repeatedly over the years.

Anyway, I have been on the PTA for about 4 years now. The school has had trouble recruiting PTA members and there are very few of us, so I've done a lot of PTA things over the years; helping out at school events and during the day at school sometimes, plus other paperwork and organisational work at home. This mum that doesn't like me has now decided that she would like to join the PTA, and she phoned the head of the PTA about it. The head of the PTA then spoke to me at the school yesterday and said something along the lines of "X would like to join the PTA. I know you two don't get on but we need all the help we can get so I am telling you that I don't want any trouble when she joins, you need to make the effort to get on with her"

AIBU to be incredibly fucked off with this as a) It is not me that 'doesn't get on with her', its her that doesn't like me b)I've helped on the PTA for ages and clearly they're prioritising someone new's feelings over mine and c)I'm not the type to get involved in any trouble or confrontation at all! I've certainly never got involved in any at school or with this woman!

OP posts:
eddielizzard · 23/09/2018 12:17

OMG don't send any emails. Starve the drama by ignoring it. I wouldn't resign, I'd carry on as normal and absolutely ignore all the nonsense. If it became untenable, then I'd resign. But why let her push you out?

Yes the head was a twerp. She'll work it out.

Meanwhile, I agree with Worra, surely after 4 years you must have some inkling what's got her goat?

Juells · 23/09/2018 12:17

BrisaOtonal

Exactly. I don't know why anyone would grit their teeth and stay beavering away for no thanks to prove some point that nobody cares about. The OP has been shown how much she's valued by the head - which is not at all.

BrendasUmbrella · 23/09/2018 12:19

Don't leave. And don't make an effort to speak to her. Do what you usually do. Speak to her only when you have to. But don't give her the pleasure of knowing she chased you out of the PTA. She's a bully. And given enough time she'll probably show herself up.

longwayoff · 23/09/2018 12:27

Brisa well said

Aeroflotgirl · 23/09/2018 12:34

I would tell the PTA head straight, what you have said here. She has the issue with you, not you to her. Oh right, just read your other posts, you have done enough for the PTA, let her get on with it. I bet she will be bored after one term, she sounds like she is jealous of you. Continue giving her a wide berth, if her son is nasty to yours inform schoo.

eddielizzard · 23/09/2018 13:07

Actually, fuck that. I fourth or fifth BrisaOtonal

diddl · 23/09/2018 15:07

It's not exactly the woman that has caused the problem in this case is it-it's the head of the PTA.

Who, after all Op has done, has taken the woman's side & is asking Op not to cause trouble!

Why would anyone one to stay?

If the woan already has the head of the PTA eating out of her hand, I'm not sure how easy it would be for Op never to be at fault!

Goth237 · 23/09/2018 17:08

Wow I would be furious with the Head of the PTA. No way would I be helping again, I would also be telling her where to shove it with that attitude! She talked to you as though you were a child, nasty woman. Also, I'm sorry that you have to deal with that awful mother!

VelvetReVulva · 16/10/2018 17:48

Did this all get sorted in the end @watsoncat ? I hope so, was thinking about this thread today after PTA discussions!

bowdownbeforelokitty · 17/10/2018 05:40

She's obviously been sowing the seeds of her dislike for you for years, and obviously has a fair few people believing you are the trouble-maker. She has it in for you and now has a platform from which to really get under your skin. You need to decide if working along side her will be worth the bother. It's not fair, but she doesn't sound like the type of individual who lets fairness and the truth get in way of what she wants.

Mary1935 · 17/10/2018 06:02

Well what’s happened Watson - what did you decide to do?

Snitzelvoncrumb · 17/10/2018 06:15

Send an email to everyone in the pta saying you are glad to have another person join, not sure if there is an issue, but you have never actually met her. If it starts to turn bitchy them leave them too it.

gamerwidow · 17/10/2018 06:36

I am telling you that I don't want any trouble when she joins, you need to make the effort to get on with her"
I’m chair of the PTA and I would never say something like that to a member. Who does she think she is, she’s not your boss! Serious delusions of grandeur she needs to remember none of her volunteers need to be there.

Labradoodliedoodoo · 17/10/2018 06:42

I would just be polite if you need to speak to this women but otherwise continue as normal. The other alternative is asking the woman directly what her issue is as you’ve noticed she passes unkind comments about you

Labradoodliedoodoo · 17/10/2018 06:44

I’d probably let the pta head work it out herself or ask the pta head why the woman is so awful about you as you’ve no idea

strawberrisc · 17/10/2018 06:51

Sing this at the next meeting.

whiteroseredrose · 17/10/2018 07:03

#watsoncat what did you decide to do?

Itchyknees · 17/10/2018 07:27

The head of the PTA is the big problem here.

ZenNudist · 17/10/2018 07:50

What world are you living in? I find this situation very hard to believe. No one behaves like this.

Stretching credibility but ....How much do you really want to be on the PTA?

TheSteakBakeOfAwesome · 17/10/2018 08:10

What world are you living in? I find this situation very hard to believe. No one behaves like this.

About to have to deal with the little ray of sunshine in my morning school drop off who behaves like this. Stands there with her trio of mates slagging other parents and their kids off (I'm a prime target).

People can, and do, behave absolutely appallingly at times. I ignore our resident problem and smile and walk on by to talk to people I know - but it does upset me inside, the way she behaves towards and talks about my child is dreadful, and I dread the school run to the point I occasionally resort to paying silly money for breakfast club just to get a break from it.

Quipsandquotes · 17/10/2018 09:05

The head of the PTA spoke to you in a way that was absolutely unacceptable. I think I would just quietly leave after that and offer your time to a cause or group that will appreciate it and treat you with respect.

I would make it clear to the Head of the PTA that you are leaving because of her insulting comment.

Quipsandquotes · 17/10/2018 09:17

By the way, I know exactly how you feel.

A senior manager where I work left a couple of years ago and the person who took his place seemed to take a very quick dislike to me, for no reason that I could fathom as I'd had very little to do with him. But he has made my life very difficult on more than one occasion, to the point where I had to ask his manager to speak to him about it.

He's civil to me at the moment, but I feel I'm walking on eggshells around him. I still have no idea what I did to make him take such a bad attitude towards me. I got on brilliantly with his predecessor and also with any other managers I've had here.

dontknowwhattodo80 · 17/10/2018 09:35

What happened @WatsonCat ?

FrenchJunebug · 17/10/2018 09:46

I wouldn't leave the PTA because of her as I would feel that 'she has won' and she sounds capable of badmouthing you to the PTA members if you are not there.

MiniTheMinx · 17/10/2018 09:46

I would continue to be on the PTA. If this woman is as unreasonable, ridiculous, volatile and stupid as your description suggests she will no doubt make it obvious to the head. I would probably find a very underhand and discreet way of setting her off in front of the other members. I wouldn't retaliate, or talk about her behind her back. She will hang herself if you let her. These people always do.