Rude Behaviour?

[Letmeouttahere]

Now and then, a mum from my child's school will text me to ask if we're walking to school and if so, shall we meet at the end of my street and walk together with DCs.
I often walk so usually say yes.
Our DCs will be chatting happily, until her DC spots a child she would rather be walking with on the way to school on the other side of the road.
The mum and child will then cross the road leaving myself and DC hanging high and dry to walk with their preferred mother and child.
I find this behaviour unbelievably rude and feel awful for my DC when this happens. I feel like we're being used for company until someone better comes along.
We don't cross the road with them as we don't know the other mother and child, the school is on the side of the road we're already walking on and they eagerly wave goodbye to us as they cross over. So it doesn't feel like we're even 'invited' to join them.
AIBU to feel upset by this behaviour?

Don’t look at your phone or don’t answer her. Don’t allow her to treat you this way. She’s a cow!

I'd just stop answering

Very rude. Stop meeting up with her.

YABU. It sounds like a school drama in itself and that you've made something of it for the drama. If you don't like it, stop saying yes to walking with them. Are you actually upset on behalf of your children or are they not actually bothered and you're more hurt yourself OP?

Also think about the example you are setting your daughter. You wouldn’t treat someone else this way so don’t show her this is acceptable behaviour. I don’t mean this in a harsh way, most people wouldn’t have this woman’s brass neck.

The problem is that even if I don't respond to her texts, we would probably still bump into them on the way to school and the same would happen anyway.

But if you hadn’t agreed to walk with them you’d feel less upset at being dumped for other people.

And don’t worry about offending her, she’s not fussed about offending you.

Be sure to cross the road first!!

I would start ignoring her messages. If she kicks up a fuss, say you prefer to be friends with someone who doesn't use you. I've had to do this on the school run so many times. It's sadly a shallow, cliquey place.

Do they not even say goodbye or excuse us before they cross the road? I think I’d be a bit sarcastic and say “oh are you done with us now?” or “oh is that it then?” Or when she texts I’d say “no you should just walk with mary and her mum instead, we’d rather go on our own, thanks”. Give them the brush off first!

it does sound rather rude and thoughtless of the mother who does this. One way out of it is to not only ignore texts but to make sure you don't bump into her either along the road to school. Either leave home a little later or a little later to avoid her but really none of this should be necessary. Being used until something better comes along will make you feel hurtful and I have experienced this but not with school run situations.

What does she actually say in her texts? I agree it's rude and I'd ignore her.

Very rude indeed and thoughtless. I’d suggest either ignoring the texts and alter your timing

Or

When she next texts to say something along the lines that you’d rather walk alone as your DD feels left out / abandoned when they see someone else they’d rather walk with and walk away. At least then she’d be made aware of her rudeness.

I can’t understand why she wouldn’t say to you something such as “oh, there’s Sarah and her mum Sue. Do you know them, let me introduce your.” Or similar. Why would it have to be just you and your DD abd not all of you (excluding covid issue of course).

It is rude and strange behaviour. I don’t understand why she texts you and then dumps you!

Why not text the people she would rather walk with?