If you do the school run in your exercise gear..

[TiffanyBucksFizzRainbowBright]

So on my days off I go to an exercise class with a friend, as my job is sedentary I really look forward to it and do the school run on those days in my exercise gear to save time as straight after. When I am working hubbie does the school run. So 9/10 when I'm doing the school run, I'm dropping off in my exercise gear. This week a mum who I don't speak to very often (and is known to be catty) looked at me and said 'you do try, don't you?'. When I asked her what she meant she said 'by going to the gym every day'. I'm torn between thinking she got her words out wrong, to her her being downright catty. I've asked two friends and both had opposite replies one thought she was being a bitch, the other who sees the good in everyone thought she must have not meant it that way. What would you have said to her in reply? I'm conscious now of wearing my gym gear now silly as it sounds! I wasn't aware I was 'trying'!

Always assume the best unless proven otherwise.

I think what you wear is FU to do with anyone but you, but I do think she was just making conversation tbh and maybe wishing she tried a bit.

No DC but my neighbour got a similar catty comment too when she used to drop her kids off in running gear.

She just replied "I like to go for a run in the morning after the drop off to clear my head from any negative thoughts".

Which I thought was quite clever!

I'm struggling to work out what she meant too. Unless she was making a dig at your weight. Could that be the case? If so, what an utter pillock.

This sort of thing would annoy me at first too but then I just think, who gives a shit what some random mum at the school gates thinks? Keep wearing your exercise gear!

@thelegohooverer

I’d have assumed she got her words out wrong. Even with her add on, it still doesn’t make sense to me.

If it was catty, I think your response (asking for clarification) was perfect. Nothing is more annoying than a put down not registering.

On my school run there is workwear, and very trendy exercise wear … and me in my jeans and t-shirt. I had a 3 year old come up and quiz me about it one day 😂

Exactly! I have a trendy yoga sweatshirt which I wear even when I'm not doing yoga and have seen some school mums wear this sort of thing at the school gate when doing school drop off.

Run past her tomorrow and shout 'still trying'.. No-one has ever said anything to me except my son who asked if I was dropping him off to school dressed 'like that'. I said yes so suck it up!

Don't let a bitch change you!! Carry on as you were, what you do has nothing to do with her!

I wear funky leggings as clothes all the time (and for exercise) - I wear them because a) I like them and b) they are comfortable. You wear what you want to wear!

I occasionally collect DS in my gym stuff straight from the gym, I can't imagine anyone being so fucking rude! She's clearly an ex school bitch bully.

I think I'd just completely ignore if they did or just massively side eye them!

I would take that as she is saying you are trying hard to keep fit, I would see that as a good thing, although she might be implying other Mums are unfit lazy.

There is literally no way for anyone on this thread to know the intention behind it.

Snidey cow! I'd invite her to feel my quads if she makes any further comments.

Yep, catty. I had a comment once from a mum at school about how I liked to ‘show my legs off’ as I tend to wear shorts as soon as it’s any where near warm enough. This is for comfort, I have no interest whatsoever in people seeing my legs (the shorts are often fairly ugly).

I don’t think anyone would blink an eye at a dad dropping his kid off in exercise gear or shorts. Tells you everything you need to know, I think. Some people - male and female - find it impossible to believe that women may be dressing to suit themselves and their needs, rather than looking for attention or validation.

So hard without facial expression, intonation to know!

I love the word 'catty'. The only person who has ever used this word is my grandma so it reminds me of her. Thanks for the thread :)

Try = don't succeed.

Sounds like 'ah bless, you're doing your best, aren't you dear?'

But I do agree that responding as if a put-down is a complement is always a great way to go. Holds the high ground.

I think it's the 'try' part that would've annoyed me, it's as if i could only ever 'try' to be fit!
Only insecure people make nasty comments, I'd strut my stuff in progressively skimpier gym gear each week & watch her face

Depending what you look like OP I think it could be meant one of two ways, neither of which are friendly.

If you are overweight then I'd take it as a dig at our weight as in "ah bless, trying but not really working is it?".

However I suspect you're not and that in reality you look bloody fabulous in lycra, so her dig was aimed more that she thinks you're deliberately "showing off" about how fit you look by walking round in figure hugging Lycra.

Tbh all parents bar me seem to arrive in gym gear

Do you look as if you go to the gym? Or do you arrive in gym gear but have a body that looks like you sit on the sofa all day?

Unless it was dig of this kind I can't imagine what she meant.

People are odd, just shrug and ignore.

I wear my gym stuff 3/5 days because I go to the gym. The other 2 it's either because I'm doing something exercisey or because they are comfy. I certainly do try and am pretty proud of myself for succeeding and would have happily told her so.

Just looking around the school yard and it's a mish mash of jeans and leggings with the odd dressier outfit thrown in. After my bike ride this morning I've swapped my gym leggings for tracksuit bottoms, currently not trying anything apart from comfort I don't think anybody is bothered enough to even notice let alone comment on it.

You should have said 'sorry, who are you?' If she says anything else, ask her if she'd like a saucer of milk.
I would take that as catty - she's saying your efforts haven't paid off.
If you change what you do, she'll know she got to you. The only way to handle people like this is to carry on line you don't give a fuck about their opinion.

The word try gives it away as a catty comment.

Depending on your body shape/weight, sounds like she is saying your not doing a good job and don’t go exercising as much as you claim to by wearing gym gear all the time. She’s saying you don’t look fit (body shape wise) so probably don’t really exercise and just wear it to look like you do.

I know what I’m trying to say anyway.

Next time you see her drop down and do a string of one-handed press-ups?

I've had other women make comments like this too. Don't let her put you off!! My leggings are so comfortable these catty women will have to pry them from my cold dead hands legs 😂