To bring this up with the parents - my daughter's cousins told them they were thicker and not as good because they don't go to a private school (or should /I just lol and leave it alone!)

[HacketteofHacks]

We had a family 'get together' around Christmas.
My daughters are 12 and 8, their cousins are 7 and 4.
The 7 year old told my 12 year old that she was 'brighter and better' than her because she went to private school.
She also later said to my 8 year old who was struggling to tie up shoe laces (trainers so they could go out to the park) and say 'I can do that I'm cleverer than you'. I've no reason to think my children are lying - I know these children have said other stuff in the past to me.
Now if my DC said that to another child (in an immediate family) I would want to know.
My DH (it's his DB whose children made the comments) thinks it's 'just people isn't it'. And thinks I should avoid...
And before you flame me.. I haven't really got a problem with private schooling - we are lucky enough to live in an area where all the schools are good. But DH and his brother went to a public school and hated it (in fact DH was surprised with DH sent his children to private school as they too live in an area with some good schools).
There also the issue that DB is paid via a limited company so while DH ( and I)pay tax via PAYE we know DB puts a lot of things through his limited company. So he doesn't pay the same amount of tax and maybe can afford to do the private school thing.
Neither DB or his wife went to university. His wife doesn't work (lucky her as her mum gave her shed loads of cash to buy their house) both DH and I do work long hours and we. both have masters degrees. But I would never think I was better than anyone else.
My question is - should I bring this up?

In fact I'm not going to. I'm going to wait and if they say anything else in my earshot I will then say something...

Make your dc recite
You may think you are brighter but we all know you are more awful...
What utter little horrors op!! Can't imagine speaking out will put you in a good light sadly..

It’s a shame that money doesn’t buy manners isn’t it?

She's 7, I'd just tell them to ignore it.

Just lol and leave it. The private school is doing its job to turn the cousins into little shits, isn’t it?

Make sure you’re dc know they are capable and bright.
I’d leave it unless I heard it.
At 7 and already being elitist though!

@Lockheart

She's 7, I'd just tell them to ignore it.

This. She’s just being a brat. Tell them to ignore and if you overhear anything then say something directly to her. Nothing worse at that age than being told off by someone who is not your parent.

Neither DB or his wife went to university. His wife doesn't work (lucky her as her mum gave her shed loads of cash to buy their house) both DH and I do work long hours and we. both have masters degrees. But I would never think I was better than anyone else. this has absolutely nothing to do with the kids bragging about being clever though. You seem to resent them sending their kids to private school.

@WinnersDinner

YABU

Your post reeks of jealousy

7 year olds say annoying shit all the time, I'd ignore and tell your older children to ignore too

Does it? I've pointed out we are lucky enough to live somewhere we don't have to worry about schooling. And yes I am envious of anyone who doesn't have to work for a living; I enjoy my job but who wouldn't want to not have to scrabble around for stuff. That's not my point though.

@HacketteofHacks

Yes, you sound deeply resentful, mentioning the tax, the money for the house, his wife not going to uni etc.

It smacks of jealousy

[quote WinnersDinner]@HacketteofHacks

Yes, you sound deeply resentful, mentioning the tax, the money for the house, his wife not going to uni etc.

It smacks of jealousy[/quote]
Agree.

@KiloWhat

Neither DB or his wife went to university. His wife doesn't work (lucky her as her mum gave her shed loads of cash to buy their house) both DH and I do work long hours and we. both have masters degrees. But I would never think I was better than anyone else. this has absolutely nothing to do with the kids bragging about being clever though. You seem to resent them sending their kids to private school.

The only thing I resent is that it's pretty obvious they use a limited company to avoid paying the taxes that most of us pay. It's not envy - more annoyed. And when their kids come round and try and rub this in my children't faces then sure I will get resentful!!!!

Seperate the two. It's not the kids fault.

[quote WinnersDinner]@HacketteofHacks

Yes, you sound deeply resentful, mentioning the tax, the money for the house, his wife not going to uni etc.

It smacks of jealousy[/quote]
As I said yes defo envious of someone who doesn't have to work. If I felt okay about the children rubbing my children's nose in it - I wouldn't have posted here would I?

I think I would ask your children, being older, to laugh at their ridiculous comments and rise above it. If a similar remark is made again something like: “you sound so very silly when you say things like that”, should put their little cousins in their place!

@KiloWhat

Seperate the two. It's not the kids fault.

Yes - it's pretty obvious something has been said. What 7 year old would have said this without hearing it somewhere else.

My 7 year old told me half an hour ago that he knows more science than me because he’s watched a lot of Pokémon cartoons. They just talk shit at that age.

Raise your children to be secure enough to ignore stupid comments like that, and worry less about the choices and circumstances of other families.

@HacketteofHacks

Depends if the school is selective

If it is, they might have inferred it from that. That they are clever because they got in, thus to a 7 year old that might mean people who don't go to private schools aren't as clever, as at 7 they most likely don't understand the financial element

The stock response to comments of the "I am a better person than you because of my education" ilk is "An education that builds delusion will bite you on the bum at university".

This is what jumped out at me - they’ve pretty obviously been fed this message by their parents. My kids go to a private school - but they probably couldn’t tell you which of our friends’ kids do or don’t; it isn’t something we talk about or make a song and dance of it. Honestly - I’d focus on my own kids and tell them a) that their cousins aren’t brighter or better and b) that they’re certainly worse mannered! If you hear something yourself in future, then a caustic “well, they aren’t big on good manners” is definitely in order!

(Sorry - was trying to quote the OP saying “what 7 year old says that without hearing it somewhere else”)

Ergh in an ideal world I would do away with private schools entirely - my niece says similar 🙄. They have been taught this by the parents or school mates. Snobbery is extremely unattractive. You sound confused about the tax though you don’t necessarily pay less tax in a company but different tax - just incorporated myself it’s not a tax dodge.

Unfortunately little kids can say these things but usually it's because they have heard others saying it. They don't sound particularly pleasant but whether you should say something depends a lot on your relationship with the parents, some would appreciate being told others would not

At my nieces private school the scholarship children are called “the chavs”. How delightful. My kids were horrified.