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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Lost it at another school mum

255 replies

blueishvase · 24/05/2022 14:40

I will start by saying I have an unblemished 10 year record of no fights with school mums. My approach has always been to be nice to everyone, smile, rise above and get on with my life and this perhaps led me to putting up with nonsense from this one particular mother for way too long.

Anyway I had avoided her for some time due to her trying to shut down my son's birthday by saying it was a corona risk (it was within rules at the time, every other parent RSVP'd yes in record time just to get a break, even a child getting a split lip at the party was not picked up until it was over, so she was definitely the only parent who cared.) As a "goodwill gesture" I agreed to have her child over that week for the day. She had actually pushed for a sleepover the day before the party and I said no to that, then on the day she was late picking him up and then sent a message commenting on all the "carbs" and "party food" I'd given him (our usual diet.) At the point I decided to avoid her.

She then messaged me to say that my kid had been asking hers for a playdate and could I host. Stupidly I said yes, mostly because if my son had asked I would try to encourage the friendship and I actually feel sorry for the kid.

I then saw her that day at school when i was due to pick him up. She has started volunteering at the kids club group (they offer free activities for kids in lunchbreak). They were having a coffee morning, I think to try and drum up membership which was falling due to corona. Like many, we were members but left during corona as we weren't getting anything out of it, and we also got hit very hard financially as we are both freelance. Plus our older son never used the clubs. Anyway I went over to ask about volunteering. And in front of a load of people she asked me, really loudly, "ARE YOU A MEMBER?". I had to explain in front of other parents that I wasn't, we had left during corona and hadn't re-joined. And she said "OH WOULD YOU LIKE A FORM!".

I was so furious as we are worried about money. Our situation is not dire, but it's on our minds. And I'm pretty sure she would have checked out every single parents membership status anyway - she is that kind of person. And she didn't ask anyone else.

Anyway I messaged her saying I thought she was innappropriate and rude and our financial priorities are our concern and none of her business. And in future don't ask me to have her son.

She messaged back saying she was sincerely sorry but at the end of the day they are volunteers and just want what's best for the kids and they were asking everyone (they weren't, I was the only one who go asked and everyone looked mortified.)

There is loads more backstory, mostly about her sending me catty messages and making catty comments and pestering me for childcare, but I have already gone on enough. I am now worried about what she will do next. She's quite vicious and I just don't need it. I've blocked her on WhatsApp thank god.

OP posts:
momtoboys · 24/05/2022 15:27

Sometimes you just get to the point where you have had enough. Don't worry. I'm sure there are very few of us who have not been there at some point.

RoonilWazlibb · 24/05/2022 15:28

She probably didn't ask anyone else about a form because she knew they were all members.

gamerchick · 24/05/2022 15:29

I get it OP. Sometimes it can be just one seemingly innocuous thing that tips the balance and that was yours. Usually the one thing that makes us look unreasonable.

Don't rise to her anymore, give her a swerve. Be unaturally polite if you're forced into speaking to her.

Louise0701 · 24/05/2022 15:29

I read it twice and I still don’t get it.

StEval · 24/05/2022 15:30

blueishvase · 24/05/2022 15:14

@DuckbilledSplatterPuff thank you, excellent advice. I am so annoyed at myself for biting back. The "meh" attitude is the only one that works.

I think rather than " biting back" you need to put some boundaries in place with this woman.
It sounds like you fawn or appease -the extra playdate, when you need to say no.
You seem to be controlled by her wishes and opinions and overly affected by things she does.
Step away

Beaucoup · 24/05/2022 15:31

I don’t understand when financial situations were asked about? She asked if you needed a form.

and in terms of the track record of 10 years without an argument - is that a thing? I have never had an argument with anyone in such a role or even more widely within aquaintances but I actually hadn’t thought about it till the 10 years remark - it didn’t strike time me to keep track of not having arguments!

PAFMO · 24/05/2022 15:34

JulyDreams · 24/05/2022 15:15

I'm due with my first in a couple of months and I am absolutely DREADING school mum conflicts. This is just an example.

Don't worry.

In normal life, you make friends with some of the mums of the kids that yours makes friends with. And some you don't.
At the end of the day, the friendship is between your child and the other one. It's only when the strangely obsessive micromanaging and overthinking starts that things go awry.

Herejustforthisone · 24/05/2022 15:34

I still don’t really understand what happened or why offering you a form was wrong.

I suspect the backstory (why would it make you seem unhinged?) is key to understanding why this woman is apparently so awful.

IRunbecauseILikeCake · 24/05/2022 15:35

Sounds like a personality clash between you two. It happens to us all.
But you're saying she makes catty comments when you're also making catty comments about her, so I wouldn't read into it too much.
I'd apologise for the blunt message and just pass yourself with her where you can.

certainshepherdpups · 24/05/2022 15:36

I agree with some PPs that you should offer an apology for overreacting. She was gracious in her message to you. The least you can do is to respond in kind.

And then move on with your day and forget about the whole thing!

Somethingsnappy · 24/05/2022 15:38

If people hadn't seen your previous thread about her, I can see why they'd think you were sensitive on this occasion. But I remember your other recent thread, and she sounded awful then. Personally, I would have dropped her before now. I can see that this was the last straw!

MakingNBaking · 24/05/2022 15:38

If you are financially embarrassed at the moment, then the last thing you do is start texting people angrily about it.
You should have just taken the form, smiled vaguely and forgotten to fill it in. If chased, explain you have a lot on at the moment and are unable to take anything else on.
You've made yourself look a twit. Keep schtum about religion and finance.

FetchezLaVache · 24/05/2022 15:39

I don't understand how the activities provided by the volunteers are free if you have to pay for them. Confused

WillowintheUK · 24/05/2022 15:40

JulyDreams · 24/05/2022 15:15

I'm due with my first in a couple of months and I am absolutely DREADING school mum conflicts. This is just an example.

Don’t worry yourself. Between children and grandchildren I’ve spent over 30 years at school gates - never had a fight yet.

Idhatetolookintothoseeyes · 24/05/2022 15:44

blueishvase · 24/05/2022 14:54

@Fidodidit There is a backstory of random catty comments but if I listed every one of them I'd sound (even more) unhinged. Actually I wouldn't but I'd be drip feeding.

She has form for asking very pointed questions about things that aren't her business, put it that way.

is there a possibility you may have misunderstood her other questions & comments too?

thevanilla · 24/05/2022 15:53

blueishvase · 24/05/2022 15:16

Some of these comments are getting quite personal and nasty towards me so I'm going to stop now, but thank you so much for those who have understood and given me advice, i really appreciate it.

if you think you’ve had personal and nasty replies here (I can’t see any but feel free to point them out to me) that would tally with you being overly sensitive to innocuous comments in real life. Confirming that you were indeed being unreasonable in how you reacted to her

blueishvase · 24/05/2022 15:56

@Idhatetolookintothoseeyes

Hmm hard to say if they are catty, they are always deniable. Two examples I know of would be pondering loudly about why someone got an early vaccine, and not dropping it, until that person finally caved and told her why (cancer diagnosis.) Then acting all personally upset and shocked about the news she had pushed and pushed for.

Another is asking someone if she's "hobbling". Also comes across as innocent concern, except that person has a serious health condition that (if known about) makes the question very cruel. But again could be seen as innocent.

OP posts:
GraceandMolly · 24/05/2022 15:58

Huh? I can’t see anything wrong with what that mum asked.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 24/05/2022 15:59

I have an unblemished 10 year record of no fights with school mums.

Is this a life aim now?

YABU. You have a problem with this woman for 'some' reason.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 24/05/2022 16:00

Hmm hard to say if they are catty, they are always deniable. Two examples I know of would be pondering loudly about why someone got an early vaccine, and not dropping it, until that person finally caved and told her why (cancer diagnosis.) Then acting all personally upset and shocked about the news she had pushed and pushed for.

Sorry but you sound like the cattiest one of the bunch! Why would this even register with you when you drop child off and pick child up?

Wolfiefan · 24/05/2022 16:02

I can’t imagine having a “fight” with school mums. What a weird thing to be proud of??
None of what you’ve posted seems catty and nasty. And none of it was aimed at you.

blueishvase · 24/05/2022 16:04

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy where did I say that happened at the school gate?

OP posts:
monicagellerbing · 24/05/2022 16:07

I have no idea where money comes into that conversation?

ladydimitrescu · 24/05/2022 16:15

She asked if you were a member and if you wanted a form - she's literally done nothing at all wrong, and you've over reacted massively and embarrassed yourself.

You don't like her, fine. You absolutely owe her an apology for your behaviour in this instance.

RaspberryChouxBuns · 24/05/2022 16:20

I don't understand this, maybe she's hard of hearing hence the shouting?

Couldn't get mad at this exchange, although I can appreciate there are nightmare CFs out there. You need to mute her and avoid her and unfortunately keep her child at a distance, it's sad but that's life.