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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:
Bournetilly · 24/05/2022 16:21

YABU this is ridiculous. She didn’t do anything wrong.

Mary46 · 24/05/2022 16:27

Yes just keep a distance going forward. I did not like everyone at school run. Just tolerated them! Is pa thing voluntary was she pushing the school after clubs for numbers.

RaspberryChouxBuns · 24/05/2022 16:27

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.

I can confirm that this seldom happens. People who go looking for drama will often find it. This is just an example.

Greyhare · 24/05/2022 16:27

Mumsnet has gone crazy, wtf you lost it at a Mum for asking if you want a form and yesterday someone's mum was a control freak for telling her son he looked nice every time she saw him.

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 24/05/2022 16:29

I've read your OP twice but I still dont understand what she did wrong.

I think you're the problem here.

Nothingiseverything · 24/05/2022 16:32

What? She sked you if you wanted a form and your are really annoyed? What? Just leave her alone and move on.

Bahhhhhumbug · 24/05/2022 16:32

Nopetryagain · 24/05/2022 15:20

What’s with the ‘10 years unblemished record of violence against other school mums’, did you lamp a school mum 11 years ago but had 10 years clean since? 😆

😂😂😆

Trivester · 24/05/2022 16:34

I’m going to go against the grain here, but I think I do get it. (And I think I remember some of your other posts about her too)

You think she knew you weren’t a member, and asked the question to show you up/ put you on the spot because there’s a subtle general pressure to take part in these clubs?

And, I’m going to guess if you weren’t feeling a bit sensitive financially at the moment you’d probably just have rolled your eyes and not given it another thought.

She sounds difficult. I’d probably have been the parent who wasn’t impressed at the covid party due to my own circumstances but I wouldn’t have been demanding play dates and sleepovers - I might have hosted one. It’s very entitled.

I actually don’t mind hosting all the play dates but I do bristle at being pressured to have the play date or expected to.

My advice is style it out. What’s said is said. Next time you see her, act as if it never happened. It sounds like she has the hide of a rhino anyway.

NerrSnerr · 24/05/2022 16:36

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.

Most people don't have this at all. Some people attract drama and get over involved in other people. Many of us just get on with picking our children up and only talking to people we actually like.

Topseyt123 · 24/05/2022 16:37

I did school runs for way more than ten years and managed never to duff up any other parents at the school gate. Do I win? Can I have a medal now? 😃🤣

It sounds as though you are just incompatible, and you do seem to think everyone is out to get you. You are twisting the meaning of perfectly innocent phrases into something that is not even there.

Bretonbear · 24/05/2022 16:37

You say you have a 10 year unblemished record at the school gate like its something special. Isn't an unblemished record at the school gate just normal decent behaviour ?

blueishvase · 24/05/2022 16:39

@Trivester Thank you. I totally accept that I overreacted on this occasion but what's done is done. Will style it out. With the party I assumed that people who weren't comfortable would simply not send their kids rather than try and get us to cancel it altogether. We're not in the UK so it was a bit less pressured here I suspect and all guests were in class together anyway, no mixing of kids or schools.

OP posts:
blueishvase · 24/05/2022 16:40

@Bretonbear It was meant to be a light hearted opening into the post - to say that I generally get along very well with other parents and have literally never had an argument with another mum.

OP posts:
JulyDreams · 24/05/2022 16:43

@NerrSnerr thanks for the reassurance- I'll be one of those that pick child up and pop off I think HaloWink

PAFMO · 24/05/2022 16:52

There are other threads?
OP, as nicely as possible, that's an obsession.

MsTSwift · 24/05/2022 16:53

No don’t! I have some brilliant friends from the school gates our kids now teens and no longer friends but we are going strong.

I too didnt realise not getting into scraps with other parents was a notable achievement I would like it recognised that I managed 11 years of primary school without incident !

blueishvase · 24/05/2022 16:59

@PAFMO I have never started a thread on this woman before

OP posts:
butterpuffed · 24/05/2022 17:00

I'm loving this thread !! Don't understand much of it as I'm drowning in a sea of split lips and forms and need a couple of glasses of Corona 🙃

ColouringPencils · 24/05/2022 17:03

Your posts about commenting on other people's health make me wonder if she is unable to read the room and comes across as quite inappropriate/ overbearing? The party and subsequent play date would have pissed me off though.

PAFMO · 24/05/2022 17:04

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!

@blueishvase
People seem to think you have.

blueishvase · 24/05/2022 17:06

@PAFMO I have never started a thread about this woman before today. Perhaps there is more than one school mum thread and people are getting them mixed up. I have mentioned her once on a thread and that is it.

OP posts:
Ladywiddio · 24/05/2022 17:13

Is one supposed to be proud of having no fights outside school gates! If so I should be awarded a gold medal as I have never had one.....nope not even verbally.

Asking if you want a form is NOT asking for your financial details,delete,block her and move on,I doubt she has even given you a second thought.

mam0918 · 24/05/2022 17:14

Im more interested in the backstory of the child that you failed to notice get injured on your watch (you mention the other parents 'having a break' so Im guessing you where gardian) during as you mentioned it a 'covid' party. Split lips bleed ALOT and swell its not something you casually 'miss' noticing.

Everything you said is so convolouted, badly explained and nonsensical that Im struggling to understand why you hate this women because in your story she has done nothing wrong and the only things that sound dodgy (covid parties, injured children etc...) are making you look like the incompitent one.

Testina · 24/05/2022 17:15

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.

That’s just ridiculous. If you’re genuine “DREADING” when you’re only pregnant you need therapy. Most of us go through the entire school years without a single issue. “School mum” are just people like you.

mam0918 · 24/05/2022 17:15

Also I have never seen mothers fighting at school, its not an achievement to be proud of its the bare minimum of being a decent adult.

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