School run mum

[Rainbow877]

There is a mum on the school run who seems to have taken a disliking to me for whatever reason. Every time I see her she does a smug kind of smirk or stares at me. I think for some reason she thinks we live near the school but we actually live a 10/15 min drive to school. Yesterday when I walked past her she purposefully said to her child ‘we walk to school, we’re not lazy’ and looked at me for her reaction. What would you do?

And also, yet again women are being told to smile as a way of dealing with an awkward situation... 🙄

Or the OP could just ignore her and get on with her day?

I don’t understand why anyone in this situation needs to either smile and make conversation or ‘ show their teeth’ ( whatever that’s supposed to mean ..)

Just ignore and carry on - it’s not that difficult is it?

OP - why are you so concerned?

Why does it matter if she IS staring at you and making comments?

Just ignore it and carry on with your day.

I don't doubt your assumption is correct and she's having a PA dig, but this sounds more than usually feeble even for a passive aggressive person.

Who the hell cares how she gets her kid to school? Or how you do, for that matter. This is next-level curtain-twitching, but at least it's easy to breeze past with an air of being utterly oblivious.

This really is too silly and childish even to merit your headspace, OP.

The op is making it all about her, how is it awkward for anyone else?

I second the advice to give her a big smile, and I’d add a wave too. If she didn’t mean anything by her comment you’ll do no harm, and if she did you’ll make her feel stupid.

It is said that what other people think of you is none of your business.

She's just a self righteous busy body. Be grateful you don't live within walking distance of the school because you wouldn't have seen what she's like so easily and might have got friendly with her, then you'd be stuck with her. At least this way you've filtered her out early so you don't waste any time on her. Go and be friendly with the other school mums.

Yes I am, so sorry guys. Might take a couple of unsuccessful attempts to get this right. Thanks to those that private messaged me as well x

That’s very odd, she must either be mentally ill or maybe has some additional needs. As the behaviour is very unusual if it’s as you perceive it, I mean who gives a fuck how people get to school. I’ve never met anyone who does.

THIS ^^
It's causing you stress, so just pretend you can't see or hear and that you haven't noticed.
If she is being pa to you, her comments are beneath your notice. No response required.
If it was me, I'd aim to arrive a few minutes earlier or later for a while and it will blow over.

Is it?

Changed my mind she’s a weirdo - ignore! The effort required to correct her isn’t worth it. I just assumed she would act like a normal adult but looks like I was wrong!

Ignore her judgemental arse or confront her and ask her what her problem is. Personally I’d do the former; you don’t owe her an explanation of why you drive your car to school. It’s none of her business

I’d probably just say something like “I wish we could walk but a 15 min drive is too far”

Nothing. Stay on the other side of the yard. Stare at my phone and ignore her.

I live a 15 minute walk from DD school, I still drive her there because if I'd have to walk home to pick up the car I'd be late for work. Who cares what other people think, you do you.

Make a point about completely ignoring her. If you see her don’t look at her, engage with your child (not sure on age but focus entirely on them with your body positioned away from the mum if possible) ie if it was my 5y old I’d be overly excited about an upcoming event and talk about it. If she’s walking towards you and looks like she’s making a comment, talk to your child, have a race with them etc so it’s clear you can’t hear the mum. Don’t look down at the floor as if you’re sad or make eye contact. Are there other mums you can talk to whilst turning your back to her? Or do something silly and think that her smug face is her passing wind so her smug face makes you laugh 😆 Bullies love attention and get really upset when they are ignored. Ignore her and she’ll go away.

Ignore the batshit mama :)

Why do you care?

You should get a life OP.

Next time she makes a comment in your direction about walking I'd say, 'Oh I wished we lived in walking distance, I hate having to get in the car'. Some people are just perpetually passive aggressive for no reason.

Ignore it. There are honestly some people who are not worth your time or attention.

Or look at it another way, what are you going to advise your child when she comes home from school and tells you someone said something mean to her?

I've always told my children that people who say nasty things are unhappy people. They're miserable and angry inside and no one wants to be them.

Because happy people want everyone to be happy, just like them.

And that's been true for longer than I've been alive.

Any chance your kids are overweight and she's judging you and implying they need more exercise? Or maybe she's against cars and pollution and someone told her you live 2 blocks away from the school... You could try a bright smile and a "We'd love to walk wouldn't we, shame we live too far away. Good for you for walking. Have a lovely day"...

Try saying to your child “oh wouldn’t it be nice to walk to school, such a shame we live too far away”