Being laughed at on the School Run

[ChoccyBiscuits123]

Okay so I'm going to start by saying I'm not usually bothered by people's behaviour - I'm very much a live and let live person....however...there are two women on the school run that I am just perplexed by.

So for example this morning..I had just dropped my daughter off at school and I'm minding my own business walking home. These two other mums come from around the corner and immediately start laughing directly at me in my face...! They then stifled their giggles and walked past. This is not the first time this has happened.
Once they started singing a Kylie Minogue song at me from the other side of the road laughing and twirling around. All a bit much for me in the morning!!

We're all pretty relaxed dressers on the school run..they wear tracksuits and tie their hair up and I tend to wear leggings and a navy joules coat with miminal make up (mascara and perhaps a red lip if I have the energy) so it's not like I'm going to school in Kylie hot pants or full make up or other crazy clothing.

I'm perplexed as to why they've targeted me as I don't know them at all. It's got to the point where it is upsetting me. Someone laughing in my face or stifling giggles as I walk past is hurtful and it's starting to feel like bullying. Am I being too sensitive? Is my make up or dress sense so awful they cant help but laugh? I am so confused! Esp as they don't seem to do it to anyone else.

I want to ignore it and just put it down to them being muppets but I am struggling now.

I can't confront them as they will probably just see it as hilarious and as they've never actually said anything directly to me they could accuse me of being paranoid.

Any help or advice much appreciated. No nasty comment please.

Find out more about them ? Work , partners , hobbies anything and use it against them ? There is a week link and it’s normally easy to find in people that behave that way. Find it , use it and get your revenge . Normally idiots like that have lots of people who can’t stand them so I’m sure luta if people are waiting to laugh about them .

Absolutely this.

These are women who peaked in life at age 15.

They were considered cool at school because their parents were permissive and let them do and wear whatever they wanted and didn't teach them the importance of hard work or kindness or respect.

Now they're adults who have never really progressed beyond where they were as teenagers, and the kind of kids they used to bully at school have largely grown up to become much more successful adults.

They're just doing what they've always done because they know nothing else.

I agree with the poster who said they are stuck in a teenage bullying stage where they must have once felt powerful! Very sad. I can only imagine what their children's behaviour will be like.

Has your child witnessed their behaviour towards you?

OP ..Standard school etiquette is missing here my love! Wear headphones,sunglasses, be engroced scrolling on your phone at all times and this will cover any type of expected meanness, hijacking of PTA, unwanted chat,and the asking of favours! Drop your little one in and tool up with the above and you will sail through the primary years!

"What have I missed ?" if they start laughing.
"Do I have a dirty face ?" if they are staring at you.
Deal with them in a factual way.
Treat them as you would a child, quietly authoritative but happy to hear their childish jokes.
Do you have a friend you could walk with ?
They are ridiculous, you know that :-)

Pair of bullying bastards.

Oh gosh, they sound like people I know that I can't avoid - unfortunately.
They always have an in joke about someone else - mostly other women. This is demonstrated in over the top public displays.
If you don't get it or join in then you're up tight and miserable. If you challenge them you're aggressive and judgmental.
Unfortunately ignoring the silly behaviour is the only way I've found to deal with it.

Tbh you sound like although relaxed you are well put together.
If they are wearing the top knot messy bun, trackies and obviously I'll mannered..are they chavvy? If they are there is nothing you can do, they get a rush from thinking they're unsettling you. You'll just have to pretend not to notice until someone else gives them the attention they need and they move on.

If I saw two women messing about and singing Kylie in the street, I wouidnt assume it was about me - or some comment about what I'm wearing or my make-up. I'd just think 'ok whatever.'

OP, if tomorrow, they come round the corner doing the locomotion, it might be time to have a word. Otherwise, just think nothing of it.

Do you wear golden hot pants or short shorts and a sparkly top? Do you have soft curls and a happy disposition?
Be proud to be reminding people of Kylie.

Pretend to be on your phone. As they approach be on the phone saying within ear shot "Oh god here they come...yes I know...very childish tinkly laugh..."

They actually put their faces in your face and laughed? And when they sang Kylie they shouted your name first?

I think you’re being paranoid. And a bit snobbish TBH

i was going to suggest Ceelo Green's Fuck You, but this is SO much better

Oi! I’ve done the school run before dressed like that as I wfh and I’m not ‘chavvy!

op, some people are just not very nice. I’d advise headphones on and give them a smile next time. And sorry, some people are dicks.

The amount of times I’ve been laughing then caught someone’s eye and I think “Shit did it look like I was laughing at them?” Is not a small amount.

You could just ask them - I wouldn’t do any of the petty shit people are suggesting. If it turns out you’re wrong and it’s not about you you’ll look like a nutter

This is awful advice, as the best thing you can do is not engage with them at all. If you respond they will see it as a victory that you have noticed them and their stupid antics, or been rattled. So don't let them know you have noticed their behaviour - no filming on phone or saying anything. Either ignore them completely, or give a cheerful "Good morning" as you pass them. You will seem in control then. Also non-response leads to boredom among bullies - so they tend to stop and move on if they don't get a rise.

I would just ask them outright - have I done something to upset you / something you find amusing? Could you share with me? When they refuse just tell them how rude it is.

Excuse me….have I missed something here? What snobbery and judgement?? You really don’t need to make things worse by coming out with snide and, to my mind, unjustified comments!

I'd just say something like "Nice to see someone enjoying them themselves on a Monday morning!"

Or you could go full-on Goodfellas "Are you laughing at me? Am I funny to you?" but that might be a bit much for a Monday morning. Maybe save that for Thursday.

😂 same but I doubt you'd be laughing in someone's face and acting mean ❤️

Grown women behaving like they're in high school?! I wouldn't give them another thought, move on and leave them to play in the playground.

How is the OP being snobbish?

These types of people are just small minded idiots. It's not you, it's definitely them.
People like this have to put others down to feel better about themselves, they put on a 'tough' front but I can guarantee you they are self conscious and riddled with nerves about how others perceive them. This is why they act the way they do.

I know this because this is exactly how my mother used to act and it was absolutely mortifying.

Do not confront them, this will only make them worse. They don't have the type of mindset to resonate with. The best thing to do is ignore the behaviour like it's not happening and like pp have mentioned, a pleasant 'good morning' or 'hello' will grind their gears as they will think that you aren't bothered by them.

Sounds like they haven't moved on since they were at school themselves.

How pathetic.

Hold your head up high op and be grateful you're not like them.

It's that mean girl thing of giving people around them stupid nicknames, so they can say look there's stupid nickname and laugh. You are petite and blond = Kylie. You will not be the only one.
I know how hurtful it is. School gates can be hellish.
I think your policy of ignoring them, complete utter indifference, is the best way. Once they see they can't get a rise out of you, that their behaviour doesn't impact on you in any way, they won't be getting the reaction they are dying for, and it won't be creating a further installment for them, they will move on to their next idiotic morning stunt. Little things please little minds. Your best revenge is that you are not them.

As the weather's turning a big pair of sunnies is great cover and as pps have suggested ear buds and a podcast/music.. (Guitar solos should tune them out😀)
I've also done the thing of arriving a bit earlier, or a bit later so you don't have the whole walking towards them thing. Anything which stops this thing being a daily routine will help it not implant so much.

Also, tell your friends/friendly acquaintances at the gate. A problem shared is a problem halved and you won't feel so bad about it and once these two jokers see you standing in a group, that will also encourage them to back down. They'll soon be getting some puzzled stares from others themselves.