Competitive parenting nightmare

[lilylove]

My five year old daughter has come back from a playdate and told me the mother gave her a spelling test! I had my doubts about this woman who because my daughter is bright, regards her as a rival for the private school place she wants for her own daughter when they have to take their 7plus exams at the end of their current school.
I am so angry I could scream. Any thoughts on how I should handle this - and any other similar experiences. Is this an isolated experience?

I feel particularly strongly about this because I am a journalist myself and would never sneak around like that. DH is a freelance journalist too - I showed him this stuff and he was horrified at the unprofessionalism she showed. (And he even writes for the DM himself occasionally. )

STT1 - I agree. What I don't understand is for a pathetic article like that, why would you even need to do research? I am not a journo, indeed am barely literate, but could make up an article like that in 5 mins - assumed they all were made up anyway

Clam,

The thread I started asking for teachers opinions is a genuine one! It was provoked by a teacher friend of mine sending her daughter private when she lives within the catchment of a sought after comp. Obviously teachers know a lot more about what goes on in schools than the rest of us and I genuinely wanted to know how many others would do the same thing.

I totally understand how in the light of this thread you might have been suspicious.

What I can't believe about this Tanith woman is that she would really parade her daughter in this way - are the picture and names real?! I DO live in North London but even the most extreme parents I know would not do this, but then my kids are in the state sector so far.

I'm wondering if the picture is actually not Tanith and her daughter but is "posed by models".

see book jacket picture here

UQD - Too ugly for models. I have never seen a child model with boiled egg eyes like in that picture - not even in the Mini-Boden catalogue. That photo oozes social climbing to me.

Swedes2Turnips1, I agree the so-called journalist has acted despicably, but do we have to insult her child's looks? Bad enough that the poor mite has been dragged into all this by her mother.

I hate those biogs which make it clear that they live in NORTH London, don't you know. Yes, Tanith, we could probably guess you wouldn't live in Brixton or Lewisham.

Yes, let's not be nasty about the daughter. She's a pretty girl. (Must have a handsome dad )

GirlySwot.... I'm so sorry for doubting you! But, as you say, that's the trouble with this sort of thing. You become suspicious, and I don't want to be like that. I enjoyed the thread you started. (And I'm still having an internal debate about which system I'd choose! Honestly!
But, back to Tanith...... has she ever done an article on collagen lip implants do you reckon?

UQDad,

North London's a big place you know. Maybe she lives in Tottenham? Given the size of London its a bit meaningless to say to someone you live in London. Two people living in London could be well over an hour apart, though admitedly in a biog London would be sufficient. West and South London have equally posh bits.

north london has more cachet than south london.

But whenever we get the homework done here when we have a child round to play the parents are delighted. It relieves them of having to do it when they get home. I never thought it could be misconstrued. Anyway more importantly which girl spells best?

Will settle down to reading the whole thread but the opening posts don't make sense to me. Two places? Allocated? From one school?

Frankly, I don't believe it.

So I think there is some misunderstanding. Also I know some frantically pushy parents, and I've never yet seen one giving a spelling test to someone else's child.

Read the thread now - knew there was something fishy about it! Wow.

So her daughter doesn't get into the school...because... the writer is not underhand enough.

Corblimey. That writer's delusional.

< Quattro, how the hell are you?

Apologies for hijack >

Wow TN! How are you?

Where ya bin? Like the new name too. What's happened to Mornington Crescent? What's happened to Mumsnet - I dunno - go away with work for a few weeks and everything changes ....

Delighted you're back, QC. I've truly missed you not being around.