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Original poster

Competitive Mums - you all know one!

53 replies

Sheraz · 19/10/2006 20:52

We had Harvest festival at DS school today and all were asked to bring in fruit/ produce to be sold off later that day. Up roll the Competitive Mums with their beautiful wicker baskets, whipped up cellophane and bows, the biggest, I am not kidding was about 4 foot tall. Laugh out loud! But my tin of Tomato soup and packet of hob nobs to shame. Do you know some in your school. I love to watch them.

OP posts:
DastardlyDevilishDior · 19/10/2006 20:54

I haven't come across that yet! Ds is in Year 1, and we have a yummy mummy, but she is really nice with it, so nothing to laugh at I'm afraid

Original poster
Sheraz · 19/10/2006 20:56

Wait til it gets to the Easter bonnet competition! The Knives will be out!

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foulmoonfiend · 19/10/2006 20:58

sheraz - at out Harvest festival we were specifically told to bring in a tin - just one each (yeah crap and very un-harvest-like IMO, but I digress)

So why did our uber-mum feel she had to send in the huge wicker basket laden with tropical fruits????

Original poster
Sheraz · 19/10/2006 20:59

I think our school is very cliquey with lots of one upmanship, don't get involved but like to sit back and watch - very amusing.

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FillyjonkthePumpkinEater · 19/10/2006 21:01

this is so completely weird

why would people do this?

HumphreyComfreyCushion · 19/10/2006 21:01

My Dad used to make me take 'Harvest Basket of Doom' every year.

He spent ages with crepe paper, cardboard box, cellophane, sellotape, ribbons, fruit and veg - conjuring up a basket that was a beauty to behold.

Don't know why, as he's not particularly competitive - it was just something he did.

I could barely stagger up the church aisle with the bloomin' thing!

Soon stopped though, once my little sister started school. I suppose he couldn't cope with the pressure of two!

I used to do a scaled down version of the above for my two to take, but there were some who clearly spent a fortune on theirs.

(And others who clearly used the occasion to offload a few out-of-date tins too! )

Original poster
Sheraz · 19/10/2006 21:01

Poor Humphrey!

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foulmoonfiend · 19/10/2006 23:55

I'm just bitter cos I have an allotment full of fab stuff, punpkins, apples, marrows,tomatoes etc which would look amazing in a harvest display - instead I have to content myself with the dusty, manky tin of pineapple chunks lurking in back of cupboard. And I haven't got the balls to ignore 'official school instructions' (you should see our school secretary, she is truly terrifying)

ghosty · 20/10/2006 00:45

I don't know any competitive mums. And I haven't come across any at school. AND I didn't know any in the 10 years that I was a teacher ... competitive in the way that you describe I mean. TBH I think that often the ones that 'label' the others as competitive only do so as they feel inadequate themselves .... IMHO and IME People who try hard with costumes etc are the ones who are merely trying hard because they want to.

Merely my humble opinion, but there you go.

LadyDooM · 20/10/2006 09:06

Does anyone remember the woman in Texas that was trying to hire someone to kill a girl, that her daughter was up against in a cheerleading competition?

bluejelly · 20/10/2006 09:18

Yes or the tennis coach dad who drugged his daughter's competitors?

jajas · 20/10/2006 09:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumbleslikeazombiechum · 20/10/2006 10:24

The worst is sports day, I find. A couple of years ago a friend of mine and her husband both turned up in running spikes for the mums and dads races. When they started warming up exercises I realised that I was never going to go in the mums race again - couldn't handle the competition.

LadyDooM · 20/10/2006 10:40

mumbleslikeazombiechum: Haha that is a bit ott, they are only meant to be for fun I thought, they sound like they expected a medal or something... maybe someone should have given them a cookie...lol

Original poster
Sheraz · 20/10/2006 11:13

Meow Ghosty! I don't feel at all inadequate i just donn't need to prove myself by winning the Mum race or making the best bonnet.

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Spannapiana · 20/10/2006 11:44

Harsh, Ghosty! I'm not inadequate but I know several competitive mums...I sit back and take the piss as a general rule...oh and my son IS the best at everything, they all know it...no need to put him in a bonnet lol

Original poster
Sheraz · 20/10/2006 11:49

No my 2 DS's are the best I'm afraid! They just always look daft in the crap hats and costumes that I never have the time or inclination to make!

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Spannapiana · 20/10/2006 11:56

I bet they're already in training for the egg and spoon...

Ooh, Sheraz, starting a competition are we?!

Original poster
Sheraz · 20/10/2006 13:06

Moi, not at all! Just a Mum who loves her kids to bits, that's all. AS do all of you I know before anyone starts ranting. {grin}

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joelallie · 20/10/2006 13:13

fullmoonfiend - I feel the same. Can't claim that I could supply much home-grown apart from a few tomatoes and courgettes but my parents garden is really productive. But that isn't good enough apparently.... I know the reasons but still annoying. When I were a lass the church was full of lovely fresh stuff.

Re the big baskets - a bit pointless really as I'd imagine they'd all have to be opened up and distributed wouldn't they?

Original poster
Sheraz · 20/10/2006 13:15

Why isn't home grown good enough? Don't tell me health and safety? FGS!

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Miriam2 · 20/10/2006 13:21

At our church/ school they ask for tins,packets, dried goods etc cos I think it's easier to pass onto whoever needs it and would last longer, ie a jar of coffee might be more useful to a pensioner,say, than a whole load of fuit all at once (not saying pensioners don't eat fruit but you know what I mean)

joelallie · 20/10/2006 13:22

Yep! Daft innit? What would you rather have? Some freshly dug spuds or a tin of them?

foulmoonfiend · 20/10/2006 19:38

well, despite what I have said previously, I willadmit to going all out with things like costumes, baking for cake stalls etc - but only cos I am good at that sort of thing - and more importantly, really enjoy it!. It is my way of making up for my myriad inadequacies as a mother (i am a rotten housekeeper, hate having little friends round to play and cannot summon up enthusiasm for PS2, game boy, football and the other things. I don't make my children do any activities and I will not play one-upmanship in terms of academic achievements)

Original poster
Sheraz · 21/10/2006 10:45

I'm not saying people shouldn't do these things and if you are good at it , great - i am not. i just can't bear the way we women are always sizing each other up and trying to outdo each other...through their kids/ clothes/ cars etc

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