Mother at school bugs the life out of me.....

[jellyvodkas]

Dont you just find those parents at school who brag about their children extremely annoying?
The mother i am refering to is so friendly and a good laugh, but in the last 3 yrs has come out with:
"My child is perfect, he would NEVER do that" (to another parent)
"Your son is horrendously vulgar" (about my son)
"That behaviour is very disrespectful towards your mother" (to another child)
"My son is top of the class and is the best sportman in the school basically"
Finally today we had :
"My boys are so so easy now, and we had a most wonderful easter holiday, they are such a delight to be with, so so good and easy"


I think its her way of feeling good about herself . Personally its not something i would keep doing, but everyone is different I guess. She manages somehow to make you feel quite inadequate...but thats why she does it.....to feel better about herself. I know all this but......it just bugs me and listening to other parents it bugs them too.

I had a friend like this, stopped seeing for a while. Then decided that I can only feel inadequate if I allow it. So now I see her occasionally.

just the one jelly?
I know a few like that!
Think yourself lucky

Yes those sorts of parents are very annoying - but amusing to read about on MN :o

I have a different problem with an acquaintance telling me about her dc's bowel problems. Constipation, wearing a nappy at five. Can do wees in the loo but not the other one. jayzusssssssssssssss shuddddup

I have a special face for comments like that.

a smile that is higher at one side of the face than the other, a slightly raised eyebrow, laughter in the eyes. it goes with my amused voice as I say "really?" or "that's nice." or "I see."

repeat offenders are few.

i have a friend who is excessively proud of her admittedly brilliant children... i find myself doing reverse bragging in response, and saying how impressed i am that ds1 managed to actually come last in cross country running rather than just 2nd last like usual.

i'm sat here trying to contort my face now,into Hecates 'smile'.....

and got 3 of out of 45 on last week's charity spelling bee

it's well worth perfecting it.

I know, I do that too mresravelstein. I can't possibly boast about my children, they just never come first! but it'll all work out ok I think because they have my quirky way of lookign at things .... i know that they'll hold their own out in the real world when it's a level playing field. and then, suddenly all those kids who had boasty mums and who got As in everything will think, "hang on, I didn't get the job/house/admiration/love and that's not fair..." [stamps foot]

Obviously i'm exaggerating and looking into my crystal ball here.

I find a vague smile and saying something like "Bless!" or "That must be lovely for you" can be quite effective in taking the wind out of their sails without actually being argumentative - it leaves them with an odd feeling you weren't impressed, but no idea quite why....