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Primary education

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Original poster

Breathtakingly RUDE mum in playground - how would you react?

41 replies

posyparker · 28/03/2007 17:35

My kids are quite new at a very small village school and by and large all the parents rub along pretty well, friendly etc etc.

This afternoon I went to pick them up and approached a group of chatting mums, most of whom I now know, and stood at the edge and said "hello" and smiled. Mrs Rude-Rude-Rude looks up and gives me a really false smile, and says "Hello? Did you want me for something in particular or are you just parking there?" (I should mention that I was "parking" a buggy containing my newborn daughter).

I was pretty gobsmacked and just managed to squeak "I am just parking!" before looking around, spotting a more friendly face, and scuttling off.

I don't know why it has bothered me so much, but I felt pretty deflated and a bit embarrassed to be honest, couldn't think of anything else to say, thought I must have looked like a real loser to anyone watching! What makes it worse is that Mrs R-R-R is the PTA chairman and I have actively gone out of my way to help out at fetes and other fundraising events. Right now though I am seething and thinking about making a wax effigy.....

Am I over-reacting? Was she rude? What would you have said? How would you act towards her?

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MamaG · 28/03/2007 17:36

I'm not convinced she was rude, sorry

Tutter · 28/03/2007 17:36

i wonder whether she was genuinely asking whether you wanted her, or happened to be parking the pram next to her

WaynettanEasterEgg · 28/03/2007 17:36

OMG she IS rude! I would have probably done exactly what you did, and then thought of very witty retorts on the way home, and been kicking myself that I hadn't thought of them in time!

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 28/03/2007 17:36

no you're not overreacting, she sounds like a prize cow.

rowan1971 · 28/03/2007 17:36

Maybe she assumed you wanted to talk directly to her because of your previous experience with PTA? Could she just have been expressing herself badly?

Tutter · 28/03/2007 17:37

(btw i am the kind of person that prob offends people like this all the time)

geekgrrl · 28/03/2007 17:37

are you sure she was being rude? maybe she was just trying to start a conversation?

MamaG · 28/03/2007 17:37

Tutter - you and I are obviously far to nice and trusting

If she WAS being rude I'd have rammed a corn fritter in her face

WaynettanEasterEgg · 28/03/2007 17:38

What was her tone? And what did she do then?

There are two ways to read what she says...

brimfull · 28/03/2007 17:38

She came across as rude imo.She may not have meant to come across that way,is she generally nicer than that?

tinkerbellhadpiles · 28/03/2007 17:39

So does she have a planet up her arse, she certainly sounds like she thinks the universe revolves around her.

I'd just pretend you can't see or hear her next time, just be friendly to the human mums .

SittingBull · 28/03/2007 17:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CadburyCremeSquonk · 28/03/2007 17:39

I think that if that had been said to me, I would have reacted exactly like you and felt it was very, very rude. However, reading what you wrote, it seems to me that it is possible that she was just (very awkwardly) saying "do you want to talk to me specifically" in which case not rude, just not very socially adept.

McCadburysDreamyegg · 28/03/2007 17:41

That is so rude! I would have wanted to say something like "No I'm new and thought I might come over and meet a few friendly mums but I have clearly approached the wrong person" but I wouldn't have thought of in time and if I had I probably wouldn't have had the guts to say it to her face!

ludaloo · 28/03/2007 17:41

Well considering she was just one in a group of other mums, I would say she was a bit bigheaded rather than rude!

Either way, not a nice thing to say really, especially if it made you feel uncomfortable enough to move...

colditz · 28/03/2007 17:42

Maybe she meant "Are you ok where you are or do you need me desperately for something and are waiting in vain for a break in the conversation?"

RanToTheHills · 28/03/2007 17:52

tbh,if she's the PTA chair she's probably used to people talking to her only in this capacity and therefore thought you"wanted" her, ifykiwm? Sounds arrogant, but maybe didn't mean to be so.

HotCrossPenguin · 28/03/2007 18:13

PTA square. Nuff said

nogoes · 28/03/2007 18:20

She sounds like a right bitch!

treacletart · 28/03/2007 18:22

I reckon this is probably more a case of an unfortunate manner than proper rudeness. I'd try to rise above it, flash her as genuine a smile as you can muster and ask her how she is next time you see her.

theheadgirl · 28/03/2007 18:23

My reaction on reading this was she's full of self-importance cos she's the [curtsey] PTA chair. Gasp. Next time tell her you wanted her autograph.

Dior · 28/03/2007 18:24

Message withdrawn

DimpledThighs · 28/03/2007 18:26

could be confident and a bit socially inadequate IMO - would turn on the charm big time - go up to her next time and say "room for me to park here HAHA - have just had a great idea for the PTA...."

indiajane · 28/03/2007 18:28

I don't think she meant to be rude to you - although I can understand why you do! As many of the others have said, it was probably due more to a lack of sensitivity to your feelings - espc as you are new etc.

OrvilleRedenbacher · 28/03/2007 18:29

oh maybe you were lookign liek you had a q?
and odd hting to say

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