Breathtakingly RUDE mum in playground - how would you react?

[posyparker]

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?

she sounds like a right bitch and was trying to show off in front of the other mothers, who were probably mortified on your behalf

DO NOT let this stop you marching up to the huddle again

shoulders back, head high, stride out there...

i must say, I've had a lot worse as a new mum in town(maybe we're all sensitive to different things?) The worst has been total blanking by several mums.I@d much rather be patronised than ignored . well at least you can retort with a put-down!

Waynetta, what she did next was to close her eyes dismissively (while her face was still "pointed" towards me) then turn her head to the mum on my left, open her eyes and start talking to her. Dior, tone of voice was what could be described as curt and dismissive....

Thanks for all the helpful advice etc, wish I had had a corn fritter with me MamaG! Love the idea! I think on balance it was a combination of rudeness and wanting for some reason to put me down in front of the others, imho she does have a planet up her a**e and is totally convinced of her own superiority and complete magnetism. Ggirl, in my experience of her she is nice only when asking me to do something for PTA.

I think rising above it would be best, having reflected on it, and little else(!) all night.....will possibly try DimpledThighs' idea if I can be a**ed, alternatively will just be politely distant in future....

I do hope you have found some more friendly mums, RanToTheHills, it's not easy is it?

Next time, just beam at her kindly and say "No, I don't need you today!" and then start talking to someone else.

Blimey, if you think this woman is "breathtakingly rude", you might completely expire if you met my MIL!

Well, she may not have been rude, she may have thought that you wanted to talk to her in her capacity as PTA chairman - perhaps that is the main reason that ohter people talk to her.

But I like Greenleeves's reply!

what a bitch

IMO the phrase 'did you want something' is meant to be sarky

I wouldn't piss on her if she was on fire. Can't stand these self important bitches. Who the f**k do they think they are?

shes sounds like a right cow bag, next time you go to pick your kids up remember your corn fritter!

I'm pretty tolerant and forgiving but she sounds like a nasty old witch. I find some PTA people can be self important. They crave power and like to weild it over us mere civvies.

I think you did well to NOT respond in kind and others around will, or certainly should, judge her harshly for the exchange and not you.

I would keep right out of her way in the future unless of course she grovels.

And when she asks for your help with something PTA related, take great delight in telling her to feck off

hoity toity so and so
stuck up her own whatsit
how irritating

but posy, why would she want to be rude to you or put you down? I doubt she had time to think 'i'm going to be rude to posy' - i reckon she was trying to include you, but was completely lacking in the skills to do so - especially as you have helped in the past it is so unlikely that she wanted to be rude

she just reminds me of our chair person who is blunt and lacking in social skills but she is a good organiser and noone else wants to do it!!

eh?

she is the chair of the PTA so was just asking whether she could help you

she just sounds

CONFIDENT

IMO and experience these PTA types are usually up their own arse and feel so terribly important.

I wouldn't bother with her anymore. I'm sure there must be some normal nice mums in the playground. Hope you find them.