When Mean Girls Become Mean Moms – Gossip. As parents we try our best to warn our kids of the negative impact and hurt talking behind the backs of others can create. Many moms remember the horrible impact it had from our school days. Every mom seems to have a story. Cattiness, gossiping, back-biting and other forms of rude behavior are issues we try tirelessly to teach our kids to avoid. In the age of social media and cyber bullying, the message of teaching our children to “live and let live” seem even more important in today’s “Mean Girls” world. But, what happens when moms can’t even follow their own advice?
When Mean Girls Become Mean Moms
Sadly, the “Mean Girls” days don’t end after graduation for some moms. I have a friend whose children attend the same school my kids go to. She is, without question, one of the nicest moms I have had the pleasure of meeting. There isn’t one mean bone in her body and she’s a pillar of our community. For this post, I’ll refer to her as Rebecca.
One day last week, Rebecca pulls into the school to pick up her kids with her youngest son in the car. I’m sure you know the routine. You show up a little early to pick up your kids and park in the lot and wait until the kids stream out after the final bell. Rebecca put her car in park with her son in the back and picks up her phone and uses her 3 minutes of free time the way most moms do – she texts and plays a little Scrabble on one of her apps while her son relaxed and listened to the radio. Next to Rebecca is a woman on her phone with the windows open and a child in the back seat. Rebecca was surprised to hear the other mom slamming Rebecca. Apparently, this woman forgot that her window was wide open while she repeatedly droned on about how she was “sick of lazy moms tinkering on their cell phones and missing out on quality time with their kids.” Just going on and on to whoever she was talking to. Rebecca was crushed to find out that something as innocent as tapping on her Phone while waiting for her kids could draw such ire from another mom! Rebecca spoke out her window (which was also open and facing the other woman’s window) and said “you know, I can hear you…” The mom stammered to find excuses for her gossiping and overall rudeness and never once apologized or said anything nice to remedy her when mean girls become mean moms situation.
Rebecca told me about the episode later that day. She was obviously upset by it. She didn’t back-bite or even name names. She was just hurt by the ordeal and wanted to talk about it. Part of me wanted to tell Rebecca what she should have said or tell her she should have chewed the mom out (I would have gone apeshit). Rebecca is way too classy for that move. Plus, she had her son in the car and that would have sent a poor message.
This when mean girls become mean moms story isn’t the worst situation I’ve heard. Heck, I’ve posted other entries detailing “funny in hindsight” moms-butting-in stories. I guess this is just a reminder that some “mean girls” grow up to be “mean moms” and we have to learn to practice what we preach when it comes to gossiping and raising kids. Maybe it will just serve as a reminder to some to keep car windows closed and tones low when trying to stab another mom in the back.
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Sadly, this is just one When Mean Girls Become Mean Moms story, I’m sure we’ve all heard much worse.
