I called out a ‘mean girl’ mum to her husband at the school gates over our WhatsApp drama – but people say I was ‘harsh’
A MUM has shared how she confronted a fellow school mum’s behaviour by calling her out to her husband over a WhatsApp group drama.
Posting on TikTok under the name ‘paleandinteresting’, she explained her experience with the other mums at the school.
The video, which was shared five days ago, has 387.7k views and has caused a big discussion amongst other parents.
The mum explained that she wasn’t part of the WhatsApp group chat that involved several mums who organised social events like nights out and days out.
However, she soon discovered the existence of the chat at a Christmas gathering, where mums and kids were getting together.
The mum claimed that the group’s ringleader invited her friend to the event directly in front of her, explaining that she is going to “put it all in the mum’s chat.”
But despite standing right there, the invitation was not extended to the TikTok mum.
Later on the same mum again mentioned the invite to her friend, commenting reminding that she is going to put all the information into the “mum’s chat.”
This was the first time she learned about the existence of the WhatsApp group, and her friend, who was new to the school, had recently been added.
The next day, she shared her feelings with her friend, saying she didn’t appreciate being excluded and found the behaviour to be “mean girl energy.“
And while she wasn’t interested in joining the group, she admitted feeling upset about the situation.
As they were talking, the husband of the mum in question joined the conversation and asked who they were talking about.
To which the mum explained the situation and bluntly said how it was his wife.
The husband defended his wife, claiming: “oh, she’s not very good in new situations. She can sometimes be a bit shy.”
However, the mum countered that his wife didn’t seem shy when inviting her friend in front of her twice while deliberately excluding her, adding that it was “mean girl” behaviour.
Later that evening, her friend received a message from the mum asking her to invite Amy to the group to see if she wanted to attend the Christmas night out.
I am so glad I don’t have to do that any more
TikTok comment
When her friend showed her the message, she responded: “Don’t bother, I’m not interested.”
Her video gained 1,120 comments as many people wanted to share their opinion.
One wrote: “School mums are nasty. And they wonder where children learn to bully and exclude others.”
But another added: “You were wrong. These group chats usually have 30+ people in them, how do you know that she didn’t know you were in there?
Been there and experienced the same as you
TikTok comment
“What stopped you from speaking up directly to the woman who offended you?”
Whilst a third commented: “I am so glad I don’t have to do that any more. Those mean women usually hate their lives.”
And a fourth added: “Well done you. School mums are the absolute worst.
“Been there and experienced the same as you. Don’t let it get to you.”
But another said: “A bit harsh on the dad. He obviously spoke to his wife after and she extended the invite.”
Secrets of a school headteacher
By the Secret Schoolteacher
I STARTED working in schools in 1996, when parents respected teachers and left us alone to do our jobs. Not any more.
Nowadays parents think nothing of barging into schools to read teachers the riot act if their precious child has been told off, or they’ll send angry emails in the middle of the night. Warning — it doesn’t make you popular.
I’ve worked in all manner of schools across the south west of England, from state schools to private, and I can tell you that right now many teachers are dreading the start of the new school year.
They’re braced for tears and tantrums, not just from their pupils but from their parents too.
Believe me, if you are an annoying parent it will spread round the staff room like wildfire.
So whether it’s your kid’s first day at a new school, or they’re moving up a year, these are the things you do that drive teachers crazy . . .
Parents often turn up at the school gates complaining how frazzled they are, moaning that teachers must have had a nice long holiday while their six weeks stuck with the kids was the worst.
Nothing could be further from the truth. For the first two weeks I’ll almost certainly have been struck down by a lurgy which always seems to strike on the first day of the holiday.
The next two weeks might have been an actual holiday, just like the average Brit takes in the summer, followed by two weeks of frantic lesson planning and administration.
Also, consider that I’ve probably been working over 50 hours per week during term time. Contrary to popular opinion, we don’t clock off at 3pm.
Instead, we’re roped into all manner of after-school activities and meetings before going home to do marking and more lesson planning. Please don’t turn up and make sarcastic remarks about our “six weeks off”.
We won’t be happy.