Griping parents

[Anonymous]

OK, I am going to vent here. Flame on if you want to.

I ran into a parent from my DCs 4th grade class at a market the other day. I barely know this woman but exchanged pleasantries with her (how was you summer?, etc...) As we were parting she suddenly launched into a tirade of complaints about the school (why is the school year so short?, the head of school ignores and blows off gripers like me, etc...) I was totally taken aback. Especially because she was doing all this complaining in front of my kids. The school year hasn't even started yet and already she is moaning! Why don't miserable people like this switch schools? (I actually suggested this to her and she looked at me like I had 2 heads)

Can't the griping wait until at least the school year starts and can't we keep it away from the kids who should be going into the school year with a positive attitude?

Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Sadly, some people just don't have enough of a life to talk about anything else. Also, some people think that complaining is conversation. It looks like this woman falls into both categories. I'd say something like "Mary, I am so glad to hear that you had a great summer. I'm sure that (insert head of school's name) will be all ears to address your concerns once she starts. Gotta get going. Take care."

[Anonymous]

Finding it somewhat ironic that poster is griping about griping on a forum consisting mostly of griping.

[Anonymous]

I prefer carping to griping.

[Anonymous]

Carping seems to imply focus on one or two particular complaints, while I think of griping as leaving open a whole spectrum of things to complain about

[Anonymous]

OP here...I do realize the irony of my griping about griping and I fully expect to be called on the carpet for it.

[Anonymous]

I didn't think it was ironic or hypocritical.

I thought OP was saying "sheesh, don't gripe about school in front of my kid at a moment when happy anticipation should be the dominant mood and when your issues aren't immediate anyway."

By contrast, OP has lodged a timely gripe in a context whose primary function is griping.

[Anonymous]

OP - do you read the paper?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't think it was ironic or hypocritical.

I thought OP was saying "sheesh, don't gripe about school in front of my kid at a moment when happy anticipation should be the dominant mood and when your issues aren't immediate anyway."

By contrast, OP has lodged a timely gripe in a context whose primary function is griping.

08:58 seconds 09:18

[Anonymous]

"I thought OP was saying "sheesh, don't gripe about school in front of my kid at a moment when happy anticipation should be the dominant mood and when your issues aren't immediate anyway." "

Tee hee.

[Anonymous]

Well, just to add some more griping, carping, and general all around complaining ... YES, I totally agree with OP's beef. An occasional complaint or concern here or there about any school is totally normal. But a few parents I know have made it their whole raison d'etre (please pronounce that as it was in the movie Raising Arizona!!) ... full-time complainers just bring me down and ruin my mood. Oh how I wish they would just go away and complain about something else to someone else.

[Anonymous]

Some people just gripe constantly. If they're in a school context they will gripe about the school. If they are at work they will gripe about the boss, the facilities and coworkers. The mom of one of DC's friends is perpetually discontented. I gripe to DH about her.

[Anonymous]

At my child's school...just like at any other private school...there are a number of people who are used to always getting their way and to always being able to get/buy whatever they want. Some gripe because they don't like that they can't always "buy" their kid a spot on a select varsity sports team or the lead in a school play, etc. I know too many helicopter parents who don't let their kids find their own way. So they gripe about every tiny, little thing.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree PP. As I have gotten older, I have less and less tolerance for the "gripers."

Lately I find the people I like to hang out with at DS school are non gripers or people who actually will talk about other things besides their DC or the school. It has made me much happier!!!

[Anonymous]

If you agreed with her, you wouldn't label her a griper!