How to stay sane when neighbor brags about her 3yo all the time

[Anonymous]

I've recently become friends with a neighbor down the street. She seems pretty cool but constantly brags about her 3 year old. She tells me how he speaks French, gets hole-in-ones every time they go golfing, can write up to 50 and paint pictures clearly. Most of the time, my husband and I roll our eyes but the stream of information is constant on social media and every time we hang out.

I have a son the same age and I just want him to have a great childhood. He's learning a ton in his loving but not fancy preschool. We don't do activities every weekend but we're two present parents who play on the floor with our kids every night and every morning. I'm trying to stay focused on all that but it's hard to tune out the creeping guilt and worry that we're not doing (spending) enough. Is this just something we have to deal with in this area? How do you tune this out?

[Anonymous]

There will always be parents that brag on their kids. Learning to tune it out is a serious parenting skill.

I find it helpful to realize that the odds are good that that mother is insecure about her parenting and bolstering her confidence by focusing on the things she is bragging about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've recently become friends with a neighbor down the street. She seems pretty cool but constantly brags about her 3 year old. She tells me how he speaks French, gets hole-in-ones every time they go golfing, can write up to 50 and paint pictures clearly. Most of the time, my husband and I roll our eyes but the stream of information is constant on social media and every time we hang out.

I have a son the same age and I just want him to have a great childhood. He's learning a ton in his loving but not fancy preschool. We don't do activities every weekend but we're two present parents who play on the floor with our kids every night and every morning. I'm trying to stay focused on all that but it's hard to tune out the creeping guilt and worry that we're not doing (spending) enough. Is this just something we have to deal with in this area? How do you tune this out?

No. Stop blaming "the area" or "DC culture" for random annoying parents.

[Anonymous]

“Hmmm, mm…that’s nice…”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will always be parents that brag on their kids. Learning to tune it out is a serious parenting skill.

I find it helpful to realize that the odds are good that that mother is insecure about her parenting and bolstering her confidence by focusing on the things she is bragging about.

This. It's insecurity. Smile and nod. Have grace for other people's deficiencies. And hope that others will give you grace for yours.

[Anonymous]

Definitely block/hide her on social media.

[Anonymous]

Stop caring. You have no idea whether she’s insecure, had a ton of pg losses, or is just a bit extra. You choose how much time to spend with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will always be parents that brag on their kids. Learning to tune it out is a serious parenting skill.

I find it helpful to realize that the odds are good that that mother is insecure about her parenting and bolstering her confidence by focusing on the things she is bragging about.

This. It's insecurity. Smile and nod. Have grace for other people's deficiencies. And hope that others will give you grace for yours.

We should be friends. There is a shortage of people who accept people as the come...imperfect humans.

[Anonymous]

The kid could be a genius, but it’s more likely the mom is just a POOPCUP. Parent of Only One Perfect Child Under Preschoolage. In a few short years, he’ll hit K and be making deez nuts jokes and asking for a tablet to play Minecraft just like all the other boys. Just smile and nod for now!

[Anonymous]

"I'm not interested in hearing about that. See you later!"

[Anonymous]

I had a neighbor once whose preschooler was profoundly gifted. He was mainland Chinese, and his family had just arrived in the US that year. He had taught himself to read French: he read out loud to me from an old French book they got from the library. I'm French. It was astonishing.

So the constant delivery might annoy you, but if this child truly does all these things, it's wonderful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kid could be a genius, but it’s more likely the mom is just a POOPCUP. Parent of Only One Perfect Child Under Preschoolage. In a few short years, he’ll hit K and be making deez nuts jokes and asking for a tablet to play Minecraft just like all the other boys. Just smile and nod for now!

Not Poopcup I’m crying

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who used to brag all the time how smart and gifted her daughter was. My child was a late reader and I used to try to tune her out and not feel bad.

Now the kids are in high school and the mom is quiet. Her daughter is no longer brag worthy. Reading books and doodling and writing in her journal is no longer impressive. I don’t think the daughter does any extracurricular activities. My kids do tons of everything and get perfect grades. I don’t say much about my kids either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who used to brag all the time how smart and gifted her daughter was. My child was a late reader and I used to try to tune her out and not feel bad.

Now the kids are in high school and the mom is quiet. Her daughter is no longer brag worthy. Reading books and doodling and writing in her journal is no longer impressive. I don’t think the daughter does any extracurricular activities. My kids do tons of everything and get perfect grades. I don’t say much about my kids either.

I would like to point out that being introverted is not a character flaw. Neither is enjoying literature and writing as a hobby. The mom may have been annoying for bragging, but why would you put down a teenager for their interests and imply your children's are better?

[Anonymous]

I have a neighbor like this. I just smile and nod and give non committal "oh that's nice" "how exciting". She has alienated a bunch of people with her bragging. But her husband is also a complete ahole and I think her bragging stems from issues with that. So I try to be understanding.