The School Grapevine

[Anonymous]

a fellow parent said to me recently that she heard through the "grapevine" that my dc is still four years old and do i think that fact holds my dc back from things. first, who is the grapevine? why are they talking about my dc's age? what could she possible thing that it holds her back from? i'm not offended or anything, just curious. i always wonder why parents discuss other people's children. my dc is not a trouble maker or anything. ideas?

[Anonymous]

i mean what could she possible think it holds her back from?

[Anonymous]

Of course parents discuss other people's children. Other than that, however, I have no idea what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Please explain...this makes no sense. Why is your child's age an issue?

[Anonymous]

i don't know. that is what i am wondering. what could it possibly be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course parents discuss other people's children. Other than that, however, I have no idea what you are talking about.

i don't. especially with other parents unless it is something fun or funny. my husband and i may discuss other children if it has something to do with my dc.

[Anonymous]

It is an actual grapevine, OP. It is thick and fibrous and somewhat slippery. People climb it and yell different gossipy things about each other while climbing on it. It twist and winds into every and all crevices until it creates a dense under growth unless it is hacked back with an ax.

[Anonymous]

that person who shared this with you has no social skills and was just plain rude, OP. I don't discuss other people's children with other parents. I worry about my own kid, not other people's.

[Anonymous]

I still don't get it? What is the point of the thread? Someone had a question about your child's age and that upset you? Is there more to this than that? Seriously I am not following this at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is an actual grapevine, OP. It is thick and fibrous and somewhat slippery. People climb it and yell different gossipy things about each other while climbing on it. It twist and winds into every and all crevices until it creates a dense under growth unless it is hacked back with an ax.

Marvin Gaye had a song about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7dGdrP3pms

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't read too much into it. If, as you say, your child is not a troublemaker or anything, it may be an awkward compliment. As in, your child seems to do a great job keeping up with the 5-year-olds. How do YOU think it's going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't read too much into it. If, as you say, your child is not a troublemaker or anything, it may be an awkward compliment. As in, your child seems to do a great job keeping up with the 5-year-olds. How do YOU think it's going?

Good, thanks. I'll move on.

Seriously,

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I think its hysterical that someone who posts on this list would act surprised that people talk about other people's kids.

[Anonymous]

We talk with other parents at weekend playdates and in the morning, and at pickup time. Mostly if another kid's name comes up in any negative context, it's because our kid or theirs has been complaining about their behavior in class (yelling, hitting, rowdiness, bullying, excessive cursing in class) and we compare notes. The parents who volunteer in the classroom are the most attuned to the behavior of individual kids, and it can mean that a certain kid is excluded from playdate invitations, or that you might find out your kid has a new friend that they get along with really well that you didn't know about.

[Anonymous]

If your child is a year younger than the other kids perhaps she behaves like it?