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[quote=Anonymous]You minimize your interactions with people like this. That's it.

In my own friendships, I prefer to socialize with people who don't have same age kids to mine. It really helps cut out the direct comparison. It's also great when our kids just have different interests and are different kinds of people. Anything that short circuits the tendency of many parents (but especially in this area) to constantly compare their children to other children with the intention of "winning" the comparison.

It also helps to recognize what is driving this kind of talk. I think with a 3 yo it may partly be driven by just being very wrapped up in their kid right now -- that will shift as their kid gets older and more complicated. Parents of babies and toddlers can be wide eyed and optimistic about kids in an almost childish way because they have yet to deal with their kids as truly separate people from them. As kids get older and more independent, most parents will segue into a more pragmatic and even-toned attitude towards their kids. They will see their kids fail and struggle and they will have their own parenting challenges.

But also some people are just extremely insecure and competitive and it helps to avoid these people altogether. What you describe sounds annoying AF and I would personally stay friendly but not socialize with this woman. I'd tolerate her during playdates or playground run-ins and I'd be careful not to say anything negative about her or her kid to my own kid -- if you have same age kids in the same neighborhood, you don't want to make an enemy of her. But I wouldn't be seeking her out to hang out and I'd gently decline social invitations that were adult-focused as opposed to kid-centric.[/quote]

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