Was the mom trying to be funny, in a sort of edgy or sarcastic way?

It would make me uncomfortable. This seems like one of those things where it's understandable to do (we all have tough days) but you probably should be able to recognize it's a little nasty and know not to go around telling people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, I think we've all thought "brat" (maybe not? is it just me?), but "bitch" seems to me to be crossing a line-- esp. for a little girl-- what, by the time the kid is 6 is she going to be a cunt? I just don't even think of little kids that age as being "bitches." Sounds like there is going to be major drama in that family by the time the girl actually turns 10 or 11.

+1

There is a difference between criticizing and name-calling. Calling your daughter a bitch is verbal abuse and it's only a matter of time before it slips out to her face.

It's not verbal abuse if you are only thinking it, not saying it. What are you, the thought police? If unworried about everything I think slipping out, I would have to get a mind gag.

She's mouthing it in her daughter's presence. Short step to under the breath, from there to audible, and all the way to shouting it behind her as the door slams behind her at 13. Of course we all think things like this and of course we all confess to our friends "sometimes my kid acts like such a jerk." I just agree that "bitch" crosses a line for me that jerk or brat doesn't and that there's a difference between thinking s/he "acts like a" and calling your kid the actual name.

I just think it is a REALLY weird vein of conversation. How do you respond "Right on!" or "That's cool!" because I would be flabbergasted. I would only *maybe* share something like that with my best friend who happens to be child-free and would laugh her ass off.

Otherwise, it's like the limbo between a bad joke and something that is frighteningly too honest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have a stick up your ass.

More like a whole pine tree.

If you do, OP, then I do too, b/c I find it a weird and uncomfortably inappropriate thing to say about one's own child. Sheesh.

My mom criticized me all the time when I did shitty things. I'm just fine. If your own mother can't tell you when you suck, who can?

No wonder this town is full of so many shits.

Of course parents should tell their kids when what they're doing is inappropriate. Calling someone a bitch behind their back is not that by any stretch of the imagination, putting completely to the side how sad it is that a parent is labeling their 4 year old in this way. Whatever behavior the kid is exhibiting, it seems pretty clear where it comes from.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, I think we've all thought "brat" (maybe not? is it just me?), but "bitch" seems to me to be crossing a line-- esp. for a little girl-- what, by the time the kid is 6 is she going to be a cunt? I just don't even think of little kids that age as being "bitches." Sounds like there is going to be major drama in that family by the time the girl actually turns 10 or 11.

+1

There is a difference between criticizing and name-calling. Calling your daughter a bitch is verbal abuse and it's only a matter of time before it slips out to her face.

It's not verbal abuse if you are only thinking it, not saying it. What are you, the thought police? If unworried about everything I think slipping out, I would have to get a mind gag.

Anonymous wrote:LOL! I call my cat a bitch all the time when she is being, well, a bitch. (Yeah yeah a cat is not a child, but I trust you are smart enough to get past that to see the humor.)

Sometimes when my kids are being royal pains in the ass, DH and I will just look at each other and say, "KASA".

It is our inside joke. It means "Kids Are Such Assholes".

I don't see the harm in it at all.

This is different: your kids don't (I hope) know what that acronym means because you made it up. It's not like your kid is going to hit 6th grade and realize that you've been calling him an asshole for 6 years and the joke's on him.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, I think we've all thought "brat" (maybe not? is it just me?), but "bitch" seems to me to be crossing a line-- esp. for a little girl-- what, by the time the kid is 6 is she going to be a cunt? I just don't even think of little kids that age as being "bitches." Sounds like there is going to be major drama in that family by the time the girl actually turns 10 or 11.

+1

There is a difference between criticizing and name-calling. Calling your daughter a bitch is verbal abuse and it's only a matter of time before it slips out to her face.

So the daughter can't even hear the mom calling her bitch, she is just sharing her thoughts with you?

And so....?

So she doesn't actually call her kid a bitch - she thinks it, or mouths it so the kid doesn't see it? And you're getting bent out of shape about that?

Stick . . . ass . . . yeah.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, I think we've all thought "brat" (maybe not? is it just me?), but "bitch" seems to me to be crossing a line-- esp. for a little girl-- what, by the time the kid is 6 is she going to be a cunt? I just don't even think of little kids that age as being "bitches." Sounds like there is going to be major drama in that family by the time the girl actually turns 10 or 11.

Agree. Because by 10, seriously, I've got a dd where I did more than think it. I know I'm not proud of it,but sometimes you have to use the velvet glove--my DD is not just strong willed--she can be a complete b---h. Better she hear it from me. Of course, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, of course

LOL! I call my cat a bitch all the time when she is being, well, a bitch. (Yeah yeah a cat is not a child, but I trust you are smart enough to get past that to see the humor.)

Sometimes when my kids are being royal pains in the ass, DH and I will just look at each other and say, "KASA".

It is our inside joke. It means "Kids Are Such Assholes".

I don't see the harm in it at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have a stick up your ass.

More like a whole pine tree.

If you do, OP, then I do too, b/c I find it a weird and uncomfortably inappropriate thing to say about one's own child. Sheesh.

My mom criticized me all the time when I did shitty things. I'm just fine. If your own mother can't tell you when you suck, who can?

No wonder this town is full of so many shits.

THIS. Your mother was human. This woman who said this is human. OP, you're being waaaaay too judge-y. G-d forbid anyone confides a weakness to anyone else in this town.

I don't know, I think we've all thought "brat" (maybe not? is it just me?), but "bitch" seems to me to be crossing a line-- esp. for a little girl-- what, by the time the kid is 6 is she going to be a cunt? I just don't even think of little kids that age as being "bitches." Sounds like there is going to be major drama in that family by the time the girl actually turns 10 or 11.

I often say things, sometimes to people I don't know very well, and then think "damn... that didn't come out right/ probably made me look bad" but don't really know how to recover from it. But if she did mean to say it, at least she isn't saying it TO the child.. and like PP said maybe it is her way of venting. I don't think that's SO bad but I can see why it could make you uncomfortable.