When we think of bullying, our minds typically go to kids and schoolyards. But the reality is that adults get bullied, too. One relatively unknown subset of this is mom bullying — when a group of moms gangs up on another mom.
In One Survey, Over 60% Of Parents Said They Had Been Bullied
A survey conducted by Today.com found that out of 1,400 parents, 69 percent said they had been bullied by another adult.
When Moms Are Bullied, They Feel Left Out And Unheard
Not unlike children, moms who are bullied often cite situations in which they are completely ignored by other moms or are totally left out of conversations. Even doing things like joining the PTA in order to connect with the bullying moms doesn’t necessarily help.
One Mom Was Told Flat-Out: “You’re Not Our People”
Kristen Kingsbury, creator of the blog So Called Mom , describes herself as “quirky.” But, she told Today Parents , that wasn’t appreciated when she moved to a traditional neighborhood with her husband and seven children.
One day, a neighboring mom texted to say she didn’t want their daughters playing together anymore. She plainly told her: “You’re not our people.”
Another Mom Found Herself Removed From Message Chains And Bad-Mouthed
When Newcastle, Ontario-based freelance writer Dorathy Gass’ daughter had a conflict with a classmate, she felt the best way to deal with it was to let the two girls work it out. But the other girl’s mom started to tell everyone that Gass’ daughter was a bully and that Gass was a bad mom.
Experts Say Moms Who Bully Have An Inflated Sense of Self-Esteem
While some people believe that bullies have low self-esteem, experts say it’s more likely to be the opposite. These mom bullies are prone to narcissism; they want power and control .
The Best Way To Deal With A Bully Is To Ignore Them
Just like your mom always said, the most effective way to disconnect from a bully is to ignore them. And the same holds true for mom-on-mom bullying. That’s what Kingsbury did and it worked: “I refuse to let them win by changing who I am.”